I don't know If I'm in the right area but question about breast pain..

Diseases & Conditions Breast Cancer
1
I am 23 very young but come from a large history of breast cancer in the family all on my moms side.
 
I don't feel any lumps or anything and the pain started a couple of months ago. It's in a specific area and it's a sharp like stabbing pain and its also a shooting pain where when it happens I feel like I have trouble  breathing because it hurts so bad to breathe. The pain has gotten worse. I see my doctor Thursday.
 
Now I know they say breast cancer is painless but I have read that sometimes It can have pain along with it.
 
Any thoughts or suggestions would be greatly appreciated. :)
 
Michelle
2
Hi Michelle, welcome! You have come to the right area, we'll help as best we can...
Myth #1: Breast cancer is painless.
Fact: Many of us had pains or painful lumps that turned out to be cancer...

I say that not to scare you, but to encourage you to get it checked out to the fullest. There are many many benign breast conditions that can cause pain, including changes associated with the menstrual cycle. You are extremely young for breast cancer, although not totally out of harm's way, the odds are overwhelmingly in your favor for this to be nothing to worry about.

Your mom's family has a history of BC....were they young, like unde 40, when diagnosed? If many of them were very young, there could be a risk of a genetic mutation that would place you at potential higher risk...but if they were older, it may be nothing more than random chance.

Please insist that your doctor do an ultrasound. A mammogram is not likely to show anything in a woman of your age. They may wish to do an MRI or something too, don't be alarmed, but be happy they are taking your concern seriously.

You may also consider cutting out caffeine before the doc visit to see if that changes anything.

Good luck!
Lori

3
Very definitely follow Lori's advice. DO NOT let any doctor tell you you are too young. We have had women as young as you are diagnosed. I say that not to frighten you, but to impress upon you the need to get a baseline mammogram or sonogram or whatever it takes to compare with later ones. Please come back and let us know more. We will be here. Hugs MK


4

Hello Michelle: Yes, you came to the right place for answers to your questions. Lori has given you great advice as has MK. I really can't add anything to all of the facts that they have told you. I will restate what they told you about INSISTING that your physician do an ultrasound or MRI after the mammogram. With your family history, this is very, very important. My daughters have had to fight to get mammograms and the other tests, even w/ our family history. The excuse given..."you are too young". Don't let your medical team use that excuse. You fight to make sure that there is nothing there. One other thing, as someone mentioned, watch your caffine intake. That many times can cause pain in the breast. Please take someone w/ you to your appointment. This will help you stay calmer plus give you another set of ears as well as another advocate in your corner to help you get the tests needed.

We will be thinking about you. Please let us know how things go at your appt and also come back if you need someone to "hold your hand" until Thursday.

Hugs...Deb

 

5
*Go get it checked out*!  I started off on my seemingly never ending quest to be over this breast "stuff" by having breast pain. I went to my normal doc, and got a prescription for a DX mammo and ultrasound.  They actually found something totally unrelated, but I truly feel like the breast pain was a sign for me. If I hadnt had it...my first mammo would have been many years down the road, and maybe too late confused
 
I have found you have to be your own doctor sometimes...pushing for tests..pushing to be seen.  Better to be proactive definitely!!!
 
Good luck..and usually breast pain is not a sign of anything serious, but it will mean better peace of mind for you to rule things out.
 
Michele

Currently in remission on 100 mg Imuran after a year of trying EVERYTHING
else!!

6
Michelle,
 
You have been given great advice.  So I will just say that as an example, my breast cancer was painful.  Not extremely, but sore.  So that takes care of that myth.
 
I welcome you to our corner of the world.  Please keep us informed, we will be praying for benign results. 
 
Love and hugs,
 
Candy

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: if one falls down, his friend can help him up.  Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
 

7

Thank you guys for all of your comments! :-)

Somebody mentioned caffeine. I don't drink any caffeine I don't like it so I never drink it. As for sugar I haven't had any in a couple of months as I'm trying to loose weight.

I will keep you all posted on Thursday after my appointment.

 

Michelle

 

8
I have heard that b/c doesn't cause pain but that's sheer bull. My second mastectomy was the result of sharp pains. They were in the same area as the cancerous microcalcifications.

You very much need to have it checked out. I certainly join the previous responders that there is no such thing as "too young for b/c". Our youngest member was only 20 when dx'd.

I will be praying that everything works out for you.

Hugs, Jo-Ann

A good friend will bail you out of jail...
but a true friend will be sitting
next to you saying,
"Dâmn... that was fun!".

9
A quick question did any of you ever have blood coming from your nipple? I did a couple months back when the pain started. What could it mean?
 
Lisa
10
Lisa-
I am no expert, but it could mean many different things. Just keep in mind that there are a number of benign breast conditions which could be causing your problems, and the odds are much much more in your favor. Even in the general population, 80% of breast lumps are benign...and I would venture to bet in your cae the odds are stronger. However, you certainly have enough symptoms to warrant the exam and testing to be sure. To put your mind at ease, blood discharge does not "mean" anything, other than get it checked out.

Please consider asking for a copy of all your test results and keep them for the future, for comparisons or any questions down the road. Let us know what happens!

Lori