Areola Enlargement???

[starlilly]

I am really worried because I have never had this happen before. I know I'm not pregnant so it has nothing to do with that. I thought about my family, which 2-3 women have had breast cancer my grandma is cancer free as of a few years ago and my aunt died from it. Now I'm worried because I have weird lumps on my areola. But my left areola has enlarged quite a bit and has gotten a little darker too :(

Please let me know what I should do. I dont have insurance to go to a doctor...What are my options. I am only 20 years old :(

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

It is very unlikely that this is cancer considering your age.

Do you feel an increase in lumpiness or tenderness during your menstrual cycle?

It would be advisable to consult your doctor and get an examination done so that a probable diagnosis is reached and your doubts are cleared too.

Let us know how you are doing.

Hope this helps.

Good luck.

[Computer_Voice]

Show your mom or some older women you trust the changes first.  She (they) may easily recognize what you are seeing as a normal part of maturation because they too have gone through it and may save you from the ordeal described above. If they have any doubts, then I would pursue the above.

[Computer_Voice]

Breast cancer is extremely rare at your age, but it has happened at even much younger ages, usually because the woman has a very strong family history, as well as exposure at a very young age to radiation or other carcinogen, or in people who have certain genetic disorders which make them especially prone to cancers.  Most people who have any of these risk factors probably never become aware of them.  Grandmother and aunt is usually not considered too strong of a family history, but at your age you don't have a sister, brother or child old enough to have developed the disease, and even your parents may be too young to develop the disease and so it would be safe to assume your family history is strong until you really have evidence of the contrary.  All that being said, the important question is whether it involves only one areola or both.  Breast cancer can present with one sided nipple and areola changes and although I think for a variety of reasons it's a long shot, I would get it looked at anyway given your potentially strong family history.  Mastitis is a benign inflammation or infection usually involving the areolar region and is a very likely possibility in your case and may require antibiotics. It often occurs for no easily apparent reason and at any age.  Most dedicated breast care centers and university teaching hospitals can coordinate you getting to see a breast specialist through a program called The Women's Health Initiative.  There may be other similar programs depending on your geographic location.  Essentially, breast cancer has a lot of political support and the system is well set up to ensure that lack of money does not impede access.  Just make sure you contact the Women's Health Initiative representative prior to the appointment so you don't have to try to get reimbursement after the fact, which is still possible, but can be more of a headache, especially when it turns out, as is most likely, that there was nothing to worry about in the first place.  If for some reason you are unable to secure the funds from that sort of program, which should not be the case, then see the breast specialist anyway without too much delay because life trumps money, and pay later if and when you can.