I always tend to do a 'feel-up' of my own breasts right after my period each month, the reason I call it a feel-up is because I really don't know what I am looking for. You see, I have been diagnosed as having Fibriotic Cysts, so I am rather 'lumpy' to begin with. I have a general idea as to which lumps are normal, so I find it really frustrating to know if one is normal or not.
Sometimes my breats become extremely sore and painful but I have learned to soothe the pain with wet towel compresses. I am fairly large, 38DD and never breastfed any of my three children...my oldest has PKU, so I was not able to breastfeed and decided to follow suit with the rest of my babies. Anyway, my question here is, should I be requesting mammograms to assist in early detection? I am only 30 and here in Canada, mammograms are not routine until fifty years of age. My mom is 48 and has yet to be scheduled for her first.
Also, is this something inherited?
Another thing that sort of freaks me out is that when I am lying on my back, I noticed that my areola tend to sink in, almost dimple? Is this cause for concern, or just something that happens after child birth and aging? I noticed this probably about 5 years ago and have just attributed it to the Cysts.
Any enlightenment would be helpful...Thanks!
If you have a history of fibro. breasts, cut out the caffeine from your diet.
You can only find the lumps which you know to be normal, you should stand in front of a mirror to check for dimpling, not flat. Checking is good for lumps, if one jumps up you should be able to feel it with your fingers and have your doctor check regularly.
I developed one a few years back, same have fibro.breasts, felt an uncomfortable lump. Watched it for a bit, remained the same--uncomfortable. In short the breast surgeon told me; do not bother with a mamo until you are 40 b/c the breast tissue is not dense enough. Until 40, Ultrasound if there is a question of a lump, and he said since the size it grew and the rate just having a qualified surgeon check it first is what he recommends (the gyn sent me for the US). If a US is needed, then it should be ordered after the surgical opinion since he generally does a needle guided biopsy or if large enough a lumpectomy.
Your breasts change after pregnancy and as you age. You should have your gyn check them during your next appointment.
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/cysticbreasts/a/fibcysbrlubupan.htm
There is a sticky on self-exam and Sera recommends a good site.
Thank-you, I did read the sticky before I posted. I asked because I wasn't given any information really, only what the diagnosis was and what the symptoms were. Nothing was said about Self Exams. I was diagnosed when I had my first pap around the age of 12 and was only told then to stay away from caffiene.
Years later, I was in agony and an ultrasound was done, which only confirmed the original diagnosis.
I was just curious because I am really 'lumpy' and it's hard to tell what's normal and what's not. As for the dimpling, I read in a magazine once that this maybe a red flag.
Just trying to educate myself some. :)
The cysts are not uncommon. Talk to the nurse at your doctor's office and learn how to do the exam and what the various tissues feel like. The slight inversion of your nipples is likely not cause for concern but is worth a mention at your next exam.
The mammograms may not be routine until 50 but you should request your doctor to establish need or whatever you call it there. Any imaginative doctor can find several reasons to break most rules. I think you should have mammograms regularly because the cysts could be masking other issues.