Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 6/6/2008

Question
hello, i am a 33 year old mother of three and i have had a problem with lumps in my left breast, i have had three mamos and even so much as an mri and sonos. ive  been to three different doctors and all of whom say its normal and we will watch it. these doctors are not in the oncology field though. it wouldn't bother me so bad but my maternal grandmother had breast cancer and beat it twice but it took her life two years ago in September. i have a long history of different types of cancer in my family too.. i also have already had a tumor ( not a cyst ) from my ovaries last year, however it was not cancer ! i have policystic ovarian syndrome. my doctors refuse to do a hysterectomy because of my age. so as you can see i have health problems already and this is another concern, my breast hurts so bad to touch, it is always swollen and burns , sometimes so bad i have to take pain pills. i do not know what to do, and any advice you could give me would be greatly appreciated. thank you, Melissa

Answer
You probably have a fibrocystic breast condition which in itself has nothing to do with breast cancer and is not dangerous. But its presence makes breast cancer somewhat more difficult to detect! Since you also have breast cancer in your family it is important that you have your breasts checked regularly - around once per year is probably enough. The check ups should include mammography, ultrasound breast scans and MRI breast scans AND at least needle biopsies of ANY unclear lesions seen! This should be run by someone familiar with breast oncology. Pain - though uncomfortable - is NOT a common symptom of breast cancer but it is of your fibrocystic breast condition. Unfortunately I have no cure for that except that I can tell you that it usually goes away on its own some time after menopause. Though that message is probably hardly comforting.