Hello, this is my first time posting, just wanted to say this is a great resource and hi to everyone on their own cancer journey. I first noticed a lump in my breast in about July 2019, went to get a check at GP in August, didnt follow up with referal until December. Got a Mammogram and ultrasound and they werent very impressed with how things were looking and as I had very dense breast tissue, I was also referred for an abbreviated MRI on which they found a second mass. I was referred to a breast clinic for biopsy, and received my diagnoses of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (multifocal - 2 visible lesions) on Jan 24th. Grade 2 Early Cancer, MRI showed no visible lymph node involvement. Ive just been going through a process of working out what surgery options are best for me and have decided on unilateral mastectomy with diep reconstruction. I meet with the plastic surgeon in two weeks and then likely surgery on the 4th March. SORRY for the long winded explanation BUT the reason I am posting is.. I know they say that breast cancer usually doesnt cause pain, but Im getting quite an ache in the tumour that is closest to my skin (palpable) Should I be worried about this? Did anyone else have pain before treatment? Am I leaving surgery too long? Doctor says it is completely within a safe time period. Thanks in advance for advice.

@Clea hello!Its nice to see you here although I wish you are not here in this forum as well if you know what I mean.In regards with your question, before I was diagnosed I also felt pain where the lump is. The pain is tolerable but a nagging pain that comes and goes but is constantly there.To give you unsolicited advice, I think the earlier you have the surgery the better. For me, its important to contain the spread of cancer because we really dont know how it behaves. I wish you all the best. God bless!

@Nefertari Thankyou for that, it puts my mind a little more at ease that three and half weeks sounds okay. Ill try to breathe and not stress so much I guess. Ill probably also ring and pester my breast cancer nurse about it because thats how im rolling right now. Thanks again.

Your bc nurse will understand! Thank goodness for vigilant GPs - mine had me off to a breast surgeon in two days, no messing around. I had a mastectomy, axillary clearance and and no reconstruction, happy to have it gone and so far all good!

Hi @Clea, I also had pre-treatment pain. Both times. I was told that it can be the location of the tumour(s) that causes the pain as they can be close to nerves and/or tendons, particularly in the outer quadrants of the breast.

@StarGirl, thanks for the information, I didn't know that but makes sense given my lumps location!

Painful breast pre treatment | BCNA Online Network

LoisLois
Member
6 years ago
I was diagnosed in February 2020 with Stage 1 Grade 3 aggressive Non Specific Breast Cancer. Next week I am due for surgery exactly 5 weeks after it was confirmed. My lump is situated in the upper quadrant (chest wall area) of my Left breast and I too have been wondering about the CONSTANT ache that originates from the lump and trails down to the left side of my breast and underneath. I have been put on some pain killers to help out the pain as there are times it literally stops me in my tracks and takes the breath away. I believe it is caused from the rapid growth and it affecting the nerves and muscles being stretched around the lump. Check with your GP or Breast Care Nurse if it is hurting too much and one thing I did find that helped was if sitting - putting a folded over pillow under the breast and around the side to "lift" the tissue to ease the pain. I wish you a swift recovery and send my hugs xx
iserbrown
Member
6 years ago
Excellent!
You will find a what to pack for hospital information sheet within the Reclaim Your Curves website as well as other good info

Take care
Clea
Member
6 years ago
I should say more common rather than normal...@iserbrown very good advice, and so hard not to google! Thankyou am checking out reclaim your curves now.
iserbrown
Member
6 years ago

Clea said:

I guess pain is more normal than google says. A minor relief!

@Clea
The main advice on here from us forum users is keep away from Dr Google! I can understand you are concerned and racing thoughts and looking for answers but quite often Google has perceptions and opinions and not necessarily correct information. Use the BCNA website for research as it will help you.

https://www.bcna.org.au/understanding-breast-cancer/what-is-breast-cancer/types-of-breast-cancer/

The Reclaim Your Curves website is a great resource in research on reconstruction

https://www.reclaimyourcurves.org.au/

Best wishes
Clea
Member
6 years ago
Thats awesome to hear its going well for you @Afraser! Thankyou @StarGirl that makes sense to me also with the location of my lump. @Blossom1961 thanks, I guess pain is more normal than google says. A minor relief!
Blossom1961
Member
6 years ago
@Clia I also was prone to cysts and ignored my lump which felt the same and was in the same place as the cyst I had tested on two earlier occasions. Five months later I had the dreaded mammogram,ultrasound and biopsy which diagnosed BC. I had pain also, but then, I always had pain with the cysts as well.
Nefertari
Member
6 years ago
@StarGirl, thanks for the information, I didn't know that but makes sense given my lumps location!
StarGirl
Member
6 years ago
Hi @Clea, I also had pre-treatment pain. Both times. I was told that it can be the location of the tumour(s) that causes the pain as they can be close to nerves and/or tendons, particularly in the outer quadrants of the breast.
Afraser
Member
6 years ago
Your bc nurse will understand! Thank goodness for vigilant GPs - mine had me off to a breast surgeon in two days, no messing around. I had a mastectomy, axillary clearance and and no reconstruction, happy to have it gone and so far all good!
Clea
Member
6 years ago
@Nefertari Thankyou for that, it puts my mind a little more at ease that three and half weeks sounds okay. Ill try to breathe and not stress so much I guess. Ill probably also ring and pester my breast cancer nurse about it because thats how im rolling right now. Thanks again.