Breast & Ovary complaints

I’ve got what I’m assuming is a cyst on my left windsock. It showed up when I started breastfeeding and I had initially thought it was a clogged duct despite being painless. Fast forward nearly two years , it’s definitely not a clogged duct and is still here. I can move it around so I don’t think it’s anything bad, I’m supposed to get a mammogram but I haven’t scheduled that yet.
 
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anliteralidiot said:
wtf my left is smaller too, I wonder if it's related to which hand you write with or something silly like that lol
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Doppelmonger said:
My right boob is smaller and I am right handed, I have no idea if it is related (probably not)
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I heard/read somewhere that the pectoral muscle connected to the arm of your writing hand gets worked more (because you use it more) and gets more developed. It's not a noticeable thing. But apparently when a woman's pectorals gets musclier, her boobs get smaller. Look at bodybuilders for example.
I also read that left boobs tend to be smaller because that's the side of the chest where the heart is, but that doesn't make sense.
 
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It's been over a year since I had a partial hysterectomy. Removed the uterus, cervix, and one of the tubes. Also they found endometrial tissue where it didnt belong, a few tumors, and cysts inside of my tube. I spent 6 weeks out of work bc I don't have a desk job, however, the post surgical pain was less than what my average period was like.

My quality of life has been so vastly improved I would suggest it to every woman who is child free or done having them. When you compare the effects of an IUD, of contraceptive medications, of injections like depo, compared to laser surgery, there's really no comparison.
 
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I’ve had two or three mammos and I’m still pretty young. The last one I had was fucking brutal; they are unpleasant and painful enough, but the tech grabbed and handled my breasts very roughly. I always have the worst luck with techs like that. I’ve been brutally treated during dental care, too. The mammography clinics make a deal of having things soft and feminine, like with comfy chairs you can sit in, but none of that makes any difference when a tech having a bad day is manhandling you.

From my understanding, the majority of breast lumps are benign. Hallmarks of more serious issues are lumps that are hard and rigid, lumps located nearer to you lymph nodes, and puckering of the skin and bleeding from the nipples. Women with a familial history of breast cancer should be screened early, but otherwise, watchful waiting and monthly breast checks are sufficient.

On one of the MATI streams last week, Amouranth mentioned that she was in premature menopause (what is known as “ovarian failure”). I appreciated @Null having a fair and dignified approach to that, for the most part, because premature menopause isn’t all that rare, and women, in general, don’t know it can happen because we don’t talk to each other about these subjects. Premature menopause is linked to autoimmune issues such as PCOS more often than STDs. It’s a devastating diagnosis for the vast majority of women because it largely ends our ability to conceive - a woman with ovarian failure has less than a 20% chance of ever conceiving her own child. It can kill marriages and relationships and doctors aren’t sure exactly why it happens. So, if you are ever concerned about your ovarian function (like months of missed periods outside of pregnancy, severe ovarian pain) make sure you visit an endocrinologist along with an OBGYN, because the OBGYN may miss it if he or she doesn’t do a hormone analysis through bloodwork.
 
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I have a complain with my womb in that it does not work as intended. I sometimes say that this was a punishment by God for me having a girlfriend at some point in college, but in reality I have an hormonal disorder that keeps me from bearing a child, thankfully it has nothing to do with cancer. I had to gain weight from 67kg to 82 kg at a slowly pace with some exercise to allow the fat to settle down in a proportional way and to not stretch too much my skin, I am already doing my homework with my husband around the house and I we are waiting for a sign to see if it this approach worked.

Thanks that I am somewhat tall (I am 170 cm), it is not bad at all other than I had to buy new clothes and change some eating habits, besides I do not mind the extra size on my girls and my husband loves them too.
 
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I had cysts and dense breasts too. The trouble begins when a lump is isn't soft. A cancer lump will be hard as a pebble, not squishy like a cyst. It is immovable. Don't ask me how I know.

A six month follow-up is appropriate for a benign condition. It’s incredibly rare for a 22 year old to get breast cancer. It’s most common in the 60s, which doesn’t mean it can’t happen in 30s, 40s. If you are on the younger side, you will sit in a waiting room with 60-80 year olds. Good way to feel young again.

