Forum Discussion
Painful breast pre treatment
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.
16 Replies
- 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
- 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 - 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.
@CleaClea said:I guess pain is more normal than google says. A minor relief!
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- 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!
- @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.
- @StarGirl, thanks for the information, I didn't know that but makes sense given my lumps location!
- 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.
- 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!
- @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.
