hi, can someone help?

paumi · August 2009

hello, Im new on this forum so dont quite know where to ask my question. Basically im 24 years old and can remember always having really sore breasts a couple of weeks before I start my period which last for a week and then go away. I have also got a couple of sore lumps in my left breast which I have had checked out twice in the past and have been told they are just fat nodules. The thing is that within the past year my grandmother and my dads sister have both been diagnosed with breast cancer and other types of cancer are really common in my family, especially on my dads side. I finished my period about a week ago on now for the past couple of days I've been getting a really sharp stabbing pain going through my left nipple and it feels like its going right to the back of my breast. this is the same breast ive got the lumps in too. Im sort of worried about going to the doctor with this matter as I've been twice before and its been nothing. I would very much appreciate any advice.

Thanks

mawhinney · August 2009

Don't hesitate to schedule an appt.with your doctor. You might even ask for a referal to a breast specialitist. You can also call cancer centers or your local hospitals and ask for the names of doctors that specialize in breast health. The best thing to do is to get checked out to see what is going on with your body. You are young and your breast many still be growing or reacting to a med or hormone changes in your body.

My breasts developed many lumps, cysts, and calcifications and all panned out to be nothing of concern. Over a 35 year period I had many aspirations and biopsies, all of which were negative. I wasn't overly concerned when I had a problem last year. Unfortunately, it turned out to be cancer! fortunate for me that I went to the doctor immediate rather than waiting and allowing the cacer to grow.The moral of my tale - get check out when you have a concern so that you can catch any problems early. Take care.

AnneN · August 2009

What did your doctor do to "check out" those nodules? If they've never been biopsied, push your doctor to order a biopsy.

I found a lump in 2006, had a mammogram and ultrasound, and was told it was a "benign cyst," so I quit worrying about it. Unfortunately, I was so unconcerned about it that I let 2 1/2 years go by before I got another mammogram, and by then my cancer had metastasized to my bones.

My oncologist thinks it was cancer all along. She told me that any time the mammogram technician can feel the lump, they should biopsy it, even if the imaging suggests it's benign. "Sometimes the imaging is wrong," she said.

If you want a biopsy for a palpable lump and your doctor is dismissing your concerns, it's time to see a different doctor.

You are young and so the odds are very good it's nothing. But if it's something, you need to find it early. The young women who do get breast cancer tend to get more aggressive, fast-growing cancers than older women do. Catch it early and your odds of a cure are still overwhelmingly good - but you need to catch it!

Trust your intuition, tell them about your family history, and get pushy if you need to. You have our permission!

Good luck and I hope it's benign!

Anne

London-Virginia · August 2009

Hi there! Don't think twice - do like Anne suggests. Better an early check and peace of mind. Sometimnes doctors don't take as much notice as they should about younger women.

Do get pushy. We all hope it will turn out to be hormone thihngs or whatever, but don't let your natural fears stand in the way of a proper check up. If it did turn out to be something to worry about, when things re caught very ealry, thre is a good prognosis for the future.

Go shout out loud if necessary and very good luck to you. Let us know how you get on.

with all best wishes

paumi · August 2009

Thanks so much ladies for your advice. I'm going to definately make an app to see my doc first thing monday morning. Anne, the first time I was referred to the hospital I had an ultra sound which the doc said was fine and then the second time I had I biopsy but when I went to get the results the doc couldnt find them, after waiting 3 hours for results I was told it was a fat nodule.

Thing is its quite sore when Im turning sides in bed or if I touch it. Does anyone know if fat nodules are supposed to be sore? Hopefully it will be nothing though and I will make my docs app first thing monday.

Lina1 · September 2009

Even if the pain turns out to be nothing, it still sounds like you are a bit worried about the breast cancer risk in your family. So no matter what happens with the pain you are describing, you might as well get as educated as possible about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, so you can understand what your family history means for your own risk. Whatever you learn will be helpful for other family members to know as well.

You could ask your doctors to refer you to someone for genetic counseling, or you can find more information yourself at www.DNADirect.com. (The website gives good information and DNA Direct has genetic counselors on staff where you can talk to them by phone). Another good website with information about hereditary breast and ovarian cancer, that other members have referred to as well, is the FORCE website, Facing Our Risk of Cancer Empowered, at www.facingourrisk.org

Did you make the doctors appt you planned to make before? How did it go?

hi, can someone help?

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