Heavy and swollen breast

My left breast has been hurting me for the last couple of days. It feels very heavy and it feels as though it is pulling from below my armpit. I just did a self exam and think I may have felt something swollen, but I am not sure it if it muscle. It was located right where the armpit meets the breast (around where the bra cup sits). What can this be? Do you think it could be related to the fact that I recently gained weight and my bras are a little tighter? The other breast is fine…  Thank you for your feedback.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It is common to experience heaviness, soreness or pulling pain in the breast, especially in the axillary tail area which is the part of the breast near the armpit that you have described. Ill-fitting bras do not provide appropriate support and can be a common cause of breast pain. If your monthly period is due soon experiencing these symptoms of breast pain and areas of breast swelling can be a normal result of hormonal fluctuations and these symptoms generally resolve after your period is over. However, it is important to ensure that your symptoms are not due to an underlying growth or tumour. Do consult your doctor should your symptoms persist.

Small lump during breastfeeding

Hi Dr, I’m 34yrs old, a mother of 3. and I’m breastfeeding a 11months old baby. Recently detected a lump on left breast and ultrasound shows it is solid. Dr concluded that it is a benigh/fibro adenomas, the size is 4.5mmx2.5mm. Dr advise me to remove it thru surgery but I would prefer to continue breastfeed my baby, can I wait till my baby wean? says about one or half year later then only remove it? is there any risk? really appreciate your help and advice.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It is quite common to have such small lumps in the breast, usually benign fibroadenomas.  When you are breastfeeding, the lumps could also be lactational adenomas, which are due to the active milk-producing glands.  If there are no suspicious features or risk factors for breast cancer, you may continue to breastfeed your baby.  The ultrasound should be repeated every 3-6 months to establish that the lump is not increasing in size.  If it is growing bigger, than you should stop breastfeeding to consider a biopsy.  If the lump is a lactational adenoma, it should reduce in size when you stop breastfeeding.

Recurrence in the neck lymph nodes

I’m a breast cancer survivor and recently I discovered a lump on my lymphnode on the neck. Had biopsy done and confirmed its cancerous. CT scan was done and found some nodules in lungs. Was on tamoxifen so was switched to Arimidex. My doctor said to wait for 3 months to see how I respond to Arimidex. Had blood test done last week and saw my doctor yesterday. My CA153 increased to 127 from 77. Doctor said its quite normal as will need to take 3 months for body to respond to Arimidex. Went for 2nd opinion and was told to have lump removed and do 6 cycles of radiotherapy. My question is what shall I do? Shall I wait for another 2 months to see if I’m responding to Arimidex or shall I proceed to have the lumps removed and do 6 cycles of radiotherapy? Would appreciate any help you can extend to ease this confused and anxious mind. Thank you.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It would be useful to discuss your options with your doctors in a multidisciplinary setting.  Switching to Arimidex is a good option and many hormone responsive tumours will respond to a switch to hormone treatment.  Surgery to remove the lymph nodes with radiotherapy will not control the nodules in the lungs.  If you respond to Arimidex, both the lymph nodes and lung nodules might reduce in size.  If there is no response to Arimidex, then local control with removal of the lymph nodes (if they are getting bigger) and radiotherapy can be considered.

Painful breasts

hi,i am 23 yrs.old.i’v been feeling pain in both of my breasts since i was 11 yrs.old and it hasn’t gone yet. infact the intensity has increased with time.at present it has become unbearable.i have had an examination with the doc and the mamography results were normal.i still feel a hardness in the region close to my under arms and it persists throughout increasing with my onset of periods.why does this happen if it si not a cancerous growth or lump and what do i do about it?

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

You may have fibrocystic change which causes the tender and lumpy area, the most common region affected is the upper outer quadrant of the breast, near the armpit.  An ultrasound will be more helpful than a mammogram, and it may pick up tiny cysts that suggest this condition.  It is a benign condition. You can try taking evening primrose oil and reduce your salt intake and caffeine in your diet to reduce these symptoms.

Sore lump in the breast

Just recently i got a sore lump on my left breast. now on my left breast above the lump its like another lump but its abit swollen. The first lump is all bruised look. my breast is sore and am finding it difficult to sleep and if am trying to turn in my sleep or get out of bed am having to hold my breast as its that painful. what maybe the problem???

