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Breast Pain I was diagnosed with DCIS and had two WLI and Radiotherapy which ended in March this year. I have always had painful breasts all of the time but for the last two years this has got steadily worse. I have two large begnign lumps in my breast wich really hurt to the touch and also when I move my arms in a certain way and they obviosly move at the same time.
When I mentioned it to the proff he suggested I take evening primrose oil, which I can\'t because it makes me sick. I asked him if he could take the lumps out for me as although they are begnign, they are large and a painful nuisance!! He wouldn\'t entertain the idea. I am sat here now and they are throbbing and what feels to be a stinging sensation. In bed I wake myself up rollong over as I catch them and they hurt.
Can anyone suggest any alternative treatment for this. The breast unit don\'t seem at all interested.
Sounds uncomfortable How about seeking a second opinion from another hospital. There may be a different view of your situation. Have a word with your GP about a referral.
Hi Phoebe It is very uncomfortable. Unfortunately as I said the breast unit didn\'t seem at all interested so I don\'t want to keep pestering them. This feeling comes from my diagnosis and treatment, I felt I was a nuisance and that as I had DCIS because it wasn\'t invasive I should not have been as upset as I was.
Anyway I will stay with it and if it is still the same in the new year will go to the well woman clinic at the doctors and see what they say. I had already got an appt booked anyway as I am suffering extreme tiredness but I think that is still a side effect from the radiotherapy even though it is 6 months since I had it. !! Keep plodding on though but thanks for your reply and your idea. It is much appreciated.
Anyone know of any other alternative therapies other than evening promrose oil (or anything oily come to that!!) Idea\'s would be gratefully received.
Hi Kazziesue I was diagnosed with BC last june and the reason i went to my GP was because I had a lot of breast pain outwith my menstrual cycle. These pains had went on for months and when i went to my GP she sent me for a referral to the hospital where i was eventually treated. If you feel that no-one is listening to you, do ask for a second opinion. My mother also had BC and unfortunately passed away 15 years ago and she made such a nuisance of herself with the pains in her breast that they eventually sent her to the breast clinic. So sometimes it pays to be annoying with the NHS!
They say that breast pain isn\'t linked with breast cancer. If that was the case, how come I was in a lot of pain and was then diagnosed with BC? And caught at an early stage as well. Please ask your GP for another referral to another hospital and be insistent. This is your right as a patient.
Good luck and all the best for the future.
Love Liz Grieve xxx
-Me too-- -My first indication of BC was breast pain and I did believe the old wives tale that it couldn\'t be BC but a good friend of mine who had been through the same experience encouraged me to get it checked. I am so glad I did - but there is still a myth that pain means its not BC!! I have even seen this stated in the tabloids help pages. I still have breast pain which worrieds me - but I have been told its post operative - even though that was 18 months ago. Fingers crossed.
Lynne
XX
Agree, Lynne The problem is that even some of the medical profession believe the myth. A friend of mine went to her GP with a painful lump and was told that because it was painful it couldn\'t be breast cancer. She was then very distracted by serious family problems and by the time she went back to the doctor 18 months later the cancer was locally advanced and she needed a lot of treatment. She\'s doing well at the moment, but the delay certainly hasn\'t helped her prognosis. She believed her GP who was plain wrong. If you\'re not happy, Kazziesue, please do keep bothering them until you get an answer that satisfies you.
Kathy
Help for breast pain Why not look into the use of natural human progesterone? A Dr John Lee wrote several excellent books about the use of this to counteract estrogen imbalance, which leads to PMS, painful and cystic breasts, and similar complaints.
There are saliva tests to detect any imbalance, and you may wish to consult with a practitioner who is accustomed to its use. There are such practitioners in the UK, and a site with information relevant to this country. http://www.progesterone.co.uk.
It can also be obtained over the Internet from the USA. Kevala Health is a good source of the natural product, dispensed without parabens and chemicals.
A friend who has a similar condition has been using it for a couple of years, and it has greatly reduced her discomfort. Note that it takes some weeks to become effective.
Natural Progesterone I think anyone who feels they might benefit from this should look at other reference material as well as Dr John Lee. For example, Dr Susan Love says that its effect on the breast is unknown
It may be completely harmless for people who\'ve had breast cancer or DCIS, but it makes sense to weigh up the information available both for and against its use in women who\'ve had breast cancer or DCIS and also ask your own doctors.
Natural Progesterone Hi there
We would always suggest that you check out any prescribed or non-prescribed medication with a qualified health professional before considering its use.
