Breast lump from bruise

[pushka]

3 weeks ago I believe I bumped my left breast on my bedroom door handle.  A few days later a large lump appeared with a faint yellow sheen on it.  Within days a massive bruise covered 2/3rd's of my breast..I take warfarin so am used to this occurring.  The bruise has all but gone now, but the lump is still there, still the same size and very prominent.

I went to the urgent care centre today, hoping they might be able to treat the lump immediately if it was found to be a Hematoma which needed draining or anything. The doc who examined me said that the lump was quite large for the kind of injury I described, thought I ought to have fallen over to get such a large lump, and said that it may just be a result of the trauma, but has recommended a Mammogram be taken asap.  He asked me to make an appt. with my doctor for tomorrow, so that the mammogram can be ordered.

Has anyone had similar circumstances?  I know that I was concerned that a lump may have been developing on another part of my left breast in the days before this one appeared, and that I can barely remember bumping my breast, so was unsure whether or not the lump/bruising was from an injury, but the bruise did take the typical route of all bruises as in colour changes, spreading due to gravity and use of warfarin etc.

[pushka]

Hi BB,

I'm definitely feeling calmer than last week, tho I still check the lump daily for any changes.  My family have all been very good keeping me busy, taking me out and stuff so that I haven't had time to sit and think about it too much.

Today I noticed changes which appear strange.  The lump at first was only protruding at its tip..when you looked at it it only looked an inch or so long, but when you felt around it you could tell it was 5-6cms round.  Today I noticed that all of the lump is now prominent, you can see all of its borders so to speak.  However, it has turned yellow again, and the edges of the newer area look like they may be beginning to bruise again..turning darker/black, and I'm not sure now whether it is one large lump or two, it feels as if it's now 2 lumps, but that they may not be completely disconnected..almost as if it's a large hillside with a little stream splitting it...feels quite weird, almost a figure of 8 shape.

I don't have any pain from it, apart from an odd stinging when I lay on it, just like my breast tissue is being squashed and odd shooting pains thru my breast occasionally.  I'm really  not sure what to think it is now..it does appear as if somebody has thumped me in the breast and it has left yellowing lumps there, if that's all it is I will be happy.

My mammogram is scheduled for Monday, they do have a sort of Fast Track system in the UK for dealing with breast issues..where they aim to have you seen within 2 weeks at the earliest, and they do the mammogram and possibly a needle biopsy on the day that you're seen..then you return to the clinic for the results and any further treatment in the following weeks.

I don't have to pay for treatment..the NHS covers it, but if I was really anxious about being seen/treated ultra quickly I could opt for private medicine, but it isn't something I really agree with on principle so it would have to be exceptional circumstances for me to go there..I was just wishful thinking last week, lol.  I don't think the actual standard of treatment of illnesses is any better if you go private, I think you just get treated like a VIP as far as your room and board is concerned, and obviously you can receive treatment straightaway if necessary.

Roll on Monday I say, I just want to know what it is and how to get rid of it..thanks for all the support, I wish I was more knowledgeable to be able to help others on here too.

[bluebutterfly2222]

Hi again,

Hope you're doing a little better than you were on that low night when you last wrote. (Sorry, I didn't notice your post until just now.)

Did you get the impression that your APPOINTMENT would be in a couple of weeks (fairly fast, even for th USA), or that it could take that  long for the REFERRAL to go through, and then you'd  have to  wait still longer?

I'm not very familiar with your system for health care. I know you have government care available, but do you have insurance coverage for private care as well, or would it be totally out of pocket? By reputation and the experience of others, are the providers in one system any better than the other, or is it just a matter of getting in sooner?

Keeping you in my thoughts!
bb

[pushka]

Thank you Bluebutterfly..you're right, those words just don't make you feel good, sadly.  I am trying to just get on with things as usual, but can't help knowing this is in the back of my mind now all the time..Last nite I was so down, so fed up, I've never considered private medicine before, and don't think I'll start now really, but this is the first time I've felt tempted to do it..I'm just too impatient these days..

Reading others' stories on here does make me feel better tho, and reassured..

[bluebutterfly2222]

Wow, your PCP sure missed the target if her comments were meant to reassure you, huh?    Somehow, the words "breast cancer" and "try not to worry" just don't fit together very well... :-(


Feel free to post anytime. None of us can provide THE ANSWER, of course  (beyond the good info Kat and zouzi  have already provided), but at least we can listen and commiserate. The waiting is always so difficult!

Best wishes...

[pushka]

Thanks again Zouzi..of course you're right, until results from scans etc are seen, we are playing a guessing game..I suppose I was trying to tell myself the least dangerous things that the lump could be, to try to stop myself from panicking too much.

This morning I went to my GP appt. and she faxed a request for the mammogram to the hospital, said it could take up to 2 weeks for the appt. to come thru.  I stayed calm, as I usually do in public, but must admit that her facial expression, softened voice after examining me, and her words 'well, we just have to hope it isn't something nasty like breast cancer, try not to worry about it' didn't make me feel overly reassured, lol.  Apparently the lump is hard, 5-6cms in size and maybe attached as she said it was doing 'something' to the skin around it, but I couldn't decipher her mumbles!

I will try my best not to keep posting my every day ideas about it, except to acknowledge replies to me, all of which I much appreciate..

[zouzi]

Hi again,
Even if fat necrosis is on the list of possibilities,a biopsy is usually needed to confirm it.
Fat necrosis is a firm, round lump that forms in an area of fatty breast tissue that has been damaged. This may be from previous surgery to the breast or a bruise or injury to the breast. The lump is usually painless, and the skin around it may look red, bruised or dimpled..Sometimes an MRI might also be done to further evaluate following mammogram and Ultrasound.I wouldn't apply any warm compresses until you find out for sure that it's indeed fat necrosis.
I am afraid that no one will know for sure about the nature of this lump without all the proper testing.Try to stay calm and not to worry so much, everything could turn out just fine.
Best wishes and good luck.