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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
30-yr-old with swollen lymph node. Shud I worry?
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
30-yr-old with swollen lymph node. Shud I worry?
by C.R., Feb 26, 2002 12:00AM
Here are the details of my situation:
* I'm 30-years-old, my mother died of breast cancer at age 57. Was diagnosed at age 53.
* Two years ago I had a biopsy on a breast lump that turned out to be a benign fibroid cyst.
* Had annual checkup three weeks ago to followup on that procedure. Doctor found swollen lymph nodes under each arm.
* Two weeks later, the lumps under right arm were gone. The lone lump under left arm, same side as biopsy, remained.
* Lumps were found about 10 days before start of menstraul cycle. Checkup was during menstraul cycle.
* I've been breast feeding for 13 months.
* Mamogram (mammogram) found nothing unusual, other than fibroid lump discovered two years ago.
The doctor wanted to do a biopsy on the lymph node and take out the breast lump. I want to get a second opinion.
How worried should I be about this?
* I'm 30-years-old, my mother died of breast cancer at age 57. Was diagnosed at age 53.
* Two years ago I had a biopsy on a breast lump that turned out to be a benign fibroid cyst.
* Had annual checkup three weeks ago to followup on that procedure. Doctor found swollen lymph nodes under each arm.
* Two weeks later, the lumps under right arm were gone. The lone lump under left arm, same side as biopsy, remained.
* Lumps were found about 10 days before start of menstraul cycle. Checkup was during menstraul cycle.
* I've been breast feeding for 13 months.
* Mamogram (mammogram) found nothing unusual, other than fibroid lump discovered two years ago.
The doctor wanted to do a biopsy on the lymph node and take out the breast lump. I want to get a second opinion.
How worried should I be about this?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Feb 26, 2002 12:00AM
Dear C.R.: It is unlikely, at your age, that you have breast cancer. However, because of your family history, your doctor is erring on the safe side by recommending removal of both "lumps." The only way to know exactly what these lumps are is to remove them and have them reviewed by pathology. It may be overkill but it is better to be safe. It would not hurt to get a second opinion if you are not comfortable with this approach. We would recommend a breast specialist.
What, if anything, should I take from the fact that swollen lymph nodes under one arm came and went, while the other side remains? Is it likely that it too will go away? And if not, what else could possibly be causing it other than cancer? I had heard that breast feeding is one common reason for swollen lymph nodes.
Also, I had heard that because my mother developed breast cancer after menapause, my risk is not as great as if she had developed it earlier. Is that accurate?
Finally, can the mamogram (mammogram) I had at my age (30) really show anything? If the lymph node is cancer, would the mamogram (mammogram) been able to tell? I'm trying to figure out how confident its results should make me feel.