Unable to get anywhere due to age

maybeoverreacting

I am 28 years old and saw my OB in October of 2007 for a skin lesion on my breast. It was called a "skin thing" and dismissed. I wasn't worried at this point but curious. I also found a hard but small mass in the upper outer quadrant. I was too embarrassed of my paranoia and went to a doc that I had never seen before. She felt it and ordered an unltra sound, stating that it was about the size and shape of a jelly bean. The ultra sound said it was a perfectly healthy lymph node.  When I went back to my OB about the breast lump, he referred me to a surgeon. This is where I have become EXTREMELY frustrated. The breast surgeon sent me for a mammo, the results showing nothing, I was pretty well content at that time. Since then I have had two incidences of blood tinged dischrage but only upon expression and not in the presence of the surgeon. She said that she would determine it was due to unknown injury and cannot diagnose unseen discharge. I have been to her for several follow ups (mostly because of liability on her part I'm sure). I developed a sore nipple on the same breast months later and a sweeling around the nipple that was visually noticeable. Just shortly after I had also developed a bright read rash that completely covered both breasts. My eczema steroid cream cured the rash so I wasn't concered. I went back to the surgeon for evaluation of the nipple and she ordered an ultra sound. I will NEVER go to that imaging place again... the tech took one look at my age and asked why I was even here. She said she sees nothing and is calling it an engorged vein, and she was not very nice abount me being there. Maybe I was a waste of her time. I was embarrassed and vowed to never see a doc for my breast again. However, the pain and swelling went away. Since then, I recently deveoped the pain and a hard lump around and under the nipple. The skin of my nipple over the lump is very red, I went to a GP and he treated me with antibiotics for mastitis and i received an antibiotic cocktail shot. I was told to call if I didn't have results in 24 hours. Instead, the other breast developed the same nipple problem. It does look indicitive of infection, but i am not breast feeding? I have bee sting like pains that radiate through my breasts and my back, shoulder, and armpit are becoming sore. I went to an urgent care center to have the meds changed and they told me it was infact NOT an infection. They suggest I see a breast surgeon. I have been on the meds almost a week. The redness comes and goes which I think is odd... but the pain and lumps remain. I left urgent care balling, wondering what the surgeon would say about this. I hate that I am young because I feel as if I being dismissed.... I just want an answer to this so I can put it to rest. The surgeon has already told me that "we don't have to do a biopsy just becasue Dr. Brooks has referred you for one." The thought of going back to a surgeon is so frustrating!!!

Is it possible for cancer to cause a redness that comes and goes? It is not hot and I have not had a fever. It does, however, look bruised and the stinging pains are not going away. There is a slight denting in my nipple next to the mass. I want to give up on it but it is affecting my life... I'm having a hard time picking up my 23 month old because of the associated pain. I need someone to listen to me... a doctor. I need help to find out what is going on and I feel completely guilty abount my paranoia!!!!!!!! Has anyone else has this sort of experience?

SandyAust

I am sorry you are having to put up with this.  You need to keep going until you get a diagnosis.  There is a condition called inflammatory breast cancer that can cause redness and stinging. It is very rare and you probably don't have it but you need to KNOW FOR SURE.

 You are not being paranoid so don't feel guilty.  There are plenty of young women who have been given the run around and it later turned out to be cancer. Keep fighting for your sake and the sake of your child.

 I am not trying to scare you, you probably don't have cancer....but you might.  You need a diagnosis so keep fighting for one.

Take care,

Sandy

BethNY

It's hard for me to read this without getting frustrated.  I was diagnosed with cancer at age 26, and even though you may not have cancer, the fact that these doctors are putting you off makes my blood boil.

Where do you live?  If you are in the US, call 1800 acs 2345 or contact the young survival coalition at www.youngsurvival.org and tell them that you feel you are being put off by doctors because of your age.  They may have resources or be able to recommend different surgeons for you to see.

As Sandy said above, there is a rare cancer called IBC that show up like a rash on the breast, but it won't go away with antibiotics.

Personally, I think you need to keep pushing with other doctors until someone takes your seriously.

Demand a biopdy of the hard mass that you feel.

Please let us know what happens.

sahalie

I too am very frustrated reading your post and seeing what you have been subjected too.

Please take all of Beth's advice and do what she suggests.  She knows.

Never stop trying to find out what the problem is.  One of the times you will hit a perfect match

in a doctor that will take you under his/her wing and figure it all out for you and get you the help

you need.

Redness does sound like infection which in itself can be extremely serious.

Be your own "squeaky wheel" and keep making the calls.

Document everything for future reference.

Go to the specialists when at all possible.  If your insurance requires you to get a referral from

your primary doctor then demand it.  Don't take no for an answer.

This is your life.  Demand the biopsy.

