breast pain and tissue changes after mammogram

I had 2 lumps in my right underarm a few months ago, and although
they went away in a few days, my dr ordered a diagnostic mammogram. I
hadn't had a mammogram before that (I'm 37). The technician took
four films on the right side, and the regular 2 films of the left. I
noticed that the procedure hurt more on the left.
There were abnormalities in the right breast, but after an
ultrasound, the prognosis was 'come back in 6 months', so I put my
fears aside somewhat.
However, since the mammogram, I have had pain in the left
breast. It's localized (sort of where my underarm becomes my breast),
and it has been daily. Not constant, but many times a day. It
sometimes comes on quickly, like a bruise being poked, and makes me
wince.
I have large breasts, and have always had some degree of
soreness in that area. When it got worse, I thought that maybe it was
ligament pain. I tried wearing different kinds of bras, but the pain
is always the same now.
Gradually, I noticed that the tissue in that area was
thickening... it is harder to the touch when I self-exam, and it hurts
to touch. I went back to the doc today (actually, she's an np), and
described the problem. When she examined me, she could feel the
difference in the tissue. She commended me for being vigilant (hah -
how could I not have been 'vigilant' enough to feel all this pain?!),
and agreed that it should be checked out.
I asked to forego a second mammogram and skip straight to
ultrasound, and thankfully she agreed. So I have an ultrasound
sceduled for tomorrow afternoon.
I'm nervous but glad to be getting answers (hopefully).
Sorry if this post seems pointless.. I guess I am sort of hoping that
someone else can chime in and say 'Hey, same thing happened to me' or
something. Thanks for listening...

"Amy" <momshea4@msn.com> wrote in message
news:79975eec-4e4b-4164-90e9-278c3ce63d8d@d45g2000hsc.googlegroups.com...
> I had 2 lumps in my right underarm a few months ago, and although
> they went away in a few days, my dr ordered a diagnostic mammogram. I
> hadn't had a mammogram before that (I'm 37). The technician took
> four films on the right side, and the regular 2 films of the left. I
> noticed that the procedure hurt more on the left.
> There were abnormalities in the right breast, but after an
> ultrasound, the prognosis was 'come back in 6 months', so I put my
> fears aside somewhat.
> However, since the mammogram, I have had pain in the left
> breast. It's localized (sort of where my underarm becomes my breast),
> and it has been daily. Not constant, but many times a day. It
> sometimes comes on quickly, like a bruise being poked, and makes me
> wince.
> I have large breasts, and have always had some degree of
> soreness in that area. When it got worse, I thought that maybe it was
> ligament pain. I tried wearing different kinds of bras, but the pain
> is always the same now.
> Gradually, I noticed that the tissue in that area was
> thickening... it is harder to the touch when I self-exam, and it hurts
> to touch. I went back to the doc today (actually, she's an np), and
> described the problem. When she examined me, she could feel the
> difference in the tissue. She commended me for being vigilant (hah -
> how could I not have been 'vigilant' enough to feel all this pain?!),
> and agreed that it should be checked out.
> I asked to forego a second mammogram and skip straight to
> ultrasound, and thankfully she agreed. So I have an ultrasound
> sceduled for tomorrow afternoon.
> I'm nervous but glad to be getting answers (hopefully).
> Sorry if this post seems pointless.. I guess I am sort of hoping that
> someone else can chime in and say 'Hey, same thing happened to me' or
> something. Thanks for listening...

Well done for posting.

Breast pain is very common and not usually connected with breast cancer -
there's usually not much you can do about it either. Some say it will
disappear after menopause - that hasn't been my experience :-)

You've done the right thing in choosing to have a diagnosis rather than
ignore it. You must also return in six months, to see if there has been any
change in the abnormalities. That's how my bc was suspected, by seeing
differences on successive films.

Keep posting,

Mary

Amy wrote:
> I had 2 lumps in my right underarm a few months ago, and although
> they went away in a few days, my dr ordered a diagnostic mammogram. I
> hadn't had a mammogram before that (I'm 37). The technician took
> four films on the right side, and the regular 2 films of the left. I
> noticed that the procedure hurt more on the left.
> There were abnormalities in the right breast, but after an
> ultrasound, the prognosis was 'come back in 6 months', so I put my
> fears aside somewhat.
> However, since the mammogram, I have had pain in the left
> breast. It's localized (sort of where my underarm becomes my breast),
> and it has been daily. Not constant, but many times a day. It
> sometimes comes on quickly, like a bruise being poked, and makes me
> wince.
> I have large breasts, and have always had some degree of
> soreness in that area. When it got worse, I thought that maybe it was
> ligament pain. I tried wearing different kinds of bras, but the pain
> is always the same now.
> Gradually, I noticed that the tissue in that area was
> thickening... it is harder to the touch when I self-exam, and it hurts
> to touch. I went back to the doc today (actually, she's an np), and
> described the problem. When she examined me, she could feel the
> difference in the tissue. She commended me for being vigilant (hah -
> how could I not have been 'vigilant' enough to feel all this pain?!),
> and agreed that it should be checked out.
> I asked to forego a second mammogram and skip straight to
> ultrasound, and thankfully she agreed. So I have an ultrasound
> sceduled for tomorrow afternoon.
> I'm nervous but glad to be getting answers (hopefully).
> Sorry if this post seems pointless.. I guess I am sort of hoping that
> someone else can chime in and say 'Hey, same thing happened to me' or
> something. Thanks for listening...

Ditto, what Mary said. Also, if you have the fibrocystic disease like
I do, the ultrasound can show things the mammo can't (not necessarily
bad things) and gives them more to compare on the next go around.

Great that you are vigilant.

Marsha