One sided breast pain

[Jessi 24]

Every so often, maybe once a month or so, I get breast pain mainly in the left side.  It will last for anywhere from a day to maybe a week or so.  It just depends.  It’s not related to my cycle.  This has been going on for at least 7 years, maybe more.   I also randomly get the “let down” feeling that you get when you’re pregnant or nursing, and I haven’t nursed in 10 years.  That is on both sides, sometimes simultaneously, sometimes one side or the other.  I’ve never saw anything coming out *knock on wood* but having these pains and that sensation scares me and makes me think it could be breast cancer.

I just turned 40 and in my head that’s the “magic number” for breast cancer, since that’s the age you’re supposed to start getting your mammo.  I have been getting mine since I was 35 though, because my mom had cancer at age 60.  Her doctor said hers was caused by her hormone replacement therapy.  My mammos are always clear but I do have heterogeneously dense tissue, and that makes it harder for them to be able to see any possible small masses. So that always freaks me out.  And according to what I’ve read online (I know, don’t do that), that type of tissue increases your risk of getting breast cancer.  
I’m just wondering is anyone else has breast pain or aches on one side only, and if you still get that let down feeling from pregnancy? 
I just had my mammo in September so I’m trying really hard not to run to the doctor, but I’m really freaking out.  

[MARC 431]

My wife has dense breast tissue too. It may make you feel better if you discuss your concerns with your physician. 

[Jessi 24]

Right.  I’ve discussed my concerns with my dr several times. 
so have any other women had this pain and sensations?  

[Ms.Moon 18]

I have had this.  I went to get my first mammogram because of it.  I am very fortunate to have fatty breasts and got my results right away nothing was wrong thankfully.  It’s hormones.  It might not be your period, it might be ovulation.  I have been struggling with my health right now as well and as someone who will be turning 40 this year I am quite similar straits. 

[MARC 431]

My wife has had a couple of callbacks after her mammogram for an ultrasound and all has been fine. 

[Jessi 24]

On 2/15/2021 at 8:10 PM, Ms.Moon said:

I have had this.  I went to get my first mammogram because of it.  I am very fortunate to have fatty breasts and got my results right away nothing was wrong thankfully.  It’s hormones.  It might not be your period, it might be ovulation.  I have been struggling with my health right now as well and as someone who will be turning 40 this year I am quite similar straits. 

Thank you, that’s reassuring.  Do you ever get that “let down” feeling as well?  I had an appt for just this past Thursday but had to cancel due to weather.  I rescheduled for this coming Thursday.  I have had mammos in the past and they have saw cysts, so I know despite my dense tissue something could possibly be seen if something was there, but there’s still a chance it couldn’t be.  I just hate dealing with the anxiety.  And of course it seems the more i focus on it, the more the symptoms are there 

[Jessi 24]

On 2/15/2021 at 8:31 PM, MARC said:

My wife has had a couple of callbacks after her mammogram for an ultrasound and all has been fine. 

Well it’s good to know that even with the dense tissue they’ve been able to see something that required further checking.  That is very reassuring.  From what I’ve gathered online (bad, I know) that type of tissue makes it more difficult.  

[Ms.Moon 18]

On 2/20/2021 at 8:27 AM, Jessi said:

Thank you, that’s reassuring.  Do you ever get that “let down” feeling as well?  I had an appt for just this past Thursday but had to cancel due to weather.  I rescheduled for this coming Thursday.  I have had mammos in the past and they have saw cysts, so I know despite my dense tissue something could possibly be seen if something was there, but there’s still a chance it couldn’t be.  I just hate dealing with the anxiety.  And of course it seems the more i focus on it, the more the symptoms are there 

I never had kids so I don’t know what that feels like but I do sometimes get pains where my breast reduction scars are.  

[Jessi 24]

6 hours ago, Ms.Moon said:

I never had kids so I don’t know what that feels like but I do sometimes get pains where my breast reduction scars are.  

