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Lumpgate: The Verdict Is In

First, thank you to everyone who commented and e-mailed to show your support during the past few weeks.  After I found the lump in my breast, it triggered a lot of emotions, primarily confusion and fear.  Knowing that so many of you have been through the process and it turned out to be nothing, or that if it was something, you had been able to persevere was a great source of comfort.

After several tests, the doctor determined that the lump in my breast — accompanying pain and swelling — was caused by an infection.  It’s an uncommon diagnosis since I am neither breastfeeding, nor rocking a sweet nipple piercing (as if).  But I am exceptionally grateful that it is something treatable and far less serious than initially feared.

Thank you again for all your support, it meant the world to me.

xoxo, Belle

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    32 comments

  1. s says:

    clicking the title of this post, i totally expected to read some terrible news. i’m so glad it was nothing serious. <3

    January 30, 2016/Reply
    • s says:

      (well, not *that* serious, anyway.)

      January 30, 2016/Reply
  2. PS says:

    Glad to hear that it isn’t anything worse, you must be so relieved!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  3. Ral says:

    Am really happy to hear it isn’t what you thought it might be! Long time reader here, although I rarely comment. Great blog! Take care!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  4. Tbdl says:

    Belle and nipple pearling s are two words that do not belong in the same sentence!! but seriously, I am glad that you are ok!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  5. Nancy says:

    Great news, thank you so much for sharing it!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  6. Kristen says:

    Glad to hear the good news! Take care, Kristen

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  7. Shelly says:

    I’m so glad! Take care of yourself.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  8. k says:

    I absolutely love the “BE Alive” calendar reminder..I’m in my 40s and have done maybe two breast exams in my life (but I’ve had 2 mammograms). For some reason, doing the exam on your birthday really struck me. Thanks, Belle–I seriously do not know how you manage your time, but I’m happy to have your blog in my life and this is one of the many reasons. Glad lumpgate will be over soon 🙂

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  9. Lauren says:

    Phew! Thank you for taking time to make us all think about how important our breast health is! Wishing you a quick recovery

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  10. Whitney Gibbs says:

    Whew! Glad you caught it and it can be treated.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  11. Sharon says:

    I’m so glad the lump is not what you feared! Thank you for sharing your personal journey. It has inspired me to be more proactive in my health. Best of luck!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  12. Amy says:

    If this is anything like mastitis from breastfeeding, I don’t know how you have dealt with it for this long! I went from manageable pain in my breast at 3 am to completely delirious, 103F fever, turning up the heat to 80 even though it was summer in southern California in less than 12 hours. Luckily once I got antibiotics the pain mostly went away in 12 hours and was completely gone in a week. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  13. Maureen says:

    Great news! I wish I had read your earlier post cuz the same thing happened to me a few years ago. When I called my MD for an appointment, I told the nurse that I could swear I had mastitis even though I hadn’t breast fed in 12 years. When I saw him he was so concerned that he sent me across the street to breast specialists. I was terrified. Turns out I did have mastitis, which as you know, is very unusual for non nursing women. The doctors told me that athletic women — mostly runners — can get infections from wearing tight fitting sports bras and not changing out of them immediately after workouts — something I’m guilty of doing on a regular basis. Any tiny bit of chaffing on the nipple can harbor infection. I wrote a blog post about my experience hoping people would find it when researching the condition online. See link below…

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  14. Jule says:

    What a relief! Very happy to hear this – wishing you well!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  15. Elisse says:

    Thank you for sharing this and I’m glad you’ll be okay. Back in 2010 I came down with a painful case of mastitis. The doctor told me it was due to the breastfeeding. I informed her I didn’t even have children. Not even a little bit pregnant. She was surprised and I almost expected her to say, “Are you sure?” It’s important for doctors to realize these things have common risk factors but are not the ONLY ways it happens. It was painful but I never had another incident. In fact, now I DO have a child and it never happened while I was breastfeeding. Ha! Hope you feel better soon.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  16. Whitney says:

    I’m so glad you’re ok, Belle! I’ve been thinking about you. I love your blog! Best of luck as you finish law school.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  17. Trisha says:

    So glad you’re OK. Love this blog, and thanks for sharing the awareness.

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  18. cara says:

    Yay Belle, so happy for you! Way to go and keep on keep on!

    January 30, 2016/Reply
  19. Pamela says:

    What great news! I have been thinking of you!

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  20. Rachel says:

    Really glad to hear it, Belle!!

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  21. Meredith says:

    Wow. I am so glad to hear it is something treatable and you are ok. Thanks for sharing such a personal story. I am pretty good about self exams, but your story caused me to add a monthly calendar reminder so I can be more diligent.

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  22. Jennifer says:

    Glad to hear you are ok! Thanks for sharing your story and for spreading the word on the importance of self exams.

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  23. Jennifer says:

    Good news!

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  24. Mary says:

    Thanks for updating. I am often lazy about self exams, but I marked the 18th of every month in my calendar to do them this year.

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  25. LS says:

    Phew what a relief. So glad it wasn’t serious.

    January 31, 2016/Reply
  26. CLS says:

    So glad to hear that you will be ok. Great news, and hope you recover from the infection quickly!

    February 1, 2016/Reply
  27. Danielle says:

    So glad to hear it’s a treatable infection. And Bravo!!!! to you for putting it out there and using something really personal and scary to raise awareness for us all!!

    February 1, 2016/Reply
  28. EAG says:

    Glad to hear! I had a random infection as well and it was super scary not to know for sure if it was an infection or something more.

    February 1, 2016/Reply
  29. Monica says:

    So good to hear it’s something treatable! I hope they are able to relieve your pain and treat the infection quickly.

    February 1, 2016/Reply
  30. Shelley says:

    That’s great news. Glad it’s all OK.

    February 1, 2016/Reply
  31. Emcie Kaye says:

    Thank God! I’ve been keeping you in my prayers, Belle. I’m so glad to hear this news.

    February 1, 2016/Reply