I'm Very Scared :-(

[dancesprt20]

I've read a couple of thread discussing breast lumps and what not and I am becoming very concerned. About a week ago I noticed a lump on my right breast that was very hard, about the size of a silver dollar that I can feel just above my nipple. The only other time I have ever felt anything like this on my breast was when I was nursing my son (but that was all over both breasts from filled milk ducts). But that's what this one spot feels like. My breasts have been pretty consistent in size and shape and everything else so I am getting worried. I read that if caught you might only live for up to 5 years :-( I also read that it's not too common in younger women and I'm 20 and had my son at 17 (in case that affects anything). I have an appointment with my doctor on Tues but I am going nuts contemplating what the outcome might be. I would love to hear from anyone who understand how stressful it is waiting to find out or any input of my chances of actually having breast cancer. Thanks everyone!

[BhumikaMD]

Hi,

You are doing right in seeing a doctor about this. Nothing can be said with surety without a proper clinical examination and the relevant investigations like mammogram, ultrasound etc.

What other symptoms are you having? What is your age?

Let us know how your appointment goes and if you have any other doubts.

Hope this helps.

Regards.

[lhughes]

First, breast cancer can hit any woman at any age, it's non-discriminating.  1 in 8 will endure breast cancer.  Survival (in my opinion) doesn't have ANYTHING to do with finding it early.  I had a mammo 2 years before I had cancer and there was NO INDICATION of cancer.  2 years later, I had stage 3 cancer.  Same thing for another friend of mine, she's now Stage 4 and fighting like a tiger to beat this thing.  I'm praying every day my stage 3 doesn't return as stage 4.

Survival has to do with having very good docs, being proactive in your health care (ie, if you are concerned, get someone to listen) and doing whatever is necessary to make the best outcome you can.  Do what the docs say, if you are concerned that they are telling you wrong, get a second opinion.  Always follow up on a suspicious lump.  Never worry until someone wants to poke a needle in it.  Then, be concerned.  That's the scary part.  

Your lump may be nothing more than a fibroadenoma, might be something else.  So, you are doing the right thing by getting the lump checked.  Always get lumps that you think are odd checked.

Ok, quit reading...that's from my doc!.  He said I read too much and scared my self unnecessarily.

Write back on Tues with what the doc thinks.  Get a mammo, if needed, ultrasound if they need to do one.  After that, if it's suspicious to the doc, they'll want to do a biopsy.  But, first things first,  find out on Tues what the doc thinks.  Then we can go from there.  At this point, you just have a weird lump.  Let the experts diagnose and we'll hold our hand from here.

Best of luck that you don't have anything more to worry over,
Lisa