Lump And Bruising On Breast

[Eve]

I felt some pain in one of my breasts this morning, I've just had a look and there is a large raised red area (a few inches across) and quite a bit of bruising, it's down around the lower right side of my left breast. I can't think of anything that I would have done to damage it, let along cause that much bruising. I'm large chested but have been for some time.

It's really tender too. Could it be some kind of abscess or something like that? I've tried to get a picture which shows some of it, though not an easy place to get a picture of.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/513/aqeo.jpg

Grateful for any ideas. Apologies if I don't reply right away as got to go out, will be looking in on my phone though.

[Eve]

Hmm, feels like one coming up at the top of one of my legs tlo. I really think I've got some kind of bacteria or something lurking with all the skin infections I keep getting. I wonder if I can ask to get some kind of a sample taken from them, does anyone know if that would show something up which may help get rid of them? Usually groin ones, this is the first in my breast but I've had one in my armpit too before now.

Hydradenitis supperative was mentioned some years back when I had a run of them.

[anneasquith]

'' pity you couldn't have seen a doctor.'' oh really sqad ?

[boxtops]

I know, anne..... :-(

[anneasquith]

with all due respect to sqad, I think you may be a bit out of touch re the health service of 'today'.

[Ann]

Well maybe anne, but I am more than happy and grateful to have Sqad answer questions on this site - where else can you get great service like that? Certainly not our GP practice - it takes 2 weeks to even get an appointment!

[onphospital]

Hi Eve,
Breast tissues are very sensitive and needs utmost care. Bruises are almost never a sign of underlying cancer. A bruise is actually just blood that has escaped the blood vessels because of trauma. Sometimes the trauma that occurs is not noticed and a bruise appears without the person remembering why or how it happened. With that said, you should have a breast exam every year by your physician to be sure that there are no lumps or other findings that need further examination. I suggest that you schedule an appointment for this purpose. In addition, you should start getting mammograms every year sometime between the ages of 40 and 50 depending on your family history and your physician's preference. If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, you may need screening breast MRIs prior to the age of 40. I hope that helps

[Sqad]

ann

\\\\\with all due respect to sqad, I think you may be a bit out of touch re the health service of 'today'.\\\

Yes ann...I agree...where does one go on a Sunday if one wants a medical opinion from a doctor?

It would seem and i hate to say this, but A&E.

[anneasquith]

good morning sqad, my comment was in respect of the role of the 'nurse pationers' :)

[Sqad]

anne.......oh"...sorry......boxy did explain the "advantage" of being seen by a "nurse+2.5 years" extra training who could stand in for the absent doctor.

[boxtops]

Not absent, sqad, no longer contracted - many A&E consultations these days are delivered by nurse practitioners, our local walk-in centres are staffed by them. The days of "only doctor knows best" are long gone, advanced clinical nurse practitioners provide a great deal of the clinical nursing staffing both in primary and secondary care these days.

[Sqad]

Well boxy if the public are happy to consult a " advanced clinical nurse practitioner" and of course much cheaper than a Dr, then " what a good idea."

[woofgang]

often sqad, it is!

[murraymints]

I would like to put my oar in and say sqad always offers good advice here and would be very sorely missed if he weren't here..sqad xx

[Sqad]

LOL.....murray.....that is a contentious issue, BUT one day, sqad will be giving advice in that great AB in the sky.......;-)

Thanks anyway.

[WELSHYORKIE]

You won't need to give advice up there sqad - according to the religious, there is no illness 'up there'. No need for ibuprofen, 600mg

[Sqad]

Watch it welshy! ............no NHS " up there" only private patients.

[EcclesCake]

When was your last clinic in the UK Sqad?

Things have moved on quite considerably and for the 'everyday complaint' nurse practitioners are every bit as good as a more highly trained, experienced and pressured Dr. I would have thought you would appreciate the opportunity to offload the 'mundane' to a Nurse so that you could spend more time on the challenging.

I am not denigrating NPs when I refer to the mundane and everyday complaint, simply differentiating between a medics view and that of the patient. Quite frankly if I am on the verge of ripping myself to shreds due to PUVA itch I'm happy to take the view of the nurse who sees it frequently and knows what to do when I need help, rather than having to wait for a Dr.

[Sqad]

Eccles.......fine.

[EcclesCake]

How about answering my question Sqad?

[Sqad]

Ooops! Sorry Eccles..2010.