Anyone Have Breast Lump Checked Out?

patchen30 · May 2012

I noticed a tiny, pebble-sized lump back in Jan but I couldn't tell whether it was on the other side as well and I'm breastfeeding so I stupidly ignored it. A few days ago I had a blocked duct and noticed it again so I called my OB and asked that they move up my annual exam. They squeezed me in that day, and (before I even saw her) told me to follow up w/ an ultrasound and the breast specialist. After I saw my OB and she examined me she didn't change her recommendation. She was all business and didn't say much of anything except that they "dont mess around w/ the breast" - I was hoping for a little reassurance. I'm 32 w/o a family history of breast cancer. I'm super worried now, my appts are next week. Anyone else dealt w/ this?

rosesandpeonies · May 2012

yes and I had bloody discharge....which is not a great sign (the discharge)

I went for the ultrasound and saw the breast specialist and there was something there.

Lit up under MRI (not a great thing either)

had the biopsy done and it was benign. but when she went in there was a second she couldn't biopsy so I have to get another MRI.

Just letting you know that my symptoms were very scary and it all ended up fine. Yes I have to be watched for a while, but Im ok.

It is common to get clogged ducts, etc. when breastfeeding. Try not too worry too much. Just get what you need done and don't think ahead.

Also, after my first daughter I had a lump under my underarm...turned out to be a benign cyst.

BTW I never breastfed a day in my life but my milk still comes in etc., so you can still get things like clogged ducts, etc. Turns out I might have to get my duct out because I still leak...but mine is an entire different story than what you are dealing with.

Ali212 · May 2012

I haven't had that happen but will say I did have a small lump that I noticed while I was BFing my 2nd child. It was right as I was starting to wean that I noticed it (so I'm not sure how long it was around). I was a bit worried but I also knew that I was scheduled to have a mammogram (my ObGyn does them routinely 6 months after you stop BFing) so I decided to wait until that and it went away. I figured if they wait a few months to do mammograms after you stop BFing, they might have that delay to allow your breasts to get back to normal so that's why I waited.

I'm not sure that was the right reasoning or that it was smart of me to wait (my ObGyn did ask why I didn't mention it to him earlier since I didn't say anything until I went in for mammogram) but just wanted to give you my experience. That said, I don't have family history with breast cancer so I might have been more nervous if I had that (or if I hadn't already had a 1st mammogram that was clear). I might push the issue with your dr just to give you peace of mind.

patchen30 · May 2012

Ali212:
I haven't had that happen but will say I did have a small lump that I noticed while I was BFing my 2nd child. It was right as I was starting to wean that I noticed it (so I'm not sure how long it was around). I was a bit worried but I also knew that I was scheduled to have a mammogram (my ObGyn does them routinely 6 months after you stop BFing) so I decided to wait until that and it went away. I figured if they wait a few months to do mammograms after you stop BFing, they might have that delay to allow your breasts to get back to normal so that's why I waited.

I'm not sure that was the right reasoning or that it was smart of me to wait (my ObGyn did ask why I didn't mention it to him earlier since I didn't say anything until I went in for mammogram) but just wanted to give you my experience. That said, I don't have family history with breast cancer so I might have been more nervous if I had that (or if I hadn't already had a 1st mammogram that was clear). I might push the issue with your dr just to give you peace of mind.

Are you over 40? Just wondering bc of the mammogram - do they do mammograms on all women of all ages 6 mo after BF? My Dr suggested an u/s rather than mammo I guess bc of my age (32). Also, I have no family history of breast cancer.

Ali212 · May 2012

patchen30:
Ali212:
I haven't had that happen but will say I did have a small lump that I noticed while I was BFing my 2nd child. It was right as I was starting to wean that I noticed it (so I'm not sure how long it was around). I was a bit worried but I also knew that I was scheduled to have a mammogram (my ObGyn does them routinely 6 months after you stop BFing) so I decided to wait until that and it went away. I figured if they wait a few months to do mammograms after you stop BFing, they might have that delay to allow your breasts to get back to normal so that's why I waited.

I'm not sure that was the right reasoning or that it was smart of me to wait (my ObGyn did ask why I didn't mention it to him earlier since I didn't say anything until I went in for mammogram) but just wanted to give you my experience. That said, I don't have family history with breast cancer so I might have been more nervous if I had that (or if I hadn't already had a 1st mammogram that was clear). I might push the issue with your dr just to give you peace of mind.
Are you over 40? Just wondering bc of the mammogram - do they do mammograms on all women of all ages 6 mo after BF? My Dr suggested an u/s rather than mammo I guess bc of my age (32). Also, I have no family history of breast cancer.

Nope. In fact, I'm not 30 yet. Both of my ObGyns (I switched between the births of my 2 children) recommended mammograms 6 months after stopping BFing. I think it's more of a standard good-practice medical recommendation than an age one given that 2 completely separate drs had me do it with the exact same timing.

Sorry, I must have misread your OP and thought you said you had family history.

MBandBud · May 2012

I have - don't worry until they tell you to worry. Ironically I thought I felt something on one side but when I went they saw something on the other. The reason you don't go when bf is b/c it is hard to see anything with all the milk ducts and hard to distinguish between the two. Usually they'll do a mammo (film) and then do a sonogram/ultrasound if necessary. They someone will interpret but don't be surprised if they say come back in 6 months - then they can see if there are changes. Sometimes they'll do a biopsy - to get some fluid out but I'm not sure the determining factor. I'm in the 6 months wait window and I try to not worry until they tell me to. Good to get it checked out.

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