Breast checks in pg & b/f

I must admit I've always been slack about checking my breasts regularly, but hearing on the radio yesterday a reminder to check (they do it on the first of each month) I thought, gosh it hasn't even crossed my mind at all since being pg, b/f and now pg again. I also just saw on the news someone who was diagnosed with breast cancer just after having her 2nd daughter.. which makes me ask..

Does anyone check their breasts when b/f or pg? Surely our boobs are going through so many changes at that time it would be hard to tell??

I am slack like you - just ask the doc/midwife to do a check next time you have a visit....

LOL I bet I can guess which radio station you listen to Liz ;)

Maybe double check with your OB on how best to do it? Cos yeah I think you're right there'd be lots of changes to take into account.

Liz, this is a topic close to my heart. My mum has had a breast cancer removed and I have had a pre-cancerous lump removed. You should definitely be checking throughout pg and bfing, although it will be more difficult. The advantage though is that you should also be more familiar with your breasts so changes should be easier to notice. TBH I am slack in this area too, but I do also have regular ultrasounds (and mammograms when not bfing or pg) and checks by my breast surgeon. Still, I should be more vigilant, you'd think I'd know better.

hehe - I haven't used the clock radio in AAAAAGES coz it wakes DS up but had it on yesterday morning! I'd forgotten how much I can't stand Kyle & Jackie-O. hehe. I reckon Hamish & Andy should get the breakfast show.

I did used to have a 'lumpy' breast.. but they ruled it out as just that.. a lumpy breast LOL. Not specific lumps, but it just had tougher tissue in it.. but since breastfeeding it's 'normal' like the other one. So maybe it's done some good!

Yep I'd have to agree re Kyle & Jackie O!

Liz, Yes there are many changes going on in your breasts when you are pregnant and yes they tend to be sore and lumpy. Let me briefly tell you about my story with breast checking and pregnancy.

When I was preg with my first bub in April 2003 my OB/Gyn did a breast check at my 1st appt when I was 9 weeks prg. She felt "something" that I hadn't noticed and asked me about it but I just thought they were sore and lumpy like all prg breasts. I had had a check by her in the Nov before when I had my Pap smear and nothing was there then. She decided to have it checked by US but told me it was "probably nothing". I wasn't worried at all. I had the US and it came back "inconclusive" so she referred me to a breast specialist to take a biopsy as I couldn't have a mammogram as I was prg. He too wasn't worried so I wasn't worried. The next day my world fell apart when I got the news the nothing to worry about lump was breast cancer!!!

I was then fast tracked into the best breast cancer multi-disciplinary team (I worked for a large pathology practice in Syd at the time) and given my options. I deperately wanted to keep my baby and start the chemo I needed after the baby was born but my Oncologist told me the tumour was very aggressive and there was a high possibilty I wouldn't be alive without treatment to see my baby born. So I terminated my precious baby at 11 weeks, had surgery, chemo and radiotherapy to save my life. I was the hardest decsion of my life to sacrifice my baby to save myself but I had no choice.

Life does however go on, I now have a gorgeous little boy and am expecting my little princess November 14. Next year will be 5 years for me (a milestone) and I feel strong, healthy and positive for a long and happy future.

So the moral of the story is yes check your breasts when you are pregnant. Don't ever assume any lump you might feel is just milk duct or a normal part of lumpy pregnant breasts. Breast cancer doesn't descriminate, it can touch any woman without warning, young, old, pregnant or breastfeeding, it doesn't care.

Please don't think I'm trying to be scarey or overly dramatic, I tell other women of my experience so that it might make other women more aware. If it makes a difference to just one woman in my whole lifetime then I've done the right thing by talking about it.

I was just 32 years young with no family history so an unlikely target, but there it is, it does and can happen when you least expect it.

Hun, I check mine cos Dh's cousin's wife discovered she had breast cancer while she was pregnant. All those pregnancy hormones makes it run rampant, and while she survived to see her little one born, she passed away several months later.

Krisp, good on you for sharing your story to help others. You have been through some tough times but I'm so glad to hear that everything is going so well for you now.