Painful, palpable node.

[youmeetus]

I am a female, 33 yrs of age. I have a family history for breast cancer (my mom and grandma had breast cancer). Three years back I started feeling pain on my right side of breast, concentrated towards the armpit, I got myself examined by a surgical oncologist, and there was a tiny palpable node. I got a mammography done however the image was too dense to reveal anything. I got an ultrasound done it also didn’t detect any abnormality, a repeat ultrasound was performed it also didn’t show any node. The pain is neither persistent nor it is related to my menstrual cycle. It feels stretchy in that area. By any chance could it be cancer? My mum was diagnosed with advance breast cancer at the age of 56 but she never felt pain in her lump/breast. Please advise I am really scared.

[youmeetus]

Thankyou Dr Aparna for your response. my worry is even if i forget the pain, the palpable node still exist!. as i have mentioned before i got two ultrasounds done 3years back, do you recommend to undergo a repeat investigation now? Please advise.

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Women with breast pain often worry that the pain is caused by breast cancer. But, the first symptom of breast cancer is usually a painless lump. Pain is not usually an early symptom. (Well advanced breast cancer can be painful though.) In about 1 in 20 cases of breast cancer the first symptom is pain.
Since you have undergone 2 ultrasounds and nothing was detected I do not think you have reason to worry.Usually the first sign of cancer is the detection of a painless lump in the breast.
The reason why this type of pain occurs is not known. It could be due to pain coming or radiating from the chest wall under the breast rather than the breast itself. Muscular or bony problems of the chest wall account for some cases.
In many cases the pain goes after a few months without any treatment. Anti-inflammatory painkillers (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen may ease the pain.
ref:http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068716/