Hello, I hope you don't mind me asking this question. I have had breast cancer but this is on behalf of a close relative. She is mid-forties, has in the last 4 years had a hysterectomy (not cancer-related), one ovary removed because of a cyst and had a cyst drained in her breast. She was recently sent back to the cyst clinic because she had a lump in her breast which was painful. Her GP advised that it was probably a cyst. The cyst clinic has advised her it is not a cyst. She has very dense breasts that are lumpy and the pain is because she is perimenopausal. She had a mammogram and an ultrasound. Her concern is now how she check for lumps that could be cancer. The suspected cyst was a lump and she says she can feel other small lumps. She will be eligible for mammograms in 5 years. My cancer is not inheritable because of my age at diagnosis but it did give us all a shock and emphasised how important it was to do checks and have mammograms. My queries are 1. What should she do to check given she won't know if it is her dense breast lumpiness or a proper lump? Even her GP thought this was a proper lump. 2. Is perimenopausal breast pain common and what can she do? (She is slim, doesn't smoke, exercises but is on Tramadol for headaches and general pain) . 3. For someone with very dense breasts is it worth it to try and get a private scan and what would be best, an ultrasound or MRI? I presume this would not be available on the NHS. Any advice would be very welcome. Thank you
Rozalia
