Expert: Claes-Gustaf Nordquist, M.D. - 11/22/2007

Question
I have just noticed a pretty large lump (about walnut size) in my left breast. I have scheduled a mammogram, but I am wondering about it because I can't find similar symptoms related to breast cancer, but lumps are always worrisome.

Personal Info:
I'm 61 with one child who was born when I was 42, although I had been pregnant at 24 and had a miscarriage.
No family history of breast cancer but father had prostate cancer, aunt had colon cancer, uncle had bone cancer.  These relatives represent both sides of my family.
I have mild fybromyalgia.

I have a dull ache at times in my left breast, usually quite mild and most of the time not even noticeable. It tends to be more noticeable when I take a deep breath.  The pain is not in my lungs, but clearly in my chest.  I originally thought I was developing a heart problem (father died of heart disase).  

Almost directly behind the pain in my breast is an occasional pain in my left back/shoulder.  It weirdly often seems connected if I hunch my shoulders forward.  I just feel sometimes like the entire upper left portion of my body is connect by some dull pain string, the major part of the string going from the back to the front of my upper left side where the lump is.  

Other info:
I teach, so I stand a lot. I also sit at the computer a great deal.  I lead a sedentary life style.
In the last few years I seem to have developed a problem with cysts.  I had a large one growing on my back (upper left center).  It became infected and was drained. I constantly get cysts on the inside of my lip.  I just recently developed one on my bottom right eye lid.  

These are such weird symptoms that I can't find the combination anywhere, but since a breast lump is involved, I am concerned.  The breast lump, BTW, although large must be relatively new because I had a breast exam about a year ago and no lumps were found.

Do you think that lump sounds more like a cyst or more like cancer?  I know that's a dopey kind of question, but online information on breast cancer just says you may or may not have pain with breast cancer and doesn't really explain the kind of pain.  My pain is not constant.  The lump is tender to the touch, but both breast are tender to the touch -- it's part of the fibromyalgia.

Any comments you have would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Answer
Since you have fibromyalgia I will just leave all pain & tenderness aside! The important thing here is that apart from your mammogram you should also have a needle biopsy of your mass done! Since you can feel it the easiest, simplest & quickest way to do it (if available) would be by a thin needle aspiration biopsy! That way we will KNOW what this is instead of speculate about it! And be able to take any action if necessary! Good luck! Please do keep me posted!