Small lump in left breast.
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi, I'm not even sure of this is the right place to post this but I need help and advice.
Last week I was doing my monthly check of my boobs and felt a small size lump on my left breast on the side just where my bra would sit.. it not solid but not soft and it does seem to move. I'm booked in tomorrow to see my doctor. What I'm asking how many people have had lumps that have turned out to be nothing. Because I am absolutely petrified any helpnwpuld be much appreciated xxx
0 likes, 19 replies
Merry19451 jenna34385
Posted
Hi Jenna,
I am glad you are doing monthly breast checks and immediately scheduled an appointment with your physician. (S)He should schedule a diagnostic mammogram no matter what.
As your mass is small and mobile, it is more likely a benign mass. Breast Cancer feels hard, irregular, immobile, fixated, often with skin changes such as peau d'orange and puckering, and inverted nipple, and enlarged lymph nodes.
I certainly did see breast surgeon for a benign tumor, and it turned out to be nothing.
Three years ago, my identical twin and I did have breast cancer, and you know what, it wasn't the worse thing that ever happened to me (us) as I (we)caught it early! I got my screening mammograms yearly, and when available, got digital 3-D mammograms. Our prognosis is excellent. I am a Nurse Practitioner in the States and have cared for many women with breast cancer.
I am 67 years old.
Please let me know what happens.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
jenna34385 Merry19451
Posted
Hi Thank you for your reply x
I've just come back from seeing my doctor, she said it feels nodular/gristle but is sending me for a ultrasound which will be on 21st. There's no other lumps both, breast same size and no inverting. Which as put my mind at ease for now xx
nowhereelsetogo jenna34385
Posted
Hi Jenna,
I'm sorry to hear about your worries. Obviously you are doing the right thing going to the doctors and all I can do is share my experiences and details of what I have heard to see if this will help.
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer I had a lump at the tail end of my left breast under my armpit. It felt very hard and bone like and did not move at all. It was so hard that before I was diagnosed my doctor said it felt like the end of a rib. From what you say yours does not sound like this. As I waited for my results I also had darting pains from the lump to the middle of my nipple.
I have been told in the past that it you can pick up the lump and move it then it is usually a cyst. From what you say yours may well be a cyst and I feel this would be more likely. However, I'm obviously not a doctor and therefore your checking it out is the sensible thing to do.
I have since had other scares but they turned out fine.
I'm keeping everything crossed for you. Take care
jenna34385 nowhereelsetogo
Posted
Hi, thankyou for replying.
I'm so sorry about your diagnosis.
The lump is really strange, some days it seems to be bigger then ItIt seems smaller, I can't seem to pick up the lump because when I do it seems to disappear. I'm familiar with my boobs as I suffer with anxiety so past few week I have actually checked them more than monthly. I'm just absolutely petrified. Xx
nowhereelsetogo jenna34385
Posted
Hi Jenna,
Thank you, the diagnosis was over twenty years ago for me at the age of 26 ,showing how long you can live with it.
I had the same thing with a later lump I found, where it seemed to disappear, and that one turned out just to be a cyst because my remaining breast is apparently very cystic. I'm pleased to hear that your appointment is tomorrow, let me know how it went if you feel you can.
I don't know whether you have tried it, but personally I find meditation is very good to calm me down, as well as burning aromatherapy oils or incense sticks. Sandalwood works for me with an incense stick, and lavender is very calming as an oil at bedtime. When I was going through my cancer treatment I also found lying down with my eyes closed and listening to whale music or rain forests really helped, and now I like sounds of the sea. This has been replaced by meditation and yoga for me now though.
I've been learning herbalism which helps too. I even made myself St John's Wort tincture which I am finding really helps me. Maybe something like this may work for you too? Just to warn you though it can cause sensitivity to the sun, not that we need to worry about that right now! Maybe read up about it yourself and see what you think?
Or maybe even try chamomile tea which helps me to relax?
