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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
Breast Pain and lymph node on mammogram
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
Breast Pain and lymph node on mammogram
by SallyBrown, Jul 06, 2004 12:00AM
I am 43 and have had to have yearly diagnostic mammograms since the age of 35 because of my mother's past history with breast cancer. They have all been normal until this year. There was a dense area in my left breast that was not on my last mammogram. An ultrasound was done and the technician said that it was a lymph node. I told her that I was having breast pain in that area. It is not constant pain but several times each day for the past week I have been having sharp shooting pains. The radiologist came in and did another ultrasound and told me that it was a lymph node and nothing to worry about. He wasn't concerned about the pain and said to come back in a year. Should I be concerned about the pain in the same area as the lymph node and should I ask for another mammogram or ultrasound to be done to confirm that it is a lymph node? Since this lymph node is now showing on my mammogram, will it always be on the mammogram and what are the possibilities of it becoming cancerous?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-JS, Jul 07, 2004 12:00AM
Dear SallyBrown, It may be that the lymph node showing up now may be positioning or possibly a change in your overall breast density that this is now visible - it is hard to say. Having another mammogram or ultrasound would not change what this is. If you are concerned about the interpretation of the results having a second opinion from another radiologist is always an option for you.
Breast pain is a common breast symptom. The reason for breast pain is not clearly understood, and is not usually associated with breast cancer. Breast pain is sometimes associated with hormonal variations and is then called cyclical breast pain. Noncyclical breast pain does not seem to be linked to hormonal variations and is often localized to one area of the breast tissue. Noncyclical breast pain may or may not be the result of an injury to the breast.
Breast pain is evaluated based on the history of the pain you would give to the health care professional, as well as a physical examination. The need for further testing would be determined based on the above findings.
Breast pain is a common breast symptom. The reason for breast pain is not clearly understood, and is not usually associated with breast cancer. Breast pain is sometimes associated with hormonal variations and is then called cyclical breast pain. Noncyclical breast pain does not seem to be linked to hormonal variations and is often localized to one area of the breast tissue. Noncyclical breast pain may or may not be the result of an injury to the breast.
Breast pain is evaluated based on the history of the pain you would give to the health care professional, as well as a physical examination. The need for further testing would be determined based on the above findings.
