Young and Confused

Angela91

Hello,

I'm going to start off by saying I'm only 28 however two years ago I noticed a small dimple or puckering on my left breast. I brought it up to my doctor during my regular exam but he could not find it so I let it go and didn't think much about it for a while (realized later it could not be seen while laying down). About 8 months ago I started to notice it had gotten more noticeable and that my breast actually has started to almost flatten in that area. I convinced myself it was nothing and didn't bring it up for a few months until I had an appointment with a dermatologist for something else and figured since I was there I might as well ask her about it (this time standing up when it is noticeable). She noticed it immediately and asked me to get into my family doctor and request an ultrasound. I made an appointment with my family doctor and had him take another look this time standing up, he saw it as well and noticed the changes. When he did an exam this time he found a small pea sized lump under the dimple. He ordered an ultrasound and within a about a week I had an appointment at the breast clinic. Once there I was greeted by a nurse who did a quick exam who "couldn't see anything wrong" I had to tell her she was looking at the wrong side of my breast and then she finally found it. She brought in the doctor to do the ultrasound and again she spent majority of the time doing the ultrasound on the wrong side of my breast and said "everything looks normal to me" after about a 30 second ultrasound. The doctor herself didn't even do an exam or confirm where the lump is. After I pointed out to her where the lump was located she just said "yes its probably just breast tissue which is normal in young healthy girls like yourself". I found this very unsettling as it didn't seem like she actually even tried to find the lump or take mine or my doctors word for it. On top of this I am a 32 F so my breasts are very large and dense for my age which I know can cause issues with finding lumps on ultrasounds. She then proceeded to tell me I'm fine and walked out the door while I was still exposed and left the door open. I had an appointment with my family doctor the next day to tell him what happened and he was just as frustrated as I was and called them "ageist". I asked him flat out if my other symptoms accompanying the lump are typical of regular breast tissue lumps and he said no (he spent 2 years working under a breast surgeon). He then referred me to the breast surgeon he worked under, unfortunately she was away on holidays and so the breast clinic booked me into someone else. I met with this doctor and he spent about 5 min. with me did a quick exam and proceeded to tell me "I think that's just your nipple" in regards to the dimple.. i'm sure all you women on here would agree that you know your bodies and I can tell you 100% it is not part of my nipple as it is about 1 cm away from it and a freaking DENT. that has gotten larger over time. That being said it can be hard to see in fluorescent lighting but he seemed to completely dismiss mine and my doctors findings and told me the lump "could be" just a gland and once again referred to "lumps can be common in young healthy women like yourself". At this point I don't know what to do. I feel completely not taken seriously because of my age, I'm losing sleep over it at this point because I know my body and I know this change in my breast is not normal. As mentioned it went from a small dimple to a large dimple to now flattening my breast and about a 1.5 cm lump. Has anyone else had an experience like this before? What was your next step? Any other young women treated this way?? I feel worse now than before I even met with these doctors at the breast clinic as I feel completely dismissed and helpless.

Via

is your body and you have to move the mountain and get the answers you need! All they are going to say if they mess up is “sorry” and this is your life! Keep going to other doctor until you find the one that will help you. Sorry you have to go through all this but early detection is very important

Best of luck!

Vi

B-A-P

my advice is to keep pushing for someone that will take you seriously. I was pushed off by two surgeons, and an ultrasound tech for two years. Then I demanded a biopsy. Finally got one and here we are.

I’m 31 so I was your age when I started seeing my dr for it . Like yours , my dr wanted me to have testing and MRIs and where I live he can’t order an mri. Only a specialist can. I had an ultrasound but again, the radiologist was like “you’re fine , you’re young” So I totally understand how frustrating it is to be brushed off bc of age. Push until you get an answer you are satisfied wit

Scrafgal

don't give up! Keep pushing to find a doctor that will listen and respect your feelings.

Angela91

Thank you for the encouragement, I appreciate it!

Moderators

Angela91, great advice from the others, and we agree. Push for an other doctor, and potentially an MRI. Sounds as though your family doctor can continue to be a good advocate for you!