Oooh you’ve had breast reduction surgery?! So do you have scar tissue?  I had implants removed due to having capsular contracture in the left breast.  It was painful.  That was 9 years ago and still to this day I have random pains and I still have numbness on that side.  I’m HOPING that’s what’s going on now, is just pain from the scar tissue.  But since I have anxiety i always think the worst and am freaking myself out about breast cancer.  
but I did go to the dr on Thursday.  She gave me an exam and said she didn’t feel anything, but said that breast cancer is “nothing to mess around with” so she would order me an ultrasound just to get a closer look.  I asked if I should be worried and she said no, especially since she didn’t feel anything and since my mammo just 6 months ago was clear.  But I still think she might have just been saying that.  Either way I can’t get in until the 11th and I’m trying really hard to not obsess but it’s pretty much all I can think about.  And I keep googling different things about it.  I keep focusing on my breasts so I’m noticing all kinds of different sensations.  This anxiety is so much too handle 

[SighNoMore 63]

I just found this post because I’m freaking out pretty badly. I have those shooting pains and let down feelings. I haven’t nursed in a couple years now. I had a reduction seven or eight months ago. My scars do ache at times. 
I just recently developed a rash across my breasts, and I am petrified. I googled and sent myself over the edge. I saw my doctor last week and he said he was not worried. I see him again this week for my yearly exam so hoping whatever is happening is ok. 
The pains scare me so much. 

[Jessi 24]

2 hours ago, SighNoMore said:

I just found this post because I’m freaking out pretty badly. I have those shooting pains and let down feelings. I haven’t nursed in a couple years now. I had a reduction seven or eight months ago. My scars do ache at times. 
I just recently developed a rash across my breasts, and I am petrified. I googled and sent myself over the edge. I saw my doctor last week and he said he was not worried. I see him again this week for my yearly exam so hoping whatever is happening is ok. 
The pains scare me so much. 

Hi!  
I understand your anxiety completely!!  
I haven’t nursed in almost 10 years and still get that feeling.  
crazy thing is, I was OBSESSED with this for a month and a half. I felt the pains and all of that every single day.  Then just recently I became obsessed with my heart and haven’t felt anything regarding this since!  
I had went to the dr 2 weeks ago and she ordered me an ultrasound and it was supposed to have been yesterday.  It seemed like forever away.  Well one day before, I ended up rescheduling so I could get in to see my pcp about my heart.  
I’m  still going to keep my ultrasound appt, which is now another 2 weeks away, but it’s just so crazy how the mind can control physical symptoms in our bodies.  
I would definitely trust what your dr says about your rash.  
As for the let down, a few of my friends that I’ve brought it up to told me they still experience it also, and one of those friends hasn’t nursed in 18 years!  

[SighNoMore 63]

23 hours ago, Jessi said:

Hi!  
I understand your anxiety completely!!  
I haven’t nursed in almost 10 years and still get that feeling.  
crazy thing is, I was OBSESSED with this for a month and a half. I felt the pains and all of that every single day.  Then just recently I became obsessed with my heart and haven’t felt anything regarding this since!  
I had went to the dr 2 weeks ago and she ordered me an ultrasound and it was supposed to have been yesterday.  It seemed like forever away.  Well one day before, I ended up rescheduling so I could get in to see my pcp about my heart.  
I’m  still going to keep my ultrasound appt, which is now another 2 weeks away, but it’s just so crazy how the mind can control physical symptoms in our bodies.  
I would definitely trust what your dr says about your rash.  
As for the let down, a few of my friends that I’ve brought it up to told me they still experience it also, and one of those friends hasn’t nursed in 18 years!  

Thank you, Jessi! 
 

I hate how these physical symptoms can manifest. It drives me mad trying to sort it all out. It is so exhausting and scary to know. Health anxiety is often the worst. 
 

I am trying to trust my doctor, but it is so hard. I am ok momentarily then panic thinking he missed something. 
 

I hope that your ultrasound goes well and you get relief and peace from that!