Anxious about having breast cancer, please help

'm new to this forum/ site and really need some assurance or experience re breast cancer.
I've had an itchy left breast (on the inside, so I can't really scratch it) for about 7 weeks now. Its occasionally painful and almost always tender too. Sometimes the itch stretches into my armpit.
I have seen two doctors and a breast surgeon, and have had an ultrasound done so far. Was prescribed antibiotics which didn't help. Ultrasound was clear apart from one enlarged lymphnode - so I went to see the surgeon who inspected my breasts and said the lymphnode was gone (the other 2 docs prior to this could feel it). The breast surgeon thinks it's my nerves or hormones causing the itch / pain, since I've had a baby 13 months ago, and am still breastfeeding and haven't had my period. He consulted a radiographer about referring me to mri for reassurance but was told it couldn't be done because of breastfeeding. He was very calm and told me that these days ultrasounds are very effective and accurate, especially for young people (I'm 31). I asked him about Inflammatory breast cancer (my biggest fear), but he said I needed some breast swelling or at least some presentation on skin to get biopsy done.
Now, I know this all sounds sensible and positive but my fear and anxiety doesn't think so!! And the itch/ tenderness/ occasional pain is still there . I have scheduled another appointment with the breast surgeon in a week for a check up, I just really am after some reassurance or similar experiences, since my anxiety about having breast cancer doesn't let me enjoy anything, and its really hard looking after my 3 children when I'm anxious all the time.
Sorry this is such a long post but just wanted to get it off my chest, I seem so stressed otherwise.

P.S. I'm still breastfeeding my 13 month old about 6 times in 24 hrs, and recently discovered she leaves quite deep upper teeth marks on my left breast. Could this possibly cause some discomfort in breast?
I also was carrying her around all the time on my left side, I stopped when the itch and tenderness appeared though.
Many thanks in advance for reading this and your support!

Hi Scaredy Cat,

Thank you for your reply. I do find it helpful knowing that I'm not alone with this annoying health anxiety, otherwise I'd think I'm loosing my mind. Ive had it before about 4 months ago when my shoulder was in mild pain and I was sure I had lung cancer (thanks to dr Google), turned out to be mildy compressed discs in my neck :)

This time I'm worried because I've never had such issues with nursing my older children, but then again the others didn't feed so often at 13 months and didn't leave teeth marks, and didn't need to be carried around so much either..
I understand that if it was breast cancer, especially inflammatory, it most likely would have progressed within these 7 weeks..
It is just hard to reason with my racing mind.. plus Google can scare you too.

Ive noticed though that my health anxiety started when we moved to a very remote area from quite a busy town. So instead of working and taking my children to different activities, and going to coffee shops, I'm now staying at home, baking sausage rolls and staring at hills and kangaroos (I live in Australia) across the road. So my mind is left to wonder..Just starting to think if maybe starting some home online business would maybe help to take my thoughts off my health..

Hi Larry,
Thanks for your advice. I am guilty of checking the breast lots of times a day. Am trying hard to just focus on daily activities and not to think about anything horrible. .

Beth,

I think your idea of starting a business on-line is excellent!!

Wishing you the best if you decided to proceed with that, or other venture!!

...and inviting you to stay on and post with us anytime!

S.C.

Hi Beth!

I would trust the doctors and surgeons that you do not have cancer. I have had cancer, and itching was not a symptom. I also breastfed 3 children, one year each, and had many symptoms which were nothing. Especially with my one child who liked to bite. :) I learned to gently and quickly press the baby into my breast when they bite to stop the behavior. It worked for me.

Stress and anxiety, I have learned, can cause all kinds of physical symptoms. I think a lot of us can relate to jumping to conclusions that it is something serious, when it fact it was nothing. (You could measure it for me by trips to the ER in the night when I was sure a panic attack was a heart attack.) Since then, I am working on trusting the doctors and certainly even more so if I have multiple doctors telling me the same thing.

Enjoy your baby and try not to worry. If things don't improve in the coming months and you feel you need to be checked again, you can do that. Itching has been a nervous symptom for me in the past 5 months and as recommended above, try very hard not to scratch - it only increases the itch.

Best of luck!

Cindy

Hi Beth,

Wow! This felt like reading something I wrote.

I am also 31 and have been having itching in my left breast since August 2016. Just last week I had a biopsy to rule out Pagets disease (my itch has been mostly in the nipple and I have some flaking skin on my nipple). It has been very scary. My maternal grandmother died in her early 40's from BC and this really scares me.

I have had a mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy. Seeing the breast surgeon relieved a lot of my fears. I hope your visit reassures you.

thank you for responding to me. I am so scared. scared to go to the doctor, scared to not go to the doctor.
Google is a total nightmare. I need to get the courage to go for an u/s and not just have my ob look. I do trust my ob but scared that I can see a vein. he felt differently and was unconcerned and said they are common. I will look at your resources above. thank you for taking the time to write me back. wake up every morning feeling the same way -- like an uphill battle and scared

Here is the link.😊

www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=9&m=104206

S.C.