if lumps hurt....

JulieC
JulieC Member Posts: 37
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
is it less likely to be cancer if the lump is sore to the touch?

Comments

  • suematt
    suematt Member Posts: 14
    #2
    I had always heard that if it is painful it probably is not cancer. My lump was extremely tender, and I am sorry to say, it was cancer. If you have not already scheduled an appointment to see your doctor, please do so right away. And know that my prayers are with you. Sue
  • judiek
    judiek Member Posts: 71
    #3
    Julie,

    I always read and heard that if your breast lump was painful it was usually benign. I too hate to say that my lump was very tender and it was cancer. Doctor thought at first that I had a breast infection because of the amount of pain it gave me, especially when touched. Please go in and have it checked...it doesn't mean that it is. I will pray that it is nothing.

    Warmly,

    Judie
  • Kathy1108
    Kathy1108 Member Posts: 62
    #4
    Julie,
    I don't want to scare you but my lump did hurt and it was cancer. Please do not take too long to have it checked. Let us know how you made out with it.

    Kathy
  • KarenKL
    KarenKL Member Posts: 42
    #5
    In Nov. 2003 I found a lump, it didn't hurt. In March I finally went to have it check, it only hurt when I or the Dr. put pressure on it. I was told I was to young for cancer it was just a tumor or cist. After biopsy it was cancer. Now I am having a mastectomy cause it is that bad. In my opinion the lumps don't hurt unless pressure is being put on it. Still either way have it check A.S.A.P Good luck. Karen
  • merejones
    merejones Member Posts: 1
    #6
    I was nursing and I thought my sore lump was a clogged milk duct. It turned out to be advanced breast cancer. Hopefully it's not serious for you, but the sooner you get it checked, the better.
  • Gramma44
    Gramma44 Member Posts: 28
    #7
    Hi Julie. I've been reading your various messages, and posted a thread to one of them. I don't remember if my lump was sore or not (3 years ago) but I do remember when my mother went in to have a lump removed in 1973 they told her it was nothing because it hurt; she came out with a mastectomy because it was cancer. Back then they didn't have the options we have now. My main reason for writing a response to this question is that I am concerned that you are having to wait so long for dr appts to check on the lumps you have. You are obviously scared, as we all are, by a lump in our breasts. I believe you said in a previous message that you have an appt in August with your gyn. Is there anyway you can get in to see a different doctor sooner? If a doctor has felt that lump, and it is still there, I think you should be going straight to a surgeon for a biopsy. By the time you see your ob/gyn, then get a referral to a surgeon, you are really putting things off a long time. I'm not trying to scare you, I think you are scared enough, but I don't think your doctors are taking you seriously if they have let things go this long.
  • hillbillycat
    hillbillycat Member Posts: 79
    #8
    Gramma44 said:

    Hi Julie. I've been reading your various messages, and posted a thread to one of them. I don't remember if my lump was sore or not (3 years ago) but I do remember when my mother went in to have a lump removed in 1973 they told her it was nothing because it hurt; she came out with a mastectomy because it was cancer. Back then they didn't have the options we have now. My main reason for writing a response to this question is that I am concerned that you are having to wait so long for dr appts to check on the lumps you have. You are obviously scared, as we all are, by a lump in our breasts. I believe you said in a previous message that you have an appt in August with your gyn. Is there anyway you can get in to see a different doctor sooner? If a doctor has felt that lump, and it is still there, I think you should be going straight to a surgeon for a biopsy. By the time you see your ob/gyn, then get a referral to a surgeon, you are really putting things off a long time. I'm not trying to scare you, I think you are scared enough, but I don't think your doctors are taking you seriously if they have let things go this long.

    Hi Julie, My lump didn`t hurt unless you pressed very hard on it. When I first found mine I was told that I would have to wait untill a month also but I went to a Urgent Care and went in to be seen by a dr, who I knew would need to refer me so I could get the problem over with as soon as possible. At first I wanted to (wait and see) if it would go away after my period but it didn`t. I even thought if I lay off the coffee it would dwindle away but of course it didn`t.Hopefully you have it taken care of.You will be amazed at how you are more relieved when you take the first step in getting the problem solved.....Not knowing is the worst.....Shirl
  • inkblot
    inkblot Member Posts: 698 Member
    #9
    Hi Julie:

    We can see from these posts that some cancerous lumps hurt and some don't. So, pain status isn't a reliable indicator of what the lump may or may not be.

    My lump didn't hurt at all. I had always had off and on fibrocystic breasts, so when I felt my tumor, I thought it felt just a bit different somehow but wasn't sure. I monitored it through one more cycle to see if it disappeared. It didn't. It remained the same.

