HomeAnswersInternal Medicinebreast lumpWhat causes painful swelling in the breast?

I have a painful swelling on my right breast. Could it be breast cancer?

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The following is an actual conversation between an iCliniq user and a doctor that has been reviewed and published as a Premium Q&A.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Vinodhini J.

Published At December 14, 2020
Reviewed AtFebruary 5, 2021

Patient's Query

Hi doctor,

I have swelling in my right breast (upper side) and I feel when I press it. It was painful too. I have high TSH. I am 32 years old. Is there a chance of breast cancer?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

First of all, I would like to say that it is quite a commendable thing to be aware of these situations. Most women are not aware of breast lumps and tend to ignore them.

I like to ask you a few questions about the swelling. Is it a single swelling or multiple ones? Is the skin around the swelling red and painful? Have you recently breastfed? Did you have a fever in the previous one or two weeks? Have you checked yourself the left breast for such swellings?

Most breast lumps are benign, but they have to be checked out positively to rule out any malignancy. But since you are 32 years of age, it is unlikely to be a malignancy, and I would ask you not to be worried. Mammography will have to be performed to look into the consistency of the lump. Whether it is benign or otherwise, treatments are available, and it is a fairly common condition. If the breast lump is found to be benign, can it be easily excised?

I have gone through the report that you have posted, and then it is written ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) is high, and TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone) is high. TSH values done in the time of any illness cannot be relied upon and therefore may have to be repeated at a later stage. When the report was open, I saw only a peripheral smear report and not a TSH or ESR report.

Kindly upload those reports, and I will be able to comment on them. Kindly answer the above questions, and I will help you out in a much better fashion.

Investigations to be done

Mammography.

Differential diagnosis

Breast lump.

Treatment plan

Shall be decided after the reports are seen.

Patient's Query

Thank you doctor,

First of all, it is not a lump. It is only swelling. Secondly, it is a single swelling. It was painful, but now I am fine. There is no redness. I do not have kids, so I am not breast feeding. I have a fever, and I am on anxiety medicine. There is no swelling in my right breast.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Just to clarify why I am calling it a lump, any swelling on the breast is referred to as a breast lump. That is medical terminology and does not signify anything.

I have gone through the reports (attachment removed to patient identity). I wanted the report to rule out any infection in the breast that could have led to the swelling. Your blood reports are normal, and it is unlikely to be an infection. But your TSH level is 10, and thyroid hormone supplementation is indicated. But that is a separate issue, and do let me know if you want me to consult on the medications.

For your breast swelling, mammography is indicated. It is a common investigation and is done easily. I would advise you to go ahead with it.

Probable diagnosis

Breast lump and hypothyroidism.

Treatment plan

Thyroid hormone supplementation needs to be started.

Same symptoms don't mean you have the same problem. Consult a doctor now!

Dr. Mohammed Abdul Nasir
Dr. Mohammed Abdul Nasir

Pain Medicine

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