The Tit-less wonder

[freckles]

After losing over 30 pounds and packing on some muscle...I finally got around to doing a breast exam. I know I should do this once a month, but hey once every couple years ain't bad :oops: .

So anyway... does anyone else have a problem with feeling every bump and ridge of muscle and ribcage/breast bone, and being unsure as to what actually is supposed to be there? The last time I did a BSE I had actual breasts, and couldn't feel all this other stuff :unsure: . DH comically wonders, "If you don't actually have breasts do you really need to worry?" :sad: Jerk.

Thoughts, suggestions?

[Brandi]

Go see a doc if it is freaking you out.

[linds]

I'd go have your dr or nurse walk you through it. Doing them the same time each month will keep you more familiar with what your feeling, what is normal and what isn't.

I've felt several tumors or lumps and they feel "hard" and "grainy" to me, while normal tissue has a "soft" feeling

Make an appointment or find a screening clinic in the area, local teaching hospitals will have them, a health practitioner can guide you through it. If you don't want to go that route try and make an appointment with yourself every month to familiarize yourself with your breasts and what is "normal" for them. Not to get on my soap box but this is your life and it is very important to do this, it takes ten minutes out of your day once a month and catching something early could save your life...stepping away from my rant slowly.

[freckles]

:p not freaking... just wondering how a gal is supposed to find a serious/important lump in amongst all the other stuff that I couldn't feel before...

Linds.. thanks for the input. I know it is important... I was actually rather shocked at how much time had passed since the last time I had done it. Funny how we lose track... :oops:

[linds]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 8 2006, 01:02 PM
:p not freaking... just wondering how a gal is supposed to find a serious/important lump in amongst all the other stuff that I couldn't feel before...

Linds.. thanks for the input. I know it is important... I was actually rather shocked at how much time had passed since the last time I had done it. Funny how we lose track... :oops:
I'm kind of a nazi about it, I lost my mom to breast cancer and I work with oncology patients so it's frustrating to talk to people who don't do their monthly exams, I know physicians and nurses in the field who don't do them monthly, blows me away so no worries.

If you keep a calendar I'd put it on there as an appointment, or I do mine every time I start a new BC pack, whatever works. We spend so much time focused on our health eating well, it's just another thing to add to make things that much better and being accountable for our own health.

If there isn't anything that stands out, just start to do them monthly and you will start to feel what is normal and what isn't everyone is different. TMI but I have really fiborous breasts while my sisters are very smooth tissue, what feels normal for me would be something "off" for her.

[smsmorris]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 8 2006, 03:02 PM
:p not freaking... just wondering how a gal is supposed to find a serious/important lump in amongst all the other stuff that I couldn't feel before...

Linds.. thanks for the input. I know it is important... I was actually rather shocked at how much time had passed since the last time I had done it. Funny how we lose track... :oops:
Regardless if you have a larger chest or not, you can't always distinguish lumps. I have something called fibroadenomas, which are basically benign tumors. They look like malignant ones on a mammogram, so I need to have ultrasounds periodically to see what it is, and then I need biopsies done if they can't tell. The main thing is to make sure you keep up with the exams so you notice if there are any changes, you can make an appointment.

[colo1278]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 8 2006, 07:30 PM
DH comically wonders, "If you don't actually have breasts do you really need to worry?" :sad: Jerk.


Tell him that Nancy Reagan (teeny tiny boobs) had a sinlge mastectomy after cancer.

[lynne12]

Not to freak anyone out here but to just educate ya'll about a breast cancer that doesn't manifest itself in a lump at first. It's called inflammatory breast cancer and it is super -aggressive and, unfortunatly the survival rate is very low. My girl friend was diagnosed last fall with it and the doctors already say she's losing her battle and there isn't much they can do for her. She's 34 with two young kids. very sad.

Here's a link to a news article about it. the main thing that's important to know - a rash that won't go away. Some women who are breast feeding get the rash and the doctors mis-diagnose it as mastitis (common while breast feeding ) - this is what happened with my girl friend. Still this is a very important read. Also - it strikes women at a young age. Please read, just to be informed and up to date. or, do a google search on it, tons of stuff comes up.

http://www.komotv.com/stories/43313.htm

[Blondell]

I DID NOT GIVE YOU PERMISSION TO START A THREAD ABOUT MY BREASTSTISIS! :finger: :lol: I KNOW THEY ARE SMALL--GEEZ!

[Angelkae]

Originally posted by freckles@Jun 8 2006, 02:30 PM
After losing over 30 pounds and packing on some muscle...I finally got around to doing a breast exam. I know I should do this once a month, but hey once every couple years ain't bad :oops: .

So anyway... does anyone else have a problem with feeling every bump and ridge of muscle and ribcage/breast bone, and being unsure as to what actually is supposed to be there? The last time I did a BSE I had actual breasts, and couldn't feel all this other stuff :unsure: . DH comically wonders, "If you don't actually have breasts do you really need to worry?" :sad: Jerk.

Thoughts, suggestions?
My doc told me, if you feel something that worried you, check the other breast in the same place. If you have the same thing on both sides, it's typically normal. He also told me that cancerous masses usually feel foreign and jagged... like if you felt it, there's no way you'd think it was normal.

If at any time you feel something that worries you, go to the doctor! It's worth the peace of mind.

Tell hubby that even skinny, scrawny men get breast cancer. It's not about the fat or even the gender. It's about the glands and tissues.

Hope this helps.

[AgKitty]

Freckles, don't feel bad. I have the same condition. I can feel everything from bones to cartilidge (sp?) and every ridge in between. Like alot of people have get accustommed to how they feel know becuase this is your new baseline that you compare every other exam to.