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.

[boxtops]

It's hard to tell from the photo - I'd take it to the doctor so they can take a proper look at it, and palpate it. If you have a Minor Injuries Unit near you, you could go today. I wouldn't leave it.

[Eve]

Thanks Boxtops. I think I will worry about it until I get it seen. There are a few walk in clinics round here so I will get shifted and try to get seen today.

[boxtops]

Let us know what they say - it looks sore!

[Sqad]

No big deal.

A cyst has burst..........Google.." Bluedomed Cysts of Bloodgood"

It doesnt need treatment.

[boxtops]

I've never heard of it, sqad, what causes them?

[Sqad]

boxy....Google it.......but basically are benign cysts that are full of clear coloured fluid. They then get filled with blood and look blueish when you look at the.......hence the name "blue-domed."
The can burst, set up an inflammatory reaction in the breast, giving pain and the appearance of bruising, but quickly settle without treatment.

[boxtops]

I did google, sqad, but I thought I'd ask you :-)

[slaney]

I would see a doctor about it Eve.
It may be as Sqad says something as simple as a burst cyst, but it looks red to me and as you are on steroids (I presume) and have been on immunosupressive drugs in the recent past, it would be as well to treat any possible infection promptly.

[boxtops]

My thought too was about ongoing infection - antibiotics needed? I though sqad might comment.

[Sqad]

Blimey...it only happened a few hours ago......she has not been on immuno suppresive drugs for months.

[slaney]

Steroids are immunosupressive, sqad.
The criteria and timescale for treating infections in the immunosupressed are completely different from normal.

[Sqad]

slaney......well clearly we disagree with the management......I would not give prophylactic antibiotics, but you would.

[slaney]

An examination is needed first, and then if there is any suspicion of infection antibiotics prescribed.
Feel free to disagree with me and my three decades plus of seeing and treating infections in the immunosupressed/neutropaenic patient :)

[Sqad]

slaney.....ah! can't compete with that....................

[Eve]

Thanks all, I value all your opinions. Wow, that's a name and a half Sqad!

I popped in to a walk in centre and saw a nurse practitioner and she thinks it is an abscess and have given me some flucloxicillin. Hopefully it will clear itself up regardless. I do get a lot of abscesses but usually only in the groin area.

I am on steroids, injection and have been on and off some oral steroids. Not taken methotrexate since early November I think it was but it's not good news as my recurring infections are a pain in relation to being put on the drugs and have already been left until I see them in a couple of weeks without medication until I get better after a run of infections last year then a bad stomach bug before Christmas (norovirus I think, had been going round work).

Managed to get a better picture (trying to retain some modesty!). The redder area around it is all swollen, a bit like when you get a really bad bite and the skin swells up round it. It is really sore. Hopefully this will work.

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

[Eve]

Or not! Hang on... http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/800x600q90/837/c7c4.jpg

[Sqad]

Thanks for the feedback EVE.....pity you couldn't have seen a doctor.

[Eve]

True, I think they try and get nurses to see as many people as possible to keep the doctors for the more urgent/medical stuff I guess which is fair enough, lots of young children coming in too and it's off an A&E so I imagine it's well placed for them to divert people from there (great idea though) so tends to get really busy, even people coming in with paramedics! I was just happy to get seen.

[boxtops]

Eve, I'm glad to hear you have a diagnosis - and please don't be concerned that you didn't see a doctor. Nurse practitioners are highly skilled and qualified these days (it's another 2.5 years' advanced practitioner training before you can call your self a nurse practitioner rather than "just" a registered nurse), and that includes a prescribing programme - so you can have confidence in the person you saw. Thanks for the update, glad you were able to act on it today!

[Eve]

Thanks Boxtops. I'm glad I got see else I'd have been worrying a bit. The nurse was fantastic and lovely and had a good look at it and I was more than happy. She just had to get someone else to sort the prescription.

Hopefully it will settle itself down. I just need a clear run without any kind of illness or infection, I'm worried it will delay me going on arthritis meds again but we will see.