Kind Regards
BCC Host
-Progesterone and qualified practitioners It is my understanding that the practitioners who dispense natural progesterone in the UK are fully qualified medical doctors. (In fact they have to be, to dispense it.) They are also experienced in its use, which is very important.
The majority of doctors however, do not recognise the benefits of the natural form of progesterone, which before the advent of systemic therapy, was sometimes used in the treatment of breast cancer. I have also heard that some oncologists still occasionally prescribe one of the progestins for BC. On the other hand, some authorities believe that these same progestins may be the cause of breast cancer in some way, and few women have not taken either the contraceptive pill or HRT.
Fortunately I am lucky enough to have a GP who is very open minded. I discussed this with him, and he believes Dr Lee\'s views have merit.
progestogens Off topic, as not related to breast pain, but it is worth noting that my consultant oncologist has mentioned to me the prospect of using natural progesterone to help with the wretched hot flushes afflicting me from taking Arimidex. In fact l believe that progesterone is often prescribed for this problem. However, it has a down-side for large ladies like me as it is also an appetite stimulant [and is prescribed for this property]. My consultant has therefore also mentioned possibly using progesterone cream.
The CancerBACUP site states about hot flushes:
\"Sometimes hormones known as progestogens are prescribed, for example Megace or Provera. These will very often help with hot flushes. Although progestogens are female hormones, unlike oestrogens they are considered to be safe in breast cancer.\"
For the time being I am trying acupuncture!
Hi Kazzisue re breast pain Hi I too have had a lot of breast pain. I had DCIS and a mastectomy of my left breast. It started with fibroadenomas so I was under the breast clinic anyway. My left breast was always painful, to the extent that even clothes felt heavy on it. During a check up for a lump under my right arm I was given a mamogram and they found the DCIS in my left side. I found it very hard to accept that I needed a mastectomy as I had had a mamo 8 months earlier which had come back clear. When I got the histology report I was amazed at all the things that were wrong with my breast.
I still have the lump under my right arm which like you they are refusing to remove, even though it is very painful. Sometimes I cannot even write with my arm
( which can be tricky as I am a teacher)! My right breast was never painful but now it is becoming more and more painful. The consultant says he can understand why I am worried but to try not to worry!!! I think my breast is going the same way as the other and like you cannot get them to listen.
I have just had my 6 month checkup so will have to wait another 6 months before I go back. While I still have this pain and lump I feel it is very hard to move on. It will be 2 years on January 6th that I was diagnosed so I guess that also doesn\'t help as it brings back all those memories.
My breast nurse suggested starflower oil for the pain, it did not do much for me but you might want to give it a try. All the best for the new year and I hope you get sorted soon.
--- Hi Jacks --- It really annoyed me when I read your posting - \'Try not to worry\' seems the traditional answer they give us when obviously we are bound to worry ourselves sick with what we are constantly learning from our disease.
My surgeon got quite stroppy with me last appointment and said, \'You are going to have to learn to trust us\' - Oh yes. How do I do that after a misdiagnosis, endless lost files, contradicting advice and information from registrar to registrar (for whom I am sure there is an underground breeding station since there are so many of them). I too have a lump which they said was nothing to worry about. It is growing and then two weeks ago at the appointment the (different) registrar said she couldn\'t even feel it. Since it was now larger, and the last (new) registrar COULD feel it but said nothing to worry about, this by the way in between telling me they had lost some more results YET AGAIN, I feel that all medical profession need training in how to deal with obviously concerned women. The best way to make us NOT worry is to deal with the problem. What IS THE LUMP? If nothing, then WHY is it painful when pain is supposed to be a warning sign to the body? WHY cannot it be removed simply so that the worry is taken away?
Hope all goes well for you, and the others, and me too...... in the meantime I guess we should ......\'try not to worry!!!!!\' AAAAAAAGGGHHH
Joy xxx
breast pain On the subject of the docs not listening, my recon did not feel right and I told them at every appointment. I was at my wits end last time and told the doc about my problems, he actually asked if I had I thought about seeing the psychiatrist!!! I saw red and he went to get the consultant. When I explained my symptoms the consultant knew exactly what was wrong. With a small operation it has now been corrected. If I had backed down and accepted the first docs opinion I would be still in pain and seeing a psychiatrist!!!! But why do we have to get to that point of distress before anyone listens?
I agree with you on the pain front if everything was ok we would not be in pain. I had four different conditions wrong with the breast they removed. So I am not surprised it was so painful.
SueX