WORRIED ABOUT HARD LUMP (18)

aaannnaaa

i am currently 18 and have absolutely TERRIBLE health anxiety. I've convinced myself that i have SO many diseases that i don't have. I found a very hard, immovable, large and wide lump above my nipple. It feels like it is attached to my rib. I have no family history of breast cancer, but i am absolutely beside myself. It's been there for a few months but I've been putting it off until now. I just need some words of advice, and some sort of reassurance that it could well be something else. The lump PERFECTLY describes breast cancer, though i am so young and have no family history of it. I will make an appointment to get it checked out, i am just SO scared and am wondering if there is anything else it could be besides breast cancer?

Egads007

Hi Aaannnaaa, your odds are almost ZERO at your age. The only thing that perfectly describes cancer is imaging and pathology reports, so don’t let google diagnose you...ever. That said you should never put off getting any changes checked by your doctor, so make that appointment! At your age your breasts are generally dense and can be lumpy because of hormonal shifts. Almost all lumps at your age are benign, so yes it is probably anything but cancer. I understand how badly anxiety can get to you and trust me, your anxiety is what is driving your fear and convincing you this is cancer. Going to the doc will calm your fears by getting answers.....sitting wondering is going to make it worse. You should also talk to the doctor about how anxious you are and get help with it. You don’t need to suffer everytime you experience something you think might be bad. Talk to your mom (or anyone you have in your life that you trust) that can go to get this checked out. Deep breaths, this most likely is NOT cancer. Let us know how you’re doing! Hugs!

Pennyborn

Looking for some insight. I had my yearly in January and everything was good to go. I recently moved away and in March found a lump.

I had a lump years ago but it was painful and very different. I had to see a breast specialist because breast cancer runs in my family. Grandmother passed away from breast cancer and mom has had issues all throughout the years.

This lump is much different. Hard and no pain. I found a doctor here and they ordered an ultrasound. He mentioned his concern was that it does not go away with my menstrual cycleand he may want it removed so it does not grow.

I went for the ultrasound. The technician told me it was not a cyst and appears to be a mass but it has smooth edges and cancer does not. She told me not to lose sleep over it. She then brought in the radiologist and she performed another ultrasound. I was told to come back in 6 months.

I was expecting my doctor office to follow up confirming that’s how they would like to proceed. When I called into the office the nurse stated my results were read to me by the radiologist and to go off of that.

I know I’m fine but the follow up was terrible and with a family history I would like someone to be a little more thorough in their follow up.

I looked up my results online and this is what it read: There is a 1.9 x 0.8 x 1.4 cm oval hypoechoic nodule with macrolobulated margins at 5 oclock, 5 cm from nipple, which corresponds to a firm mobile marble-sized nodule on exam. Birad3.

Any insight into how to handle going forward? Like I said I know I’m fine but not very comfortable with their follow up. A friend recommended another doctor here and said to go for a second opinion just to be in better company of a better more thorough practice.

Any insight would be great! Thanks!