    I called my gyn and had a mammo the very next day. Two weeks later (I'd already seen the breast suregeon and had fine needle biopsy in his office during the initial consult visit) I was having surgery to remove the tumor. Which was a total of 6 weeks from my discovery of it to removal. It can take that much time to get appoints in some areas and get to surgery, if needed, so it seemed pretty quick from that first phone call to my gyn. to surgery for me. With inflammatory bc or certain other conditions which cause the breast to be swollen, red, hot or seemingly inflamed, I think a more expedient trip to the doc is in order.

    I don't know how long since you discovered your lump but I don't think it's wise to wait more than one cycle to have any suspicious lump checked out.

    Good wishes and please keep us posted.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink
  • JulieC
    JulieC Member Posts: 37
    #10
    inkblot said:

    Hi Julie:

    We can see from these posts that some cancerous lumps hurt and some don't. So, pain status isn't a reliable indicator of what the lump may or may not be.

    My lump didn't hurt at all. I had always had off and on fibrocystic breasts, so when I felt my tumor, I thought it felt just a bit different somehow but wasn't sure. I monitored it through one more cycle to see if it disappeared. It didn't. It remained the same.

    I called my gyn and had a mammo the very next day. Two weeks later (I'd already seen the breast suregeon and had fine needle biopsy in his office during the initial consult visit) I was having surgery to remove the tumor. Which was a total of 6 weeks from my discovery of it to removal. It can take that much time to get appoints in some areas and get to surgery, if needed, so it seemed pretty quick from that first phone call to my gyn. to surgery for me. With inflammatory bc or certain other conditions which cause the breast to be swollen, red, hot or seemingly inflamed, I think a more expedient trip to the doc is in order.

    I don't know how long since you discovered your lump but I don't think it's wise to wait more than one cycle to have any suspicious lump checked out.

    Good wishes and please keep us posted.

    Love, light and laughter,
    Ink

    I found this lump in december of 2003, went to surgeon in Jan.2004...he did mamo, sono & said dont worry should be ok..looks normal..although my breasts are very dense for a 46 yr.old post menopausal woman. anyway, even though my gyn sent me to the surgeon for a biopsy..surgeon said no need...we'll wait & see, come back if it doesnt go away. no biopsy even tho my mother, grandmother & 3 aunts all had breast cancer...and I was so eager to hear "its normal..dont worry" that I didnt insist upon a biopsy...now i'm really kicking myself for that!! anyway, after asking some questions on this web site about a month ago i decided that i'd better get my butt in gear & get a biopsy. I was'nt sure if I wanted to go back to the same surgeon since he didnt seem to care about me...so I called & asked if I could go directly to another surgeon but they said no I need to start back at square one..at my gyno. so the first opening she had was august 3rd and thats only because she had a cancelation...otherwise I'd be waiting another 3 months. I really appreciate the caring & information I receive from everyone here on this web site...I guess thats why I keep coming back here while I play this stupid maddening waiting game!!! it helps to keep me from going crazy. anyway, I had so many questions & it seems that I can get more info from here than i could ever get from my doc! thanks again guys! love,Julie p.s. my lump only hurts if I press on it.
  • Gramma44
    Gramma44 Member Posts: 28
    #11
    JulieC said:

    I found this lump in december of 2003, went to surgeon in Jan.2004...he did mamo, sono & said dont worry should be ok..looks normal..although my breasts are very dense for a 46 yr.old post menopausal woman. anyway, even though my gyn sent me to the surgeon for a biopsy..surgeon said no need...we'll wait & see, come back if it doesnt go away. no biopsy even tho my mother, grandmother & 3 aunts all had breast cancer...and I was so eager to hear "its normal..dont worry" that I didnt insist upon a biopsy...now i'm really kicking myself for that!! anyway, after asking some questions on this web site about a month ago i decided that i'd better get my butt in gear & get a biopsy. I was'nt sure if I wanted to go back to the same surgeon since he didnt seem to care about me...so I called & asked if I could go directly to another surgeon but they said no I need to start back at square one..at my gyno. so the first opening she had was august 3rd and thats only because she had a cancelation...otherwise I'd be waiting another 3 months. I really appreciate the caring & information I receive from everyone here on this web site...I guess thats why I keep coming back here while I play this stupid maddening waiting game!!! it helps to keep me from going crazy. anyway, I had so many questions & it seems that I can get more info from here than i could ever get from my doc! thanks again guys! love,Julie p.s. my lump only hurts if I press on it.

    Thanks for the update Julie. Let us know what your ob/gyn says. You can be sure we are all hoping this is indeed nothing, but make sure she gets you in to see a surgeon immediately "just in case". My prayers are with you! I'll be watching for news after your dr appt.
    Sharyl

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