Post traumatic bruised Breast or Bone?

Dear Ask The Doctor: About a week ago I fell and landed on my bed frame post right on my breast. It actually hit the bottom of my breast toward the outer edge. The pain was bad. I hit it very hard and could barely breathe. Now it's been about ten days and the pain has subsided a bit, but I still can't lay back without being in severe pain and sneezing and deep breaths are pain triggers. I never bruised so I assumed I didn't break anything. I don't have health insurance and money is very restricted, but my friend said that whenever you hit your breast you should have it examined because cysts can form. Actually, she said it can cause cancer, but I know she exagerates. Is she right though about the cysts, or is it just an internal bruise that will take time to heal? My husband said to just exercise it, get the blood flowing. I haven't babied myself at all, been doing things everyday, but it's painful. The only thing I cannot do is lie down. The pain is very bad then. Is there anything I can do, or should I get help? .

Dear Patricia: The injury that you have sustained could have lead to a muscular pain or could have lead to a slight hair line fracture of the ribs. SInce it has been a week since this has happened and the pain has still not subsided i would advice you to see a physician in person to just rule out a possible bone involvement. Pertaining the other question: yes post trauma a fat necrosis can occur in the breast but this is benign and will show up as a breast lump. This lump however does not have any cancerous potential. I hope this helps. In the mean time try icing the area and applying some voltaren gel topically. All the bes.t