Mammogram - Sore Lump

Hi R.,

I had my first mammogram at 16. I, too, felt a large lump in my breast. I hid it for a long time because I was so young and so scared. And then one night I had some discharge (or what I thought was discharge). I really got scared and told my mom right away. She took me to a doctor and I had my mammogram. It did prove to be a fibroid cyst and one that didn't cause any concern from the doctor. Mine was so big that it caused a difference in the size of my breasts. I ended up getting implants to make up for that but never had the cyst removed because my doctor didn't see it as necessary. It does get sensitive and tender at times. I just continue to do an exam myself and also by my doctor.

It can be such a scary thing. Mammograms are not that pleasant either (as it squishes you in a spot that is already tender!) But I am glad she is going to get it checked out. That is the most important thing for her health and her psyche. I have heard that lumps that might be more suspicious are almost like little pebbles or rocks. My cyst was softer.

I wish you and your sister luck. Let me know if you have anymore questions.

Please go with your sister. Breast cancer can start with a sore or tender area and then turn into a hard lump and no soreness. If she "should" have a cancer, there are more options to save the breast.

I had a sore or tender spot that changed within a three week time frame into a hard mass. A biopsy was conducted and I had a lumpectomy on a very small spot. The cancer had not left the breast or traveled to the lymph nodes.

Be as supportive as you can and I wish you both an outcome that is fine. You will be in my thoughts. The other S.

I may not have the number exactly right but if memory serves 80% of breast cancers are discovered in women with no family history, including mine.
That said, however, a painful lump is most likely a cyst. Cancer is not usually painful until well advanced. But she is wise to get it checked out anyway.
By the way, if it turns out to be a fibrous cyst she might want to avoid caffeine; that helps with the pain in some women.

Our family doesn't have any hx of breast cancer either, and for a couple of years now my mom has had some soreness on sort of the side of her breast and every year at her mammogram they always send her to get a second one because they spot something but it's just a fibroid cyst. They are common in women in thier 30s and 40s. They usually disappear after menopause.

I had one about 2 years ago. I found a lump an got it biopsied and they werent happy So they did a mamagram. Mine was painful as well and was told that most breast cancer isnt painful. It was about the size of a dime. They did the mamagram as a last resourt just to make 100% sure. It was negative. It still hurt though. The doc said that it might be best just to get it removed. I did and it of course was the most common type of lump and was nothing to worry about. The mamagram wasnt as painful as I thought. My mom said that drinking caffiene can sometimes case things like that to flair up in pain. I didnt drink caffiene for a week before i went in and it didnt hurt at all. Good luck to her. I hope that everyting turns out negative and ok.