I wish you the best of luck.

Sahalie

SandyAust

I just thought I would add something about techs at imaging centres.  When I went in for my mammogram after I found a lump the tech told me "You shouldn't be having so many mammograms you only had one 10 months ago".  Yes 10 months before at the age of 35 I had a mammogram after going to TWO different doctors about pain and severe itching in my breast - it showed nothing.  So when I found the lump I nearly didn't go. The third doctor I saw thought it would be a benign fibroademona.  Naturally I felt embarrassed about what the tech said.  However that tech shut up real quick after she reveiwed the first set of films. I had cancer.

Keep fighting. I am glad I did.

Take care,

Sandy

spar2

When it comes to your health you have to be pushy, you know something is wrong so keep on until you get what you need and want.  Demand it.  Please keep us informed and as BethNY said the young survivor web site should be able to help you.  gentle hugs to you.

LUVmy2girlZ

maybeovverreacting ~

It can be numerous of things...http://www.imaginis.com/breasthealth/breast_pain.asp

The signs of what you are describing sounds like the above website can help.

In the meantime, yes its rare to have someone as young as you have breast cancer, HOWEVER, not impossible!!!  To question you is absolutely uncalled for...early detection IS key !

You have to be your own advocate...tell your Dr's you aren't jumping the gun and assuming its cancer so much as WHAT is it then???  Like Sahalie suggested, a biopsy would be advisable.

In the meantime, remember your BSE's once a month no more and no less...you don't want to "stimulate" your breast and lay off any caffeine this can bring on pain as well.

My BEST to you...and listen to YOUR symptoms and not the stupidity of others.

I would much rather " OVER REACT " than be sorry any day....

Much LUV

love-2008

hi i went to my doctor and told him that i found a lump. he looked at it and saw that it was quite red on the skin. he also gave me antibiotics called augmentin which i took for 1 wee. i went back to him as i thought the lump hadnt changed. as my doctor was away i had a appointment with anothe. they took one look at it and is sending me for tests. i am only 15 and have had an experience a bit klike yours. i am really worried about my tests which are next week. this doctor is aslo telling me to be prepared for the worse. i am really woriied that i will have breast cancer and dont know if i can cope t the moment. i have got my scans and biopsy tests next week but i am so worried and scared as i am only 15 years old.

has any body else got this problem or anything that could reasure me about it

 jennie

x

LUVmy2girlZ

Remember, the Dr's are taking a pro-active approach...to rule out most likely given your age.  I don't agree w/ him or her saying " prepar for the worst !!! " Is that supposed to hurt or "prepare you"

 What kind of "test" are being done....if you don't mind me asking. 

Have you had a mamo/or a needle biopsy ? 

One thing that helped me is knowing that....

80% of tumors are found to be benign.

It is highly highly rare that a 15 yr.old would have cancer...but not impossible.   It sounds like an infection to me...and to only put you on ONE antibiotic for ONE week...doesn't sound like they are treating it from that approach.  I would still go for whatever tests they are recommending just the same to rule out...and make you feel more at ease!

Breast rash can be related to :

Candidiasis Chickenpox Contact dermatitis Dry skin Erythema nodosum Heat rash HIV infection Ichthyosis Inflammatory breast cancer Measles Melanoma Nummular eczema Seborrheic dermatitis Stasis dermatitis

jennie, you have one BIG comfort in your corner and that is your age...I am sure you will keep us posted with good news!

My BEST to you !!!

Much LUV

sdrayton

I totally agree: you MUST be your own health care advocate and demand what you feel you need. In your case, it sounds like you won't be satisfied until you've had a biopsy of the lump you're feeling. If that yields nothing, then you can move on to a diagnosis of another cause of the problem.

Folks in the health care industry (MDs, RNs, surgeons, techs, hell, even receptionists) have unforseeable biases, if not prejudices. I was 31 at my diagnosis but I would've been 30 if I hadn't been told to "wait and see what happens" to my lump. The good news is that, aside from the obvious physical and emotional pain of your condition, if it does turn out to be cancer, a few months of fighting in order to rule it out won't make much difference in the long run.

I'm certainly not defending the behavior of your health providers, but it's worth your time and energy to pursue one (or a whole team) who ISN'T convinced that young women are immune to this disease and will listen to your concerns and help you address the problem. Sometimes your insurance company can help in the search for an appropriate specialist to see.

