Mass of tissue in armpit and lumpy breasts

[hiyase269]

I'm a 38, single overweight female living in South Korea. About 2 years ago I noticed a lumpy thickening in my left armpit as well as a large grainy lump on my neck on the right side. I was actually more afraid about the lump on my neck than with my armpit, mainly because I've suffered from swollen lymph nodes on and off my whole life (asthma as well as allergies) so I figured my armpit was more or less related to that. So I went to a doctor that could speak some English and he did an ultrasound and a biopsy, the report came back a week later and everything was clear (he said something along the lines of it just being some benign tissue around a slightly large lymph node). I was so happy about the news that I didn't ask him about my lymph node area under my left armpit, I just figured it was the same situation. Fast forward 2 years later, the thickening of my armpit hasn't changed much and occasionally goes down a little or returns to the previous size, but no enlargement. One day in October however, not sure what triggered it, but I started getting a pain in that left shoulder, not severe, but it hurt if I lift my arm a little too high. So I started researching and researching, I came across symptoms of breast cancer (lump in armpit, painful joint if it has spread...etc. ). I started getting health anxiety, checking my breast all the time and lo and behold my breast are lumpy, the left one seemed a little bit lumpier than the right, however, most lumps were still bilateral. My mind raced, lumps in the breast, thickened armpit, shoulder soreness...yup, I bet I have cancer. Over a course of a month, the shoulder pain subsided and besides the lumpy armpit and breasts, I didn't have any other breast cancer symptoms. Finally, went to a women's clinic in my area and talked to a doctor that could speak some English, she just set me up an appointment for an ultrasound and a mammogram in a MONTH. She didn't say much else. I hope I don't have cancer and that it's just one of the benign tissue growths I've read about because I don't have ANY support here (no husband, no boyfriend, no family or friends here) and if I go back home to the states I won't have any insurance as well and still minimal emotional support (only my grandmother and aging mother). I'm pretty much alone and I have to take sleeping pills at night just to sleep so I can go to work in the morning. So any advice or thoughts while I sit and swim in my anxiety while waiting for my appointment would be greatly appreciated.

[mhv]

i can offer support.  I am far from qualified it say if what you are dealing with is cancer or not, but my guess is everything will turn out negative...but again, just a guess. having to wait a month is brutal.  maybe you call back and asked to move your appointment up?  please keep us updated