31 year old scared to death

Karmen, here's what I would say to my daughter (age 30):

Honey, when you see the doctor, make sure