Question RE: Possible cyst? Not sure.

[run4you]

Hey there :)

I'm hoping someone has experience with this... I'm not incredibly concerned, but I have a couple of weird things going on with my right breast...

About 1.5 years ago, I started having pain in my right breast. Not cyclical, pretty much every day. Not bad, but enough that I noticed. I was going through a bunch of stuff then (I had a neural tumor removed from my armpit, ugh) so it was pushed to the backburner because it wasn't what I would consider a big deal pain-wise. Also, I kind of figured that it was related to the tumor in my armpit, since it was inside a nerve of the brachial plexus.

The pain is starting to get worse... which seems weird if it were related to the tumor I had, because the nerve effects in my hand are staying still. It's also burning, not terribly, but around the area where there's pain and around the nipple... only on that side.

It is fairly localized, but I am a DD cup and have fibrocystic breasts... I thought I felt something, but honestly, I can't tell. It's super lumpy anyway, I just happened to find one that felt different.

I think that breast has grown. I've always been lopsided, but it looks bigger.

My youngest child is 5, so no breastfeeding. No trauma.

Since my breasts are fibrocystic, I take it this is likely a cyst... they can drain cysts, correct? And draining it would make this uncomfortable feeling go away?

Any advice would be helpful... I have several months before I can see a doctor (insurance kicks in June 1). I've had a hysterectomy (left the ovaries), so I don't see a gyn anymore... Can a gp order the tests I would need?

Sorry for the long rambling post. Trying to include relevant info... and I have no idea what is or isn't relevant :P

[japdip]

Either The Susan G. Komen Foundation OR American Cancer Society might be of some help when it comes to Free Mammograms. They would know of any possibilities that exist in your area.   Good luck .....

[run4you]

Thank you so much for your response!

They did check out my tumor really well - and my nerve damage is in my right hand/lower arm. The tumor was in what is labeled the brachial plexus, but was actually distinctly in the medial nerve (hence the issues in my hand/lower arm :P ). I never had any nerve pain/burning related to the tumor being messed with in the chest area (never made the pain worse, there was no burning or anything then, just slight pain), and this burning is distinctly different from the neural burning and issues I have with my right arm/hand.

If I push (trying to find something) in the area where the pain is, it hurts worse. But I guess any issue would cause that...

Completely bizarre. I'm looking into the free mammogram vehicle-things available in my area. Just rule out the biggie, I can check into the less-concerning stuff later when my insurance kicks in.

[japdip]

First I would advise you to see someone and get either Mammogram or Ultrasound ordered to see exactly what this is that you're dealing with. Yes, cysts can be drained but you need to know if that's the problem. Not the lump but the "feeling" that you describe could very well be related to your previous problem ... nerves are odd things and behave in strange ways; they very often object to being disturbed. These could be two completely seperate issues. I'm surprised that some investigation wasn't done when you had the axillary tumor removed but it should definitely be done now. Any Dr. can order testing that would be appropriate for your symptoms but I wouldn't wait until June.   Regards ....