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Is Breast Pain a Sign of Breast Cancer?
Breast Cancer | Last Active: Jul 31, 2023 | Replies (14)Comment receiving replies
My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up on my mammogram). The second time around during a six month checkup I had a lump, that was quite obviously a cyst, that was hurting. The doctor dismissed it and said, 'just keep an eye on it', as it was a cyst but I became concerned, it was causing more pain a couple months later and............it was a cyst and under the cyst was invasive breast cancer. My advice to anyone who has concerns if they find pain or unusual symptoms in their breast is to have it checked out and keep an eye on it. Not to say every woman should panic each time her breasts hurt (mine hurt all the time when I was young and it was hormones, etc) but better safe than sorry. I was lucky I persued that cyst and the pain because my breast cancer, although invasive, was caught early.
Replies to "My breast cancer was completely symptomless the first time. No pain, no lump (microcalcifications showed up..."
Good luck Trixie1313 with your 'journey'. It is scary and there are so many decisions you must make when you are first diagnosed. But, take your time, do your research and proceed with your doctors knowing you've explored all your options. I sincerely hope you've found the cancer early. I am so lucky I did. But also, several of my friends and many people on this support site have done quite well even if there cancer has spread. They are doing remarkable things in the treatment of breast cancer now.
Thank you Cindy - if the Tumor Board accepts me, I'm pretty sure I'll do the IORT so the radiation doesn't go into axilla or lung area as much. We'll get through this....sure is nice to have this board to see how all are doing.
Sounds like a plan! I only opted for the bi lateral mastectomy because my Stage 0 cancer was in my left breast and my Stage 1 was in my right. It looked like I'd be in 'lumpectomy land' for years picking out the bad parts. The mastectomy is not so bad but if you don't have to do it, they now say lumpectomies and follow up are just as effective in most cases to get you healthy again.
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I also had fibrocystic and very dense breasts younger. I was hesitant to go back in because I was always told it's just normal for me. However, when I felt the lump, got to thinking along with the fullness and pain, that this should be looked into. So glad I took the initiative. Your advice is excellent, Cindy. Mine also is an early invasive stage. I am leaning toward IORT (intra-operative radiation therapy) at this time and hoping when they do lumpectomy that the margins are wide and no nodes, but time will tell. All the best to you.