recurrent breast pain and swelling

Hi,my name is Laura. I've been experiencing mild breast pain and discomfort associating with tissue hardness at outer quadrant of my left  breast since 5 months ago since i stopped breastfeeding. The pain and swelling come and go, but i don't think it related to my menses cycle because whenever the pain and the swelling come, i also feel muscle tenderness and slight pain on my left shoulder and arm. I'd been checked up by various doctor but all said the same thing that it is normal and nothing to worry about. But i still feel uneasy  since i can feel a hard tissue measured around 5 cm,tender and has an irregular surface on my breast when those symptom comes. What makes me confuse is, those symptoms will disappear after 1 week and then will  come again 2 to 3 weeks after that. Can anyone give me an opinion on what must i do? My friends suggesting breast ultrasound but should i directly asked for breast biopsy to rule out whether this symptoms are due to the scary breast cancer? Please help me...Thank You.

[zouzi]

Hi Laura,
It's really hard to say what this "tissue hardness" with an irregular surface could be.
If you haven't seen a Breast Specialist during these 5 past months,then I would urge you to do so.
A doctor's physical examination alone might not be sufficient to find out if an abnormality in the breast is concerning or not.Your friend is right,you need to have a few tests done,such as a mammogram/Ultrasound and also an MRI if the doctor recommends it.
After these tests are performed,I am sure that your doctor will consider a biopsy if he/she decides that it's needed.
I don't think that this is terribly serious...It could be hormonal fluctuations or a blocked milk duct or many other benign conditions,but please have this recurrent pain and swelling investigated by a Breast Specialist to be on the safe side okay?.
All the best...

P.S. I noticed that you have posted a few times concerning this problem.Please,if you have any additional questions or comments,it would be better if you keep them all on the same thread by using the space below the answer/s you have received.This helps to have all your information together so we can better help you.
Thank you.

[laura7782]

Thank you for your comment and i'm sorry for posting many same questions in different page and of course with a horrible grammar and..i just done with my ultrasound this morning(morning in Malaysia). The doctor said it is fibroadenoma and unlikely a cancer.He gave me painkiller and anti-inflammatory drug. However, he still recommended me to do a mammogram to satisfy my confusion just like what you suggested.

[zouzi]

Hi again Laura,
Please, you don't have anything to be sorry for.
The reason I suggested to keep all your questions and comments on the same thread it's only because it makes it easier for us to follow your situation.
I am glad that the Ultrasound showed that most likely it's a fibroadenoma and that your doctor has also recommended a Mammogram for more evaluation.There is nothing better than knowing for certain what's going on when we discover something unusual in the breast.  
I wish you well !  :)