I would need to know more about you to make informed suggestions which don't contradict others conditions for example.
Best of luck for tomorrow Jenna.
jenna34385 nowhereelsetogo
Posted
I've just come back from my app with the doctors, she had a good feefeel and check both boobs. She said the lump feel more nodular/gristly but to put my mind at ease she is sending me for a ultrasound which will be on the 21 December, my anxiety Is really bad as been ever since my daughter was killed in 2014 when she was just six so my fear of death is really bad. Ibe got 3 children who are all under the age of 6 so the though of getting something and leaving the. Is too much fornem to handle. But with my anxiety I always seem to jump to the worse case scenario my brain just can't see the other possibilities. I'm so glad you have replied to me xx
Merry19451 jenna34385
Posted
Jenna,
I am so sorry for the loss of your daughter. When I stated that breast cancer wasn't the worse thing you could go through in life, you already have experienced it. I understand your anxiety and having breast cancer in relation to your children.
Nowhereels gave beautiful suggestions on how to manage anxiety. When I went through PTSD and severe depression after my former husband tried to murder me twice, I was hospitalized as I was suicidal and was on antidepressants and they have helped me tremendously. I was suicidal as I could not get the terror out of my thoughts, could not live with the terror, and hospitalized myself because I wanted to live. I had a four year old son at the time.
I listen to beautiful music, surround myself with wonderful friends and family, and saw an excellent psychiatrist to address the trauma in my life. My psychiatrist was excellent in finding the medications to help me and did psycho- therapy. Not every person needs medications for anxiety, but many people who have sustained loss can benefit from professional help regarding anxiety.
This is just another suggestion, because I care. I do not believe anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants are bad for you. It is difficult to find the correct ones to help you.
FYI: St. John's Wart and herbs are medications, with side effects, just as the prescribed medications from physicians are.
I know raising children, especially when they are under 6 years, is a busy time, but if you can take a soothing bath alone, with candlelight, with music.
I also did creative imagery, imagining I was at the shore with my family, jumping waves, in the sunshine, with my twin and son! (insert your favorite things to do)
Please let us know how things turn out!
Remember, if the ultrasound does not show a clear fluid filled cyst, you will need a diagnostic mammogram.
A biopsy is the only definitive diagnosis if the ultrasound and mammogram are suspicious. For mammograms, if you need one digital 3-D is the only way to go. Drive longer to get it. As yours is mobile, soft, and changes size, it sounds like it is benign.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
jenna34385 Merry19451
Posted
I'm so sorry that your family suffered the loss of a child aswell.. it's the worst pain I think anyone could ever feel. I'm scared if cars and roads now to the point I will walk the long way to d just so I don't have to cross a road. My little girls called lily she was knocked over by a speeding driver in front of me and her little brother she died in my arms, my depression and anxiety spiralled out of control from there. But the fear of death is so Intenense at the minute. I'm on diazepam, and citalopram. But it doesn't seem to be working anymore xx
nowhereelsetogo jenna34385
Posted
No wonder you are struggling. My brother was run over by a lorry whilst playing on the pavement near his home and it came up onto the pavement, and my father found his body. Back then he had to have shock treatment as it was many years ago. That didn't do him any good to be honest. It effected all of us and my sister and I were overprotected understandably as our parents were always worried it would happen again.
My greatest fear when I was diagnosed with the cancer was how my parents would deal with the thought of losing another child and therefore I fought hard, especially as my dad had just suffered a heart attack.
What have the doctors said to you about the anti-depressants? I had absolute nightmares with my doctors over the way they treated me with anti-depressants and in the end I slowly weaned myself off them. One of the ones I had was diazepan. I now use alternative methods like those mentioned and its not easy but personally its better for me. I wasn't me on the anti-depressants if that makes sense to you? Slowly I' m coming back and, I've even found a creative side again which I lost for many years thanks to those awful drugs.
