More questions...figured itwould be best to start a new topic...

So, thank you all for responding to my other question so quickly, and nicely!  I do have a few more questions, and I figured it would be best to start a new thread for those who already read the old one and had no answers, but might be able to answer some things out of here.

My friend called the doctor today, and they said they can get her in Thursday.  Is that normal when finding a lump?

Also, what can she do in the meantime to cut down on the pain she is having?  She is real sore and it is not comfortable. 

And Bev, you suggested maybe this is mearly fibrocystic breast changes.  Thank you for that suggestion, and in some ways, yes, it does seem like it could be.  Lets pray that it is.  A few questions about that though...

On the one website I was at, it says to call your doctor when you find a new change or a new lump in your breast that has been presistant for 2 menstural cycles...uh, WHAT?  Why would they suggest waiting that long? 

And it also said that fibrocystic breast changes generally fluctuate with your menstural cycle.   What exactly does that mean? 

She found this massive lump yesterday, no, the day before, so Saturday and her period should come around the 23rd or so.  Does that say anything?

I know I may be asking a lot here, I just want to try to understand things as best I can so I can educate and even comfort her on this.  Waiting til Thursday is going to be hard.  But yes, I told her lets not worry til there is something to worry about.  She said Ok, but as we all know, that is easier said that done!

Again, I am jsut going to try my best to make her feel good until we go to the doctor on Thursday, which feels like FOREVER away!  Ha ha ha.

ANyway, thank you all in advance for all the advice and kind works given to me! 

I hope you guys don't mind me asking maybe a million questions between now and Thursday!

Thanks.

Tammy

Tammy, obviously you are very concerned about your friend, but her doctor will be the best person to answer her questions. Fibrocystic changes can fluctuate with your menstrual cycle means just that. Breast tissue may feel lumpy and sore at different times during your cycle. Lots of women have breast pain the week before their cycle begins. Breast tissue changes with the changes in your hormone levels.

The suggestion that you wait thru 2 periods is pretty standard. Breast cancer is a slow-growing cancer, so even if it is cancer, two months is a short time, considering a breast cancer starts years before you feel an actual lump. So obviously, waiting til Thursday is not such a long time as it may seem.

I hope your questions are assuaging your friend's fears rather than unintentionally feeding it. I don't know what site you were on, but symptom checkers are usually just to see if you need to see a doctor or not, they are not a diagnostic tool.

I hope you will just reassure your friend that this is probably nothing, and suggest she write a list of questions for the doctor so she'll be sure to get all the answers she needs while she is there. Her doctor will be the best source of information for you and her.

Good luck on Thursday.

BEV

Dear Tammy...so glad you feel it's helpful. I meant to mention earlier that, while some women have pain with breast cancer, it is not considered the norm for breast cancer, and fibrocystic changes can be extremely painful. There is no one answer to relieve that pain. Some women find that eliminating caffeine helps. Some women find eliminating sugar helps. Some women use hot compresses, some cold. No one fix works for everyone. I had a friend from hs who had a prophylactic mastectomy (had her breasts removed, with no evidence of cancer)with a saline implant reconstruction, because she was in so much pain all of the time.

What is your friend's name? Please let her know that we will be sending good thoughts her way on Thursday!

BEV

Tammy,

 

I just wanted to say HI and welcome to this part of the board.  You are a great friend!  I know you will be very supportive and a great source of information for Heidi.

 

Not to scare you or anything, but my lump was painful to the touch.  It wasn't excrutiating pain, though.  Waiting is the hardest part, but even if it turns out to be something, a few days or weeks won't really make much difference.  I know that sounds awful.  I can remember thinking - I want this out NOW.  We are here waiting with you both.