One thing of note: cancer grows. That’s why it’s terrifying. If you had the same thing for years, it’s almost certainly not cancer.

If your family history says cancer, it does not follow you are in danger. Do the BRCA genetic test. Having that gene increases your odds by a lot, and over time, but still doesn’t mean for certain you’ll get it.

This has been my lecture. Back to deathfats.
 
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Android raptor said:
My boobs are great but they might have to get yeeted someday because breast cancer runs in my family. I don't think the county health department allows screenings til you're 40.

One of my grandmothers had it (and ultimately died from it). However I don't think she got it til her 60s, and was in her 80s when it reoccurred and killed her. I also know she had to get one yeeted before I was born.

At least it's one of the few kinds of cancers poor people can get screened for, at least in theory.
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If you want to get BRCA screened inexpensively, you can do it with 23&Me. The gene array they use covers the most common BRCA genes.
 
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Randomrando said:
Can I bitch about men in women's medicine here?

Granted women can be emotionless, uncaring cunts but being talked down to by a man while being naked under what is basically a paper towel is a whole new experience.
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Hey, that's personally insulting. I absolutely love having a license to put women on the scale and tell them it's just so I can calculate the amount of meds we'll put in them, only to tell them that their hearts will 'splode if they continue on the deathfat road 1 minute later.
 
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I know men get into women's medicine for different reasons and I have seen male doctors who were competent, one of my "favorite" pap's was by an older gentleman who sounded like Nigel Thornberry. He used more lube than any gyno I've ever had which really did elevate the experience.

When I was in those fun teenage years(probably 16) one of my breasts did this interesting thing where 1/3 of it went very swollen and hard. I went to a gyno who agreed that it wasn't normal and sent me off to get an ultrasound and confirm it wasn't anything to be concerned about and maybe its just a weird hormone thing going on. Being an anxious teenage girl I assumed it was cancer and prepared for a double mastectomy and losing all of my hair.

The lady technicians were great, they recognized they had a scared teenage girl on the table and talked through everything they did, asking to touch me, telling me they're switching sides of the breast, just really excellent. A bit overkill but again, scared teenage girl. Well, after they get their photos I suppose it's the doctors turn to double check?

This man waltzes into the room, rips the towel off my chest inadvertently throwing it over my face and grabs a titty. I am a minor, I have a damp lubed up towel covering half my face, I don't even know this man's name, and he's fondling my breasts chatting with the techs (who, in retrospect, were uncomfortable). He probably did introduce himself at some point after talking with the techs, when he finally acknowledged me but I was too surprised to notice.

After his examination he tosses the towel back down to my chest, completely missing both breasts and starts talking to me like I'm his golf buddy "you've got some cysts" shrug "they're small" shrug " ya know, I've got 60 year old women who come in with cysts the size of golf balls like my breasts hurt I mean, yeah" shrug and scoff "they probably get painful around your period, I mean, try birth control? Okay?" And he's gone.

Please know dear ladykiwis, I have never been shy about my body, especially in a medical setting, but well over a decade later I have never had another doctor make me feel so uncomfortable and vulnerable about my body. I've had doctors make me uncomfortable or totally put me off but never made me feel so just....the weirdest vulnerability I've ever felt.

Like, I'm not being hyper sensative, right? That was weird and inappropriate? Shitty bedside manner for sure but like... it was fucking weird, right??
 
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If you have a family history of breast cancer, your insurance may likely cover the BRCA1/BRCA2 testing. There will probably be some wording in the policy about meeting criteria-- that means the family history. Not all cases of breast cancer have the genetic component, so continue to do your exams and go to your appointments.

If another female family member gets cancer, they may go ahead and do tests on her to check for inherited risk of various types of cancer that may have a hereditary component (breast, colon, and others). The affected family member can then pass the information on to you, and you can then pursue additional needed testing. At the very least, make sure it's in your medical file, and always be sure to fill out the family history section on medical forms.

When it doubt, get it checked out. If it's weird or just not right, get it checked out. If it's a new pain that persists, get it checked out. Your doctor telling you that you worry too much is nothing compared to letting something go without treatment.
 
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