I'm 1 week and 4 days from surgery (wide local excision and sentinel nodes). We've known about the cancer for a bit over two weeks. The lump is small but i get the occasional "ache" in that breast about where the lump is. Almost like a "drawing" feeling. Someone said to me the other day, "do you think its gotten bigger since the diagnosis?" Man, how to freak out a waiting lady! So has anyone else experienced this ache?

Every year when I get my big tests, my remaining breast gets every conceivable twinge, pang and weird feeling. There is of course nothing wrong - anxiety can do strange things. When you know there is something there, it's even less likely that you can keep those anxiety pangs at bay. If at all possible, you might try keeping the unhelpful person at bay! You need calm and care right now, not any uninformed speculation. Good luck.

Yes its the cancer. Mine hurt more after they'd done both a needle biopsy and a punch biopsy as the bruising and swelling was awful. The cancer did not grow any bigger in 3 weeks, it was just a bit of swelling from the tests. Mind you it might have been nice if the Dr had warned me of that and I didn't have to get my breast nurse to round him up for an appointment to examine, explain the swelling and apparently it was a clot as well.

Hi Donna I seem to get a burning feeling in mine but it's not there all the time. I was diagnosed on January the 6TH. Hope the surgery goes well for you. Sending prayers & hugs.

Hi Donna The mind is a powerful thing ! 15 months after my mastectomy I am getting pains in both the existing breast and the chopped off side. Saw my doctor this week for other reasons and mentioned the boobs. He laughed - said "that is why we tell women to check for lumps, all women get all sorts of pains all the time and they'd be heading off for tests every month". He did, however, order an ultrasound on both side "for your peace of mind". As Brenda said, the tests you have had can cause bruising and swelling and general aches so try not to worry too much. If the medicos thought it was urgent you'd have been in pronto and had it all removed. Try to remain active and ignore it - and that less-than-helpful person ! Good luck and get on-line if you need to talk to others. Summer :-)

Hi Donna I used to get an achy feeling in the affected breast before and after I was diagnosed. I also get aches and pains now in both sides. I was convinced that cancer had returned to my other breast before I had a mammo that gave the all clear. I think that aches and pains in the breast tissue are common. All the best with the surgery in a week. Lisa

Achey boob - starting to think I'm becoming a worry wart

11 Replies

donnafischer
Member
10 years ago
Hey Summer

All good and "normal" if anything is normal at the moment. Anywhoo, 1 week to go to surgery. Reading all the literature like a good girl that they gave me has just left me feeling more confused and deflated because i wont know what we're dealing with till the pathology is back.. sigh... not going to be a good week i think.

Thanks for checking on me.
June1952
Member
10 years ago
Hello again Donna

How did you get on when you saw your GP today ?

I had my ultrasounds today and guess what - all clear ! Achy boobs have never been me - until now !

The radiographer was very good, he explained what he saw as he went along. Hubby came along so he heard it all first-hand. When I went out to change he did some more explaining to hubby so that was good. The radiographer asked me how long since I hit menopause and when I said 13 years and I still get hot flushes - he grinned and said some of the glands are still there, hence the pains (he pointed things out to hubby, along with the scar which he said is very smooth). Apparently the pain I am getting in both sides is to do with hormones !

So, do I go on to Tamoxifen ? Still not convinced that is a good idea. I could get the Oncotype DX test but that currently costs $4,500 - I made contact with the testing place.

It has made me decide to ask for ultrasounds instead of accepting the added radiation of x-ray mammograms from now on. See what the surgeon says on Friday week, eh ?

Anyway, hope that is of some info for you with your achy boobs.

Keep in touch

Summer :-)
Island_Girl
Member
10 years ago
Oh yes indeed, I've been writing all the outrageous comments down and may well write that book. Often I have felt dealing with the ridiculous comments are more difficult than dealing with the diagnosis.
donnafischer
Member
10 years ago
Thanks Ladies, to be sure to be sure, I'll get the boss (gp) to check and have a feel of it on Wednesday when I go back to work. Talk about weird things people say, I had one lady ask me if i should have a double mastectomy to make sure I'm safe. WOW i had just finished saying that the lump was really small and hoping to just get away with radiation after the excision and she hit me with that. Maybe we should write a book about what not to say to a bc person.
Tracey62
Member
10 years ago
Hi Donna,

gee you hear some pearlers! Really wish people would think before they speak. Like Brenda said, the biopsy can really aggravate the bc. I bumped mine on crutches causing a bleed around the tumour & was so worried it would set things off. The biopsy made it even worse. When it was removed doc said fully encapsulated with no rupture from my injury. Ice packs really helped. Takes a lot of mental discipline to not go down the "what if" path.

I wish there was a lesson on how to block those unhelpful remarks ?? Hang in there Donna, sounds like you have a fantastic support team around you. You are going to be okay, it's just going to take time and hard work. You can do this, Trace??
Island_Girl
Member
10 years ago
Hi Donna,

I too had the ache you described , it reminded me of mastitis, a drawing deep ache. For me this has now gone and I just have very occasion, mild nerve pain. I think the ache lasted 2-3 weeks. I found and still continue to find it difficult to block out negetative comments.One of my standard lines is, ' This conversation is not helpful to me or I find that comment unhelpful'. It seems to stop most people in their tracks, although I have had occasion to repeat it to one person who persisted !!
lisboy
Member
10 years ago
Hi Donna

I used to get an achy feeling in the affected breast before and after I was diagnosed. I also get aches and pains now in both sides. I was convinced that cancer had returned to my other breast before I had a mammo that gave the all clear. I think that aches and pains in the breast tissue are common.

All the best with the surgery in a week.

Lisa
June1952
Member
10 years ago
Hi Donna

The mind is a powerful thing !

15 months after my mastectomy I am getting pains in both the existing breast and the chopped off side.

Saw my doctor this week for other reasons and mentioned the boobs. He laughed - said "that is why we tell women to check for lumps, all women get all sorts of pains all the time and they'd be heading off for tests every month".

He did, however, order an ultrasound on both side "for your peace of mind".

As Brenda said, the tests you have had can cause bruising and swelling and general aches so try not to worry too much. If the medicos thought it was urgent you'd have been in pronto and had it all removed.

Try to remain active and ignore it - and that less-than-helpful person !

Good luck and get on-line if you need to talk to others.

Summer :-)
skitzy
Member
10 years ago
Hi Donna I seem to get a burning feeling in mine but it's not there all the time. I was diagnosed on January the 6TH. Hope the surgery goes well for you. Sending prayers & hugs.
Brenda5
Member
10 years ago
Yes its the cancer. Mine hurt more after they'd done both a needle biopsy and a punch biopsy as the bruising and swelling was awful. The cancer did not grow any bigger in 3 weeks, it was just a bit of swelling from the tests. Mind you it might have been nice if the Dr had warned me of that and I didn't have to get my breast nurse to round him up for an appointment to examine, explain the swelling and apparently it was a clot as well.