please help

I am due to have a mamogram (mammogram) on Monday 13 October because my left breast has swollen up. There are little thread veins on the side of my breastl, but they are on both.  The breast is really heavy, and feels like it's full of fluid, they are lumpy normally so not sure if they have lumps or not. I'm 34, I have been using HRT for 6 years and I am in really bad pain with the breast.  I am so trying to not worry, but the truth is I'm scared to death about what this thing is, there is a small, painful lump on the breast bone, the muscle area near my armpit keeps going really tender and swelling up also, the pain goes right to my collar bone, inside my breast, it's like burning, I also lose all feeling down my left arm when the pain comes, first time it remained in the fore-mentioned place (which is 10 days ago), but last night, it went across the side of the breast and into the shoulder blade, it's like dull aching burn. I know I only have to wait just 3 more days, but I think I'm actually making the pain worse with stress, I didn't sleep in days, I'd really appreciate your help..thanks, scared bunny, femali3n

[CCF-RN,MSN-JS]

Dear Femali3n, Breast pain is more commonly due to benign (not cancerous) conditions, such as injury, infection, or hormone related.    This obviously is something that needs to be sorted out, particularly as it sounds like the swelling and symptoms have been worsening recently? A good history and physical exam, as well as the testing will hopefully pinpoint the problem so appropriate treatment can be recommended.  Make sure your doctor is aware of all of your symptoms so they can help sort them out.

[surgeon]

If you go by statistics, a 34 year old woman with a swollen painful breast does NOT have cancer. It's much more likely to be something else. The mammogram may be useful, but you ought to be seeing a breast expert (typically a surgeon) as well. It's likely to be ok. But it may take more than just a mammogram to find out for sure.

[femali3n]

Thanks for the hasty feedback, normally I wouldn't even worry about it, but I had to have a hysterectomy when I was 26 and well I have been using the HRT ever since, that and my Grt Grandma died of the disease, she is the first and only to my knowledge.

Yes it's got worse the last couple of days, the fact there is pain does make me feel a little better, and your replies just eased my mind some more, thankyou so very much.. I'll let you know.