Unfortunately my condition is such that I can't work anymore thanks to the side effects of the cancer treatment, and the anti-depressants that I should never have been given, but I cope with my alternative treatments. I am learning about herbalism to keep the grey matter going, help myself, friends, family, and anyone else I can. I' m more than happy to take a look and see if we can find some suggestions and free advice which may help your body and mind to heal themselves. I would need to ask quite a few questions to do this though and probably best not on here. I'll warn you that although I'm qualified to advise now its still very new to me and would take me a few days to collate everything properly. Let me know if you do and we will find another way to keep in touch. You will also need to run any suggestions by your doctor to check the suggestions don't interact negatively with anything else that they are already on, or any intollerances, allergies, or illnesses you may have.
Take care xx
nowhereelsetogo Merry19451
Posted
I Just wanted to say that I am so sorry to hear about what happened with your husband. I had a ex who hit me and that was bad enough.
Your right that some herbal medicines have side effects too and it's extremely important to consider these and discuss them with your doctor before taking any alternative/complementary herbal remedies.
I was unfortunate that I was given a brand new cancer treatment, given wrong information about it such as being told I would still be able to have children, but it sterilised me. Now I'm suffering from long term side effects of the treatment which mean that I can no longer digest food properly or keep in the required minerals and vitamins which causes me loads of other physical problems.
For years doctors said it was IBS and put me on anti-depressants and were constantly trying increasing and decreasing the anti-depressant drugs by huge amounts because they were not working, and my gastrointestinal problems continued to deteriorate. I was so out of it on the drugs at the time that its not until I paid for my medical notes this year that I saw how wrong their treatment of me was. Due to these massive drops and rises in the drugs, which they should never have changed by these drastic amounts, I even ended up in hospital as an attempted suicide too. Even the paramedics at the time said the doctors should not have decreased the drugs the way they did.
I agree they can help but only if prescribed in the correct way for the correct reason. I'm understandably wary of doctors now. Due to the fact that I never actually needed the anti-depressants in the first place, which has now been confirmed by a specialist because I was diagnosed incorrectly and never had IBS, the anti-depressants ended up giving me the actual mental issues that they were designed to cure by creating imbalances.
The problem with these pharmaceutical drugs is that when you take an isolated chemical and make a pill which may get rid of a disease or problem it can leave another behind like a dormant virus. Just like my cancer drug which ended up destroying the chemicals in my gut which digest food properly. However if you take a plant that has the same curing chemical naturally, its power will be counterbalanced by other contra effect properties. Thus with a natural plant derived cure there are less likely to be adverse side effects as there invariably are with a pill enclosed drug.
I love the fact that herbalism doesn't just look at the illness, it looks at the patients life as a whole. Taking a certain herb may assist the body to heal itself, but master herbalism / phytotherapy is so much more than this. You also look at the food they eat, aromotherapy, and spirituality.
My friends and family are coming to me more and more as they become dissatisfied with their present treatments, and not getting any better. I am pleased to say that I am helping myself and them and no side effects to report as yet.
Merry19451 nowhereelsetogo
Posted
Dear Nowherelse,
I am so sorry of what happened to you. So many practitioners are abysmally ignorant, and fail to listen to the patient, do not look at the adverse reactions of medications, are inaccurate in diagnosis, are arrogant and condescending, etc, etc...I believe in combination of western and alternative medicine to treat the entire person. I am sadly aware of Big Pharm and the Health Industry overtaking quality health care given by dedicated and caring health care professionals.
It is difficult to find quality clinicians, but they do exist, fortunately. I am on the Herpes Zoster-Shingles forum and many use Lysine as a supplement and I do the Hi Lysine Low Arginine Diet. It is an extremely active forum.
Best Wishes to you!
Merry Juliana
nowhereelsetogo Merry19451
Posted
Hi Merry,
Thank you for taking the time to message me back. It's nice to talk to people who feel the same way as I do.
