Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 12/15/2009

Question
I just woke up one day with right sided breast pain the rib area under neath my right breast.  There was a palpable small nodule/lump there that i felt where the pain was.  I went 3 days later to my obgyn and they send me right away for a mammography and sonogram. I have a history of enlarged lymph nodes up to 3cm in my neck and sub mandibular gland area.  I have had 2 neck excisional biopys last year with the last surgery a major swelling pain complication and they had to admit me.  Since then my lymph nodes originally went down in the neck and are now prominent.  They did a sono and catscan and it showed 2-2.5 cm multiple enlarged lymph nodes.  I am more concerned with the breast as its new and the word intramammary doesn't sound good.  I have a breast biopsy today but i am worried this could be interrelated and under-detected.

Your feedback is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Regards,

Jackie

Answer
Painful, sore & tender breast masses are usually not associated with breast cancer - though of course that is not a guarantee. To be sure what this mass is I do suggest a needle biopsy of it. Can be done stereotactically based on your mammography or by ultrasound guidance. Needle biopsies - with a MUCH lower risk of complications - can also be done of your swelled lymph nodes in order to find out what they are. That method is much faster, easier, simpler and probably cheaper than surgical biopsies.
Good luck!


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