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

The most common cause of a painful or sore lump is a cyst in the breast. While most small cysts do not cause any symptoms, a large cyst with tense, inflammed or haemorrhagic fluid within may cause pain.  Treatment is via needle aspiration of the fluid.  You can get an ultrasound to evaluate the painful lump first.

Duct ectasia

My left nipple has been erect for 1wk. Was tender, but I did warm compresses and the tenderness went away. I have no drainage or discharge from it. I’ve notice a small rope llike feel inside the nipple itself, buit not in the other one. I’m 50 yrs old. And had a hysterectomy 5 yrs ago.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It sounds like you may have duct ectasia, or plasma cell mastitis.  This is a chronic inflammation of the ducts behind the nipple area, and sometimes the inflammation can flare up.  It is however often associated with thick coloured discharge.  At your age, you should have a mammogram and ultrasound to exclude any other pathology.

Granulomatous mastitis

Sir, my wife had breast lumps on both breast 2 yrs back. She was performed biopsy. It showed TB &Granuloatous mastitis . She took steroid and medicines for TB also. Now she has lumps on her axilla . She is very tired too. How can she diagnose what disease she has? Pls get information .thx

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

Tuberculosis (TB) can occur in the breast and it sounds like this is the condition your wife has, if the doctors were able to culture the TB bacteria from the biopsy tissue or pus.  TB of the breast is a cause of granulomatous mastitis; it is treated with TB medication.  Granulomatous mastitis can also be idiopathic (no known cause) and hence not due to the TB bacteria, but due to an unknown immune abnormality, it can be confirmed with a biopsy and excluding any TB or fungal growth in the pus and culture.  Idiopathic granulomatous mastitis is generally treated with steriods; some doctors have successfully treated it with methotrexate as well.

Milky discharge from one breast

I am 37 years old . I have a daughter which is 18years old now. My concern there a milky discharge on my right breast only. Very curious what the cause of this.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

If there is just a small amount of milky discharge from one breast on vigorous expression, there may not be any visible discharge from other breast.  If your child is already 18 years old, it is unlikely the milky discharge can be normal, unless it is not actually milky but thick and creamy, which is due to duct ectasia.  True milky discharge can occasionally persist for years after a long period of breast feeding.  You should have a serum prolactin test and a thyroid function test as well even if the milky discharge is only on one side.

Breast abscess and breastfeeding

I am currently breastfeeding and found a lump in my right breast. I went to have it examined and my gyane using ultrasound dectect 2 cyst. He had them drained with a needle, One of which he had drained contained pus. Is this breast abcesses? My gyane had given me antibiotics and had ask me to stop breastfeeding. I had read that you can still breast feed when you have breast abscesses. However to play safe, I am currently pumping out the milk and discard them due to medication. My question is, I can still pump out the milk while the cyst is healing and when i recover and off medication, can I still breastfeed my baby.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It is safe to continue to breastfeed when you are healing from a breast abscess, as long as you ensure the antibiotics you are prescribed can be safely taken during pregnancy.  Breastfeeding will help to empty the breast and by preventing blocked ducts, which may impede the healing of the abscess.  There is no issue continuing to breastfeed when you are healed and off medication.

Tenderness in the armpit and pain in the nipple area

I had an infection in my left breast (red line). I had this quite a bit when I was breastfeeding both my babies, but that was almost 3 years ago now. I did the wet warm facecloths, and got rid of the infection (or so I thought as the red line disappeared).  I went to the dr. and she felt around and said everything seemed fine and that I didn’t need a mammogram or anything as I’m only 37. In the last couple of months, I’ve since had muscle tenderness in my left armpit (a tiny in the right) and ‘hot needle’ sensations in the left nipple. Yesterday I went back to her and she felt around very deep and things I may have a cyst in the auxilla gland….. Today I feel HORRIBLE…..soooo sore and a yucky taste in my mouth, nauseous, tired…
I have an ultrasound appointment in a week, but I’ve searched many sites on the internet and cancer keeps popping up. Should I be concerned?! Stressing here, so any help would be appreciated.

THE BREAST DOCTORS SAY:

It is normal to experience pain and/or tenderness in the breasts, especially the nipple area which can be sensitive.  A similar sensation can occur in the armpit area if there is some accessory breast tissue there.  In general, breast pain is due to hormonal fluctuations and benign conditions such as fibrocystic change. Breast cancer often presents as a painless breast lump, whereas pain is often due to benign conditions.