 All the best.

love-2008

hi i had the results of my tests today and have been told i have got a tumor and that it is cancerous

i have the lump removed next week then i start straight away on chemo

thnx for the reasurance and i will keep you posted

much love

jennie

xx

opheliac7

Here is a site that gives statistics on age and incidence of breast cancer - Imaginis The Breast Cancer Resource.  Find where it says breast cancer topics, then general info, and then breast cancer statistics.  Bring that with you on your next doctors visit for when someone tells you you're too young.  You're in pain so something is wrong and they need to do their job and help you, not discourage you.  I am not a mammographer but I am an X-Ray tech.  The tech that examined you had no right to talk to you that way.  She is not a doctor and techs typically do not know everything that is going on with their patients (can't speak for mammographers but x-ray techs do not get indepth medical historys because our job is take the pics, not diagnose the patient).  Keep on trying until you get an answer and next time someone tells you that you are too young, whip out those statistics.

bermudagem

I am so sorry jennie (love-2008). You have my prayers. We are here for you whenever you need us.

Shelly

gemsa

Stick with it and continue to push until you get a specific diagnosis. A "breast thing" is not a proper diagnosis, and it is a shame you are getting the run around. Please go see someone else until they tell you what is going on. You should have a biopsy of the lump. As someone else noted, please keep a detailed record of all your visits and the conversations you had and the names of each health care provider. Please don't give up!

sherrina

hi maybeoverreacting, I am new to this site, but found your post and wonder what has happened?

i was not diagnosed through mammougram or ultrasound, but by biopsy, then confirmationof the extent came from an mri.  all of the things you are listing as symptoms are things we are being old in oz are srong indicators for breast cancer, and that should you notice them you should get yourself to a doctor. 

Your doctors sound like they need a foot up their keysters and to suffer a disease that their age group isn't meant to get - just so they can understand the troubles they have forced on you.  go to a whole new group of doctors and specialists if you have to, but get that biopsy done and then you will get a clear picture of what is happening.

as for IBC being rare, i know of a girl here in perth who was diagnosed with it whilst pregnant.  yeah, these things are rare but unfortunately they happen to some people whose luck is just not that great.

 get checked and let us know please..

sherrina

i also meant to say - love2008, my heart goes out to you.  stay strong and be who you are.  good luck

Kay-kay

Wow! Maybeoverreacting, I can totally relate to a huge amount of your experience.  At the age of 25 I notified my primary care doctor of a lump in my left breast.  He replied that I was too young to worry about cancer, and only women twice my age should have mammograms.  Of course, I felt reassured--I mean he was the doctor, and the news was "good" not verified or confirmed, but "good"

Okay, I visit the doctor again because now my left breast feels "lumpy" and my left armpit is sore and swollen.  He replied that the lumps in my breast were possibly fibroid cysts (benign & non-cancerous) and my armpit issue was surely caused by my deodorant clogging my pores.  This time I demanded the mammogram, and chose not to go home thinking his guesses were "good" news. 

Results of the mammogram were not "good", and I immediately contacted a surgeon and underwent surgery (lumpectomy & lymph nodes removal).  I felt let down by my primary care doctor, and upon returning for follow-up I watched him cry and listened as he told me that he under-reacted.  Therefore, I really respect you for over-reacting--it shows your intelligence and concern! 

jezza

Hi Sherrina

I have sent you a Private Message.

Go to My Home at the top of the page to retrieve it.

Hugs

jezza

tooandrea

Love-2008

Hi just read ur post, I am so sorry. I have a daughter thats 14 and she's ready to deal with this when she gets older because of me having BC, but I just didn't think it could be any sooner and it could be. Does BC run in ur family? What exactly is ur Dx? How are u doing?, I see u havent signed on since before ur surgery. Please let us know ur okay.

Angel

bluedolphin

I understand your frustration! I am 21yrs old and was diagnosed with cancer last september. I originally went to the doctors as I was having pain in my breasts. My primary doc and gyn just told me it was normal and to take vitamin E. I returned a few months later when I found lumps on both breasts in the shower. I was sent for an ultrasound and mammogram. When I went to have it done, the nurse was very rude saying it was a waste of time and she would not do the tests on someone of my age. I ended up seeing someone else, out of my insurance (which cost a fortune), and had both tests done. I then had needle guided biopsies and eventually lumpectomies on both breasts with my diagnosis of cancer. I was so frustrated going to the doctors and being told Im too young for this and that to be done and how rude people were that I got very frustarted and did not go for my radiation treatment after the surgery. Since then, the cancer has returned and I am facing chemo and a masectomy. I also had discharge from my mipples, which the docs dismissed until the discharge got so bad that it was soaking through my bra.

Many other things can cause your symptoms. Plus they always say that breast pain is not usually a sign of cancer. However, I would not give up. Keep going back to the doctors until they do the necesary tests. Getting frustrated and saying forget it is not a good idea!

Good luck!

DV8Q

I wonder whatever happend to this gal? I didnt find anyother posts from her, oh well I had a similar experience like Kay-kay at 25 I was told not to worry about a lump too. Now I am in chemo.