Hi ladies
I realised that I've been coming onto this site sporadically for years and years when HA rears it's head. I look for reassurance, then bugger off until another fear pops up again and I very rarely comment or offer any sort of reassurance to other people...I guess if we all did that, the site wouldn't be very helpful! So, in a bid to change my ways, thought I'd share my recent HA bout - obviously this is only my experience, but maybe it will help. So, in short...
I've had intermittent breast pain for what feels like years. Always in the same spot on the side of my right breast (near arm). Quite sharp, and I haven't recognised it as being cyclical with my period. Because I was worried about other things - I think I'm actually addicted to worry - I didn't give it much thought. Also, I started running a lot over the past 18 months-2 years and my breasts in general changed - stretch marks and sitting lower, exposing more of chest bones. So I just put it down to that - maybe friction from running.
For reasons I won't bore you with, I started getting a little worried about it recently. So of course, I started prodding around looking for something - which made the pain worse. Then I started getting obsessed with this lumpy area at the top of my breast...It doesn't feel like a 'lump', more like a ridge of lumpiness. Again, I noticed it when I started running. But as I'd obsessed about pretty much everything else in my body up to this point, I thought it was time to concentrate on breast cancer - that's how HA works, right?
I guess the difference here is that if you have a change in your breasts, you should get it checked out - I'm told. So this time, I didn't sheepishly walk into my doctor's office embarrassed about my latest self-diagnosis; I felt confident I was doing the right thing. She gave me a good check, and said while she didn't think it was anything at all sinister, she'd send me for an ultrasound (partly because of my anxiety). So of course, I think, I've got breast cancer. I'm one of the rare few who have it at 32 years old, it's a sure thing.
Due to a cancellation, I managed to get an appointment the next morning.
Right, so here's some insight for anyone who is heading for an ultrasound. If your hospital (NHS) is anything like mine, it was pretty chaotic. Very, very busy and running very late. I wished I'd have taken a book to pass the time. Although the constant barrage of people was at least some distraction from my anxiety - and some of the characters in there were quite entertaining! The staff - doctors, nurses, receptionists - were all lovely. They clearly know what a daunting prospect it is for anyone woman to be in a breast care clinic, and they act accordingly. It's very comforting.
Anyway, a doctor checked me over and agreed there was a lumpy area and that I needed an ultrasound. I asked all the inane questions ("does it feel like cancer?") to which she replied "its highly unlikely, but we should check". Anxiety level 8/10. Wait another hour (I've now been there at least two), and I'm called into the ultrasound room by a lovely young woman who said she'd try make sure I was seen before I needed to leave for a work appointment - and she did. The ultrasound lasted about 1-2 mins, with a specialist thoroughly checking everything. We all had a little chat while she was doing it (which I orchestrated...it made me less nervous than sitting there in silence waiting for my fate!) and then, she pressed a button, jumped up and said "all normal, you can go - no need to see the doctor."
And that was it! So I guess the lumpiness is just breast tissue, but nothing to worry about and would you believe, I haven't had any breast pain since...
Now obviously this is just my experience but for anyone who has an ultrasound coming up and is nervous - as I was - please don't be. In my experience, apart from taking a while, it was very comfortable and everyone was lovely. Plus, I think I read that 80%+ of lumps turn out not to be sinister...I'd say that's a pretty good stat.
Hope that helps someone x
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