Probably TMI- boob pain

SBmini

I'd see a DR but I don't have insurance again until Jan 1. It is on my list of things to do when I get it. Right after I lost insurance (job change, then enrolled on my husband's plan which pushed my start date back further). I noticed a bruised feeling in my right boob. It's on the side near the arm pit. It hurts to touch and there is a mild irritation. It comes and goes- and I think the pain comes based on my cycle. I think it happens a few days before I start my period. Then it goes away. 

I just want to check in on whether or not this is something serious- or just a new fact of life since I stopped taking BC. I quick BC back in June, but didn't first notice this until Sept. or Oct. 

mikenberger

I get the same thing. Mine are blocked milk ducts. But I take BC. It sucks. And hurts. Occasionally I'll get twinges of pain throughout the day from them. Definitely see your doctor though when you can.

My mom had breast cancer so I know how scary it is when our boobs try to harm us even though we spend so much money taking care of them. Jerks. My moms oncologist though said most cancers in the breast actually don't cause pain. Obviously, always an exception to the rule, but most do not.

sarawifenow

Every once and awhile I will get a pain in my boob (on the side that is in the middle of my chest if that makes sense) that almost feels like a cramp. I'm not sure what causes it, but I will say that heat always works.

 

My Dr said that everything is normal, but I would definitely recommend getting to your Dr ASAP.

theartistformerlyknownas

Does it go away COMPLETELY or just subside a bit but still kind of ache? Breast tenderness is common with your cycle, but I'd be worried if it's not going away in between. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms include tenderness and bruised feeling (but normally no lump), or it could be related to the lymph nodes in your arm pit. I don't mean to cause panic but I would try to get in and see the doctor, even out of pocket.

SBmini

Yes, it goes away. It isn't a constant pain. 

theartistformerlyknownas

SBmini said:

Yes, it goes away. It isn't a constant pain. 

Then I'd try to get in in January and ask about it. 

JaniV123

Well I have had that happen before as well, and from what I have learned in med school if it hurts it is possible for it to not be a bad thing (malignancies tend to be more silent). In bumps like that its usually swollen lymph nodes or clogged ducts. I would get it looked at JIC. 

danamw

I am much older than you, I am 59. I got boob pain that was different from the usual cycle soreness, in 2007.

It was related to menopause. Since you are younger than me, that is probably not it, in your case. But still hormonal, which menopause also is.

lovegood90

That just happened to me a few weeks ago! It was the week before my period, but not near the armpit more near the center. I usually experience tenderness/soreness in general before my period (I'm also on birth control) but this was a bruise-like, concentrated pain and it had never happened to me before.

I went to the doctor as there is a history of cancer in my family (not breast cancer, but I just wanted to cover all my bases). They did an ultrasound just in case but I haven't heard back, which means they didn't find anything abnormal.

The pain is subsided now, it's very faint, so I think it is just hormonal. I'm wondering if yours is a similar case, but can't hurt to check it out in January!

levioosa

My boobs kill me the week before my period.  I have had benign cysts before that are painful too.  Obviously we can't offer too much advice as internet strangers.  It could be something, or it could be nothing (yay, hormones).  Try to schedule an appointment now so you can get in as soon as possible in January.  If you are really worried, maybe there is a free woman's clinic nearby you could go to?  

CMGragain

I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.  It never hurt.  I felt fine until I had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation.  I had benign cysts and some scar tissue that hid the cancer until it was far along.
I doubt very much if your pain is related to cancer.  Breast cancer doesn't usually hurt - but the treatment does.
I second checking for women's health clinics in your area.

lovesclimbing

I have been told the same thing as @cmgragain said, that cancer usually doesn't hurt. I have a lump in my breast that hurts when I press it. I have had it checked out. Doctors have said it's nothing, and I also had an ultrasound on it and it was nothing. (No mammogram. The dr. Said they don't recommend them for women as young as I was, 19, because they don't really work well at that age.) Lumpy breasts run in my family.

SBmini

Thanks guys. Glad to hear I'm not alone. It feels better today. I'm going to keep an eye on it and schedule a gyno visit for January where I'll ask about it. 

theartistformerlyknownas

CMGragain said:

I have stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.  It never hurt.  I felt fine until I had a mastectomy, chemo and radiation.  I had benign cysts and some scar tissue that hid the cancer until it was far along.
I doubt very much if your pain is related to cancer.  Breast cancer doesn't usually hurt - but the treatment does.
I second checking for women's health clinics in your area.

This is NOT true of Inflammatory Breast Cancer though. I don't think that's a worry for SB since the pain comes and goes, but this is pretty irresponsible advice to give in general.

IBC is rare but very aggressive. Most women don't realize that you can have cancer with no lump, and end up dying from it, and quickly (like my friend's mother did this year). Promoting the idea that breast cancer doesn't hurt will not help anyone.

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Sites-Types/IBC

loveislouder

This may sound harsh (ETA: because I feel like I'm insulting your boobs. But I'm not) but it's not supposed to - bear (bare?) with me.  Also, a bit of TMI.

I have some very large boobs, and because they are so big they're obviously not as perky as other people's (read: I have pretty saggy boobs and I'm 24). I used to get what I thought was a lump and bruise-like pain before my period.

I went to see my doc and she told me that because my breasts swelled before my period and I was wearing a shitty bra, my chest/breast muscles were being pulled (bruised) which was causing the swelling (lump) and the bruise-like pain.

natswild

I've had sore boobs for a long time.  Mine have to do with the fact that there are a lot of cysts, plus I'd have an increase in pain before my cycle.  A few times though, that pain has lasted up to 4 weeks, which is very annoying. 

Hopefully it's just from your hormones.
Good luck!

blabla89

What you're describing sounds like the pain I have due to a cyst, except that it's located on the inner side of my boob. It definitely gets more painful around my cycle, and when I've been consuming lots of caffeine. At other times it's not noticeable at all. Every doctor I've talked to says these cysts are pretty common in young women. Hope that eases your mind a little bit!