I am 38 years old, no history of breast cancer in my family other than a great Aunt on my grandmothers side.
Since I was young my left breast and aereola(sp?) has been larger than my right. I never liked this as it always looked weird to me. I have had three children and of course since my left breast sags more than my right it still looks funny to me.
When reading the symptoms of breast cancer, it is hard to determine exactly what it is to look for. My left breast always seems to be more "squishy" around the nipple and aereola, I can feel several small lumps around the nipple area, but it has seemed to be this way for a long time, at least a few years anyways.
It is also "bumpy" looking around the nipple as well, like "wrinkled". More so than my right breast.
If I am laying down flat, my left breast kind of flops over to the left and my nipple looks funny. The aereola looks wrinkled and so does my nipple(don't know if this is a symptom or just age)
I have not seen a gyno in almost 6 years now since we do not have any insurance, but it seems as if my breasts have been this way for a long time. If you have Breast Cancer, other than having the "normal" symptoms, (lumps,puckering etc)wouldn't you show more advanced symptoms if it was never diagnosed? If so, what are the advanced symptoms of breast cancer?
I feel fine but am curious. And I cannot have a mammogram until I am 40 or it will not be covered by the state.
Thank you

Hi there!

I don't know if I can really answer your question, but not too long ago I brought up a topic in the Women's Forum about one breast being larger than the other. Seems like it's pretty common for the left breast to be larger. I have the same problem! The left is probably a full cup larger than the right!

Hopefully, someone may be able to ease your fears regarding the rest of your questions.

You may want to check in your area for reduced cost/supplemented mammograms if you are concerned. My mother had no insurance, yet had mammograms every year. I don't know where you'd start...maybe someone here will have a suggestion.

As for other symptoms of breast cancer, I suspect there could be many and there could be none. Cancer is generally not painful. Best to try to keep on top of it all if you are able!

(In that you are only 36, you may try to get subsidized government healthcare?)

Karie

Hi PaulCindy - I'm not a doctor, but I had breast cancer at 37 (I'm now 39). Some of the things you can look for in your breast: stand in front of the mirror and loook at your breast - then raise your arms. Does the skin dimple like an orange? Or become indented? When I used gentle pressure, my cancerous lump felt somewhat hard, like a peach pit. I hope you can get the money together to at least see a general practitioner or nurse - they are used to giving breast exams and know what to look for. Go to the fancy bookstore, get Breast Cancer for Dummies off the shelf, and sit in the store's chair and read it. Lots of good information as to whether a lump is cancerous or not. U]Most are not[/U].

Good luck to you - wish I could help more!

cw