I am glad to hear that you have found something which works for you with the Hi Lysine Low Arginine Diet. My best friend at the moment is kelp powder. As my condition continues to deteriorate I have found that I am struggling with lack of salt and sugar. When I told my doctor recently over the phone that I felt like this, and that it seemed like I was becoming a little diabetic, he said you will do. The kelp powder is helping me with my salt problems, and I take stevia drops to help with the sugar. They can't help me so I'm helping myself as best as I can. It's amazing what we eat can do for us.
Take care of yourself x
Merry19451 nowhereelsetogo
Posted
Hi
The Nuts and Legumes I was eating were contributing to my frequent severe Herpes Zoster-Shingles episodes. You are indeed what you eat! I am so sorry you have been through so much in your life. Some become bitter, and some learn, evolve and channel their energy to help others.
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
nowhereelsetogo Merry19451
Posted
Hi,
Thank you, unfortunately there has been a lot more to cope with which I won't go into, but I keep picking myself back up. I have helped so many people in different ways in my life, always putting them first. I have become very spiritual now and I am learning to look after myself too for a change, and the herbalist course is to continue to help me to help others and myself.
I'm sorry to hear about the nuts and legumes, I know how you feel because my condition is made much worse with dairy, gluten, and maize/corn. It is so difficult to find things to eat and I have to cook all of my own meals from scratch. I know how many things have nuts in to avoid bless you.
I could have a look for any suggestions for Herpes Zoster-Shingles which may help the body to heal itself if you would like? However I am aware that being part of a group you may have already tried most things.
Take care
Merry19451 nowhereelsetogo
Posted
That would be helpful. Here is my history. I am eating a Mediterranean diet, High Lysine, Low Arginine. I have always cooked from scratch and eat a lot of raw fruits and vegetables. My only supplements are Vit D3 2000 IU daily as my level is 14-16 without it, and Centrum with Lutein, as I am at hi risk for macular degeneration.I also have many IgE mediated food allergies to Sulfites, Nitrites, Latex, grapes mango, cherries bananas, figs, currants, which means I have to be very careful with food packaging. I get anaphylaxis with grapes and wine...and many processed foods contain the food preservatives.
I had to figure out these allergies by myself, as the allergist sure couldn't.
I do love to drink milk, as it soothes me, although one person on our site thinks it is bad for you, as does the breast oncologist. However, it is great for calcium, and my favorite drink. I eat enough poultry and fish and occasionally beef for protein, because I need protein. I eat grains and am not allergic to gluten.
I have had two ischemic strokes due to atrial fibrillation, in addition to breast cancer, and a few neck and lumbar surgeries. I have asthma, atopic dermatitis, and allergic rhinitis, but none is caused by food. Thank you for any suggestions....I do love my dairy products...
Best Wishes
Merry Juliana
nowhereelsetogo Merry19451
Posted
Thank you for your reply and for being so open and honest with me. You have had, and continue to have, a tremendous amount to deal with bless you. I would love to try and help in any way I can. Yesterday I received my results for my final Online Master Herbalist exam to be informed that I got a distinction and the highest score possible. Therefore I feel ready to asses and suggest possible ways to help your body to heal itself.
I need to look at the whole you, physically and emotionally. With this being the case please could you share with me how you feel emotionally at the moment, and describe your current lifestyle.
Additionally please could you inform me of any current medication you are on that the doctors have prescribed. It is very important that I avoid anything which could contraindicate them. I will always add here that any suggestions made I would advise that they be discussed with your doctors so that they are fully aware and happy. I think you may also be like me and fully research the suggestions yourself too. which I fully endorse.
Also please advise current drinking habits with regards to alcohol.
It may take days, even weeks to come back to you with my findings because there is obviously an awful lot to consider with your case. I may also need to message you on occasion for further information. I hope this is ok?
I look forward to hearing from you xx