Neck and breast lumps.

Ashiq

22 years old. All the lumps in my neck I've had follow the same pattern: it appears, then after a few days it starts to get painful or uncomfortable to the touch, and then it slowly gets less painful and goes down or away. This process can take about one or two weeks.

I first discovered a lump in the area above my left shoulder area, close to my neck, in late November. Maybe two weeks later, a second one was on the right crook of my neck. I think these could be swollen lymph nodes, and along with my breast lumps make me think it’s cancer.

Around December 31st I discovered a lump on the top of my left breast, and also one somewhere in the middle. I think there are one or two lumps in my right breast but those were a lot harder for me to feel. I have normal breast pain during my cycle so I know this could mask symptoms, but I can see that the lumps also followed the same pattern of getting painful at times, and I can still feel them. When the lumps were more painful (as my breasts get before my period normally) could feel how heavy and uncomfortable my breasts were, which is a bit abnormal.

It's been one month and the breast lumps are still present, and they hurt a little when touched. Once morning I even woke up to some pain/sensitivity where one lump is. I'm not sure what this pain could be.

I'm trying to find the relation between neck and breast lumps, and I'm planning on visiting my doctor soon. But what do these symptoms seem to point to? What other medical issues include neck and breast lumps, if not cancer?

exbrnxgrl

ashiq,

Make that doctors appointment and hopefully that will give you an answer. Breast cancer in a 22 year old is very uncommon. What do these symptoms point to? I doubt anyone here knows since none of us are doctors nor have we examined you. Lumps can be many things, think cysts for example. Please make that appointment and know thatbreast cancer at your age is unlikely. All the best.

exbrnxgrl

ashiq,

Make that doctors appointment and hopefully that will give you an answer. Breast cancer in a 22 year old is very uncommon. What do these symptoms point to? I doubt anyone here knows since none of us are doctors nor have we examined you. Lumps can be many things, think cysts for example. Please make that appointment and know thatbreast cancer at your age is unlikely. All the best.

Ashiq

Thank you, I guess I'm just anxious

Beesie

Ashiq,

While your breast lumps and neck lumps could be related, it also could be that you have two different things going on. As exbrnxgrl said, breast cancer in someone your age is extremely rare. And bilateral breast cancer - cancer in both breasts - would be even more rare. But benign lumps are not that rare. Fibroadenomas are the most common benign lump in teenage girls and women in their 20s. Cysts could also develop, although those tend to be more common in women who are a bit older (30s+). For those of us who are prone to develop fibroadenomas and cysts (I'm one of those people), developing more than one and having them in both breasts could easily happen.

As for neck lumps, swollen neck lymph nodes are very common (I've been dealing with that for a while) and usually are caused by an infection. If the swollen nodes become painful and then reduce in size, that's pretty classic for an infection. Still if the nodes don't go back down to normal - and stay that way - after a few weeks, it's important to get them checked out. You might need an antibiotic to clear things up. And unfortunately there are other types of cancer that could cause something like this. That's a lot less likely than these being normal harmless reactive nodes, but it needs to be checked out.

See a doctor. An ultrasound is probably in order, or possibly, two - one for your breasts and one for your neck.

Ashiq

Thank you for your response, all of this information is reassuring. I also kept in mind that the lumps in my neck and breast could be unrelated. I did have some unknown infection in last July/August which was cleared up quickly with antibiotics. I never had any major medical issues in my life so I’m keeping an eye out. I was looking into fibroadenomas, so they are on my radar as well.

My mom (50s) has some breast cysts to my knowledge which she gets checked regularly. I wonder if it’s hereditary. My breast lumps feel harder so I don’t think they are cysts, of course but I don’t know anything for certain!

LivinLife

Ashiq I do hope you will call to see a medical provider soon! Regarding neck lumps I get swollen glands in my neck all the time from allergies and sinus kinds of things... so truly can be a very common benign finding unrelated to any kind of cancer. That being said, to offer some grounding and reassurance, only someone examining you and having a medical background can say what is going on with you. The lumps in your breasts are important to address as well so you know what is happening there.... Please let us know what you find out.....

Ashiq

I can’t imagine having swollen glands on my neck often as an allergy. It’s scary to think that they could be as harmless as a cold or as harmful as cancer when undiagnosed...I’m glad yours are harmless!

I have an appointment with my PCP on 02/04, I will definitely update on what she says.

Ashiq

UPDATE

So my PCP appointment got moved to today, luckily. My doctor said I probably had swollen lymph nodes, so I had a blood draw. She said my breast tissue was normal and healthy, despite how unusual it feels and the uncomfortable but mild pain I feel when it’s felt.

I trust my doctor because she is a very good one, she’s always booked up months in advance. But at the same time, I can’t shake away the feeling that it’s something else. It feels wrong.

Maybe I will watch the lumps for another few weeks and see what happens, maybe I will get a second opinion. I’m not sure yet.

Another thing my doctor mentioned was the importance of a well fitting bra. I despise bras and find them extremely uncomfortable, even if I’m fitted well at a professional place. I hate that the bands are so tight even though it’s what my measurements say should fit me. I have small, self-supporting breasts, so bras give me no added support, the only thing they give me is shape. I’m not sure how a bra could help my lumps/pain..

LivinLife

I'm glad you were able to see your PCP and she is not concerned. I hear you remain concerned.... I have Sjogrens and with that swollen glands due to sinus/allergy, dry and irritated parotid or submandibular glands is pretty normal... At the same time before I was diagnosed there was a time I was quite concerned about a persistent swollen gland. My PCP at that time said if it persisted another couple of weeks we could either do an ultrasound and/or biopsy.... I just let it go.... So that may be something you could talk with your doc about if those remain swollen (I'm thinking more the ultrasound vs. biopsy which would seem a more extreme place to start?). Yes, second opinion on breast lumps could be an option too. It sounds like your PCP thinks these are unrelated?

Ashiq

Yes...I guess I will watch my symptoms and see where they go. If they remain, I will make a follow up.

I received my blood test results, and my inflammatory markers are high (ESR normal range is 0-22, mine is 41). Doctor is unsure of why this is and wants to repeat blood work. I wonder if this is connected to the lumps in any way.

Beesie

Ashiq, with the swollen neck nodes and the ESR result being above range, it may be that your body is fighting an infection. I agree with LivinLife that if your neck nodes remain swollen for another few weeks, it might be helpful to have an ultrasound done. That's the usual approach when nodes remain swollen for a while.

Ashiq

My neck lumps were only swollen in late November to December, those are gone now. Right now I’m just dealing with the breast lumps.

It’s been over a month since I’ve had the neck lumps, do you think there could still be a connection to that and the elevated ESR levels?

Beesie

"It's been over a month since I've had the neck lumps, do you think there could still be a connection to that and the elevated ESR levels?"

I don't know. And I didn't realize that the neck lumps were now completely gone. It sounds then that you had normal reactive nodes that became swollen to fight off some ear, nose or throat infection and now have returned to normal. That's very common.

LivinLife

Really important you talk with your doc ..... Please let us know how that goes...

Ashiq

UPDATE

I went to my GYN two days ago, she also didn't feel anything suspicious. But since I was worried, she wrote me a prescription to do a sonogram for my breasts. This morning I went to the sonogram appointment, and they said I had two nodes/nodules (I forgot which word they used) which are most likely fibroadenomas. One is smaller and one is larger (this is the one I always have felt, I'm confused why my PCP and GYN thought it was breast tissue the whole time), and they want to biopsy the larger one under anesthesia to make sure that's what it is.

LivinLife

Fibroadenomas would be very good news indeed! Please let us know.... Best with the procedure!

Ashiq

Thank you, I will post an update after my biopsy!

I'm worried because my radiologist is near certain that they are fibroadenomas, but is still doing a biopsy. I wonder if she is suspicious that it could be something else?

MelissaDallas

no, most biopsies are done to rule out cancer, not because they believe it is. If they tell you it looks like a fibroadenoma, that is what they believe. It is just prudent to confirm

LivinLife

The very first biopsy I ever had was on my right breast - it was a fibroadenoma and likely they suspected that prior to doing the biopsy.... After that they did not biopsy similar tissue in that same breast.... They had a baseline...

Ashiq

Melissa - That makes sense, I hope you’re right!

Livin - That’s good to hear!

I saw that they added a mammogram to my left breast along with the biopsy for my upcoming appointment.

Ashiq

I received my sonogram summery today:

"No suspicious abnormalities were seen sonographically in either breast. In the left breast at the 10 o'clock axis, 6 cm from the nipple there is a partially circumscribed slightly lobulated solid mass measuring 8 x 5 x 7 mm corresponding to one of the palpable areas indicated by the patient. Adjacent to it and more superficially there is a second oval solid mass measuring 5 x 4 x 3 mm.

Neither masses demonstrate internal vascularity.

No discrete sonographic abnormality was seen in the right breast."

"IMPRESSION:

Lobulated solid mass measuring 8 x 7 x 5 mm 10 o'clock axis left breast, N6, likely a fibroadenoma. Biopsies recommended for histological verification.

Benign-appearing adjacent solid mass for which sonographic follow-up in six months is recommended.

The findings and recommendations were discussed with the patient.

Biopsy of the left breast(s) is recommended. A letter will be sent to the patient to return for a biopsy.

BI-RADS 4: SUSPICIOUS - CATEGORY 4A: LOW SUSPICION FOR MALIGNANCY"

exbrnxgrl

Well, that sounds like good news! I hope you’ll be able to schedule the biopsy soon and then you will very likely be able to put the worst of your fears to rest. Take care.

Ashiq

My mammogram and core needle biopsy are tomorrow morning, I'm nervous since I've had any out of the usual medical procedures done before. I wonder why they decided to do a mammogram since I am only 22.

exbrnxgrl

Yes, you are only 22 but you have a breast concern and mammo is a screening tool. It is not routinely used on women your age because they are not likely to have bc. This has nothing to do with your age.

exbrnxgrl

Double post.

Beesie

Ashiq, I'm betting on this being a fibroadenoma. I had one at 16 and another at 20.

Good luck tomorrow. We'll all be there with you!

LivinLife

Ashiq - Best tomorrow! Hopefully it truly is a fibroadenoma....

Ashiq

Thank you all, biopsy done! It was pretty simple. I will get my results in less than 7 days and will post an update then.

They decided against doing a mammogram, and they put a clip in so anyone who does a mammogram on me in the future can see that a biopsy was done. The clip actually came out the first time and the doctor and nurse were shocked to see it so they had to put another one in!

I also developed a hematoma from the biopsy.

LivinLife

Glad it went well today except for the hematoma! Geez on the clip! Please take while waiting... so difficult! Yes, please update us after hearing about results....

Ashiq

UPDATE

It's a benign fibroadenoma! Since they didn't test the smaller mass they assume it is a fibroadenoma as well. I will just have to do a follow up scan in six months. My biopsy spot is healing well and I barely had any pain. Thank you ladies for being with me when I kept thinking the worst!