Sore breast and mammograms

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I've had pain in one breast for a couple of weeks now.
Didn't want to go to the doctor because I hate going to the doctor, but yesterday my armpit was also sore so I did go.
I thought I'd regret it if it turned out to be cancer and I waited too long with going to the doctor.

The doctor didn't think it was cancer. She thinks it's probably an infected cyst, and the sore armpit is because the glands are draining the infection. I have to go back in two weeks to see if things have settled.

But now I am thinking what if it doesn't settle, and it's still sore and then I will have to get a mammogram while it's still painful. I had a mammogram once and it was horrible. It didn't hurt, but it's just horrible with all the squeezing. I feel sick just thinking about it and it kept me awake.
What if there is an infected cyst or an abscess and that squeezing make the cyst/abscess burst? Can that happen?

I know it's stupid to be more scared of the faint possibility that I might have to get a mammogram than of the possibility that it may be cancer, but I really don't think it's cancer. I'd still have the mammogram if needed, but would it be good to tell the doctor that I'm scared? And how do I say that? I'm afraid I'll cry if I tell her. And perhaps I'll have to tell the specialist and I don't even know who that is or even where.

I think it would be a good idea to tell the doctor that you are scared. I think it would help you to feel better.

I would dread having a mammogram too, if there was an active cyst. I am surprised your doctor didn't give you more concrete advise, such as applying warm compresses to the sore breast. Also, you might try lymph brushing. Here's a link to how it is done.
http://naturalhealthtechniques.com/heal ... hnique.htm
Doing this may help drain the cyst quicker without undue pain. Also, you could try massaging the breasts with a drop of essential lavender oil mixed in a carrier oil, such as almond or jojoba. Hope it clears up soon!

Cysts can burst and it's quite painful when they do. (I have polycystic ovaries, and once in a great while a cyst bursts rather than going away on it's own.) Discuss this concern with your doctor. If she thinks there is danger in the cyst bursting, she is not likely to do anything to make it go. However, it's likely that even if it does burst, it'll hurt for a while but not put you in danger. They will give you some pain pills (at least, that's what my practitioner does), but you probably won't need the whole prescription. Pain usually dies down to asprin/tylenol levels before long and then goes away completely. Good luck!

Ah, so I'm not silly for thinking it could burst! At least it doesn't need to be a disaster if it does.
No, the doctor didn't give any suggestions on what to do. But I did tell her that it had already started to hurt less, so maybe she thought it was gonna heal by itself anyway.

I will try the brushing thing - seems like it would also help with dry skin. I'll also try the oil; I have lavender essential oil in the house anyway. Only problem is that my cat doesn't like it!

It hasn't gotten much better but not worse either, so I hope it will cure itself. If I will end up needing a mammogram I guess I shall have to talk about my worries with the doctor. Problem is that I'm not very good at talking to doctors. I say mostly 'Uhhh' and a few sentences that I have rehearsed at home.
If they ask me unexpected questions I sometimes know what to say, but most times I don't. I usually come up with elaborate, intelligent answers once I am home.... pretty useless by then.

Can't they do a sonogram on the breast instead of a mammogram?

That being said they would have to press very very hard to get the cyst to burst (if that is what it is).

A bit late.. but I did go to the doctor. She said it was most likely an infected cyst, and it felt as if it was getting better already. She said to wait a week and if it hadn't improved to come back. But after a week I was fine!

It wasn't too bad and I hardly needed to say anything. And no mammogram!

For future reference, I think everybody dreads a mammogram so you shouldn't feel bad about telling the doc and the tech doing it that you don't like it. I had one last week for screening and the lady doing it and I talked about how they suck while I was getting mine done. I have small boobs and I asked her how girls with big boobs deal with it, if they have to squish them more or what and she said it's just more exposure time. She has big boobs and says she hates it too.

I've never met a lady who has had one that didn't dread getting another one. I think it's a common reaction. Mine really wasn't that bad this time though and that's because of where I was in my cycle. I wasn't close to my period so my boobs weren't sore. I think I was the time before this and it was terrible.

On the flip side of this, the nurse practitioner who does my yearly pelvic at the health department is extremely rough. She doesn't mean to be, but she has hands like Virginia hams. Seriously. Breast exams are terrible and I always wince and tell her it hurts and then she presses harder to find out if theres anything in there that is causing the pain and I finally tell her "It's not the boob thats the source of the pain it's because you are about to press me through the table!" The pelvic part is a nightmare. Luckily it's only once a year, except this year. I have to go back tomorrow to get a repeat pap smear because I bled the last time and they couldn't check it.

My daughter watches that show "Weeds" and she said there was a horribly graphic scene in it where the main character went to get a mamogram. I think that in popular culture mamograms are becoming the female equivilant of the prostate exam.

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I'm giving it another shot. We will see.
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