Anyone here dealt with Breast Cancer?

lynnmoon · 08-29-2008, 02:46 AM

I don't know if I've found the right spot for this post or not. If not, I apologize.

I'm at a spot where I don't know if I need to push for my doctor to do something a bit more drastic to check to see if I have breast cancer OR if the symptoms I'm experiencing are just a part of me. Knowing that PCOSers do have an increased risk of Breast Cancer, I thought I'd check here to see if there are any ladies with Breast Cancer, who have survived breast cancer or who just have strange breast issues that might be related to PCOS.

I waiver back and forth between feeling really nervous and really silly and don't want to make a big deal out of nothing. But I also don't want to die of some undiagnosed cancer and have a doctor tell my folks....we could have removed it if only we had caught it sooner. Grrr....

So, what's the problem.

I have lost 35 pounds in the past few months, which is a great thing and promises to improve some of the PCOS symptoms; but I wonder does it kind of "change" some of the symptoms that I do have.

With less padding, I found a small lump underneath my arm. Went to my GYN, they gave me a referral to a breast surgeon to check into it further. They examined it and looked via in office ultrasound and said that it was not deep enough to be a lymph node and that it was most likely just an infected hair follicle. I dutifully asked...are you sure? They said 98% sure, and only that because well I suppose you can never TOTALLY be sure that anything isn't cancerous ever so 100% isn't possible without cutting into it. "We can cut it out for you and check it out." "No thanks!" and I zoomed out...happy as a lark.

Fast forward a few weeks to now and I have symptoms that might require me to revisit this cancer thing OR maybe it's common in women with hormone issues.

A couple of weeks ago, my nipples became very sore for no reason and it's persisted for a while. (sorry for TMI) It's gotten better, so maybe that's a normal monthy symptom that I just didn't have before???

Irritated and itchy breasts. This is a symptom that comes and goes and has done so for months, but I didn't ever connect it with anything. And it can get very frustrating...to the point of me wanting to scratch with a hard bristled brush. But I've heard other people talk about that before, it's just not something I've experienced much.

Breast pain and tenderness. I know that most normal women have this problem; but I've never had it before now so it kind of bothers me.

I have read about Paget's Disease of the Breast and it really bothers me because some of the things I've read say that only about 50% of women who have it have a detectable breast lump. Many don't know that they have it till it's spread to a lymph node. And all of the symptoms sound so familiar...extreme fatigue and tiredness, weight loss, the breast symptoms I mentioned, etc.

But then again, I'm TRYING to loose weight so I can't count that as a symptom unless my efforts just happened to coincide to a period where I was gonna loose it anyway.

And depression and fatigue are things that I have been dealing with in a major way, but that's quite easily linked to PCOS.

And I have noticed my periods acting more normal since I've lost weight, so then I think it's all just my body adjusting to the wt. lose. Maybe it's just put me in a more "normal" category of female troubles. It makes me hate the PCOS stuff even more.

If I were normal to begin with, then abnormal would be easier to detect. But since I'm ALREADY abnormal, I could attribute too much to too many other things.

So, I was just hoping to connect with some PCOS'ers who have also dealt with thier own Breast Cancer or Breast Cancer scares.

Eruanna · 08-30-2008, 06:59 PM

I haven't myself, but my mother has PCOS and she has also had (and survived

) breast cancer. She didn't have any symptoms like that though.

I'd get it checked out if I was you, if even just for your own peace of mind. There are all sorts of things that could be causing your symptoms - I've had a few weeks of itchy breasts before and it turns out it was a change in washing powder!! But get it checked and then you won't need to worry about it

lynnmoon · 09-03-2008, 08:35 AM

Thanks for the reply. I've got a follow up appointment this week and so that'll help.

But I'm a very paranoid person and not the most trusting patient in the world, so even if the doctor checks it out and tells me I'm fine...I'm probably still gonna wonder for a while. Oh well, I guess I was hoping to see a bunch of posts saying...
"oh yeah, I have all those symptoms."

Guess I'll see what it's all about.

Tensei · 09-03-2008, 10:52 AM

I would definitely get a lumpectomy (let them cut it out) and have it sent for biopsy. That's the only way you can be 100% sure.

My MIL had it done last year, and the procedure is not that bad, especially if it's not deep. You're awake, but numbed up mighty good.

My MIL lost her life to breast cancer (hers was an extremely rare case), so please, don't mess around with this. I would have the lumpectomy done so that you can know for sure.

Eruanna · 09-04-2008, 12:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lynnmoon

Thanks for the reply. I've got a follow up appointment this week and so that'll help.

But I'm a very paranoid person and not the most trusting patient in the world, so even if the doctor checks it out and tells me I'm fine...I'm probably still gonna wonder for a while. Oh well, I guess I was hoping to see a bunch of posts saying...
"oh yeah, I have all those symptoms."

Guess I'll see what it's all about.

Good you have another appointment

I too am very paranoid when it comes to health, and always think the worst! Hope it all goes well for you

rainydays · 09-04-2008, 01:26 AM

I am glad to hear you are going in for a follow up. I think it is best to go for the test. Getting it cut out or a needle biopsy may be scary, but you will feel so much relief when you know it's ok!

I had a cancer scare this year. I am extra paranoid about getting breast cancer because my sister died from breast cancer in her early 30s. I'm 25 now, and it's been 5 years since her death. As I approach the age she was diagnosed (29) I am quite scared.

This year, my gyno found a lump in my breast. He said it was probably nothing, until I reminded him my sister died of breast cancer. He told me to get a mamo and ultrasound of my breast right away. I didn't want to go to the doctor he sent me to, but I had no choice with my insurance (off topic: I hate insuance companies). I was so scared. I cried through most of the tests, convinced I was going to die. After those 2 tests, they still were not sure about the lump and said their might be 2 lump. At that point I was doing nothing but crying all the time. I just was about 99.9% convinced myself it was cancer.

So, at this point I needed a biopsy. I finally got to pick where to get treatment, and I went to Fox Chase Cancer Center. They were really great. Everyone was very professional, kind and reassuring without giving false hope. I had a needle biopsy, so they didn't cut the lump out. They just stuck a huge needle in my boob to remove a tissue sample. They numbed my breast, but it still was just scary and nervewracking.

But the outcome: I don't have cancer! It was a cyst in the end. GD cysts are really out to get me! grrrrr. I was so relieved in the end

I have a 6 month check-up at Fox Chase in a month, to check on the cyst. If it's growing, I may need to get it out. Also, I am enrolling in a program that helps you figure out your cancer risk at Fox Chase.

When it comes to your health, don't take chances! Tests may be scary, but knowing the truth will make you feel so much better.
Good Luck

sophie1 · 09-04-2008, 03:24 PM

I have an appointment for a needle biopsy tomorrow morning. Just thought I'd let you know you're not alone.

Kalyn · 09-07-2008, 06:21 PM

It never hurts to have thing checked into farther, even if it is just for your own peace of mind.

My mom had (and also survived

) breast cancer (11 years ago!). I remember her saying she had no symptoms. She just itched one day and felt something....and when she laid on her back she saw the knot. Her GYN told her he was pretty sure it wasn't anything serious after doing a quick check....but she went for a mammogram and it was "suspicious" so they did a lumpectomy and it came back positive. But I remember her saying she never had any symptoms like pain or anything....it was just there.

JosieFB · 09-07-2008, 06:40 PM

My mother has had breast cancer too, and I've had a non-cancerous fibro-cycstic tumor removed. Neither of us had the symptoms you have described. Changes in the level of estrogen can cause breast tenderness and pain, so losing weight may have increased the amount of estrogen in your body.

I suggest you ask about having a needle biopsy on the lump. That's less invasive than removing it. If it's an infection, they'll probably know immediately.

Eva37 · 10-04-2009, 05:21 PM

just found this thread.

ive just had bc removed from by wide local excision (lumpectomy), have another op 12 Oct to remove the rest of the lump. The lump was bigger than it seemed at the time of the op.