Tonight, while showering, I was washing my armpit and felt a lump in my breast, on the side near the arm pit area. I felt on the other breast to see if I had one over there, but no. It is tender and sore. I had my husband feel it and he said it felt like muscle. I am near my period and usually get a little tenderness. I am wondering if I should wait until after my period and the tenderness goes away to feel for it again. I am 40 years old and feel totally ignorant asking these questions. I had a mamogram several years ago for a lump. I was on a lot of fertility drugs at the time and the mamogram showed nothing, nor did a ultrasound of the area. They attributed the lump to the fertility drugs. Any advice?
Thanks
Amy

I know its scary (I went though something discovered on a mammogram a few months ago which in the end turned out to be nothing to worry about, but still, I know whats going through your mind!)! In most cases a lump is nothing to worry about. The soreness could be an indication of a lymph gland infection. Are you nursing by any chance? It could also be related to that. At any rate, I would call the doctor and have it checked out, but try not to worry because most likely its nothing serious.

Let us know what you find out!

Nancy

I am not nursing and my youngest child is 3. Do you know if it is best to do a breast exam after you have your period or this not a factor? I know the last lump I found was due to the fertility drugs I was on at the time. It too could be a swollen gland, but I am not sick at this time. Thanks for your response and I will let you know how it goes
Amy

I am not nursing and my youngest child is 3. Do you know if it is best to do a breast exam after you have your period or this not a factor? I know the last lump I found was due to the fertility drugs I was on at the time. It too could be a swollen gland, but I am not sick at this time. Thanks for your response and I will let you know how it goes
Amy

The doctors really say that when you do a breast exam it should be done the same time every month, whether its before or after your period just depends on when you start doing it, you could wait till next month or if its really bothering you i would have my doc check it....Most of the time i have always heard that woman get a lump before or during period and then it goes down and reappears again the next month, its really up to you on what you do as far as having it checked.......
Take care, keep us posted!! :wave:

Thanks for your response.
I am probably over-reacting. I am a bit cancer-phobic (but then again who isn't) My grandfather died from cancer and my father has cancer now and just had major surgery to remove it. But I will follow up on it. I will check it again after my period and see if it is still there. If it is, I will go to my doctor. I know early detection is the best.
Amy

Thanks for your response.
I am probably over-reacting. I am a bit cancer-phobic (but then again who isn't) My grandfather died from cancer and my father has cancer now and just had major surgery to remove it. But I will follow up on it. I will check it again after my period and see if it is still there. If it is, I will go to my doctor. I know early detection is the best.
Amy

I think that would be best to do amy, my mother found a couple of lumps on her breast and she was freaking of course and it turned out to be fine, shes just very cyctic, and we are all cancer phobic, especially me.......I hope it all works out ok....
take care :wave:

Hi Amy - if the lump is sore then it probably is not cancer. But you should get it checked out for peace of mind if nothing else. JMO

Hopefully you've seen your doctor by now. I felt a lump on September 26th. Saw my OB/GYN the 28th; mammogram/ultrasound the 29th; core biopsy the 30th. It was ductal carcinoma. By the time I had a partial mastectomy 10 days later, the tumor was bigger than a piece of charcoal and the cancer was invasive, meaning it was not contained in the tumor and had spread. Thing is, I'm only 40 and was due for my 1st mammogram this year. I had a physical 4 months ago and there was no lump at that time. I now go in for a full mastectomy, followed by chemo. See your doctor and get a mammogram... you may be cancer-phobic but better safe than sorry.

MY gyn always told me to do the exam after the period. That during the period breasts always feel engorged, knotty, etc.....
Good luck, Im sure you will be fine!

I had found a lump in my breast also. It really scared me since my grandmother died with breast cancer. I had an ultrasound instead of a mamogram. They said because i was only 32 my breast wouldnt give a good mamogram. Anyway, it turned out that i had fiber cystic in my breast. This was the cause of the lump i had and it always gets worse right before my period. I dont know if your lump is tender, but mine is, again, especially before my period. Don't know how true it is but i've always heard that breast lumps that hurt are not cancerous. I'm sure there are some exceptions to that. and of course its always best to get this checked out w/ your Dr.

Please go for regular yearly mammograms. You said you're 40........you need this eavery year.........then if they do find something........it's early detected and you have a chance to correct it early........breast cancer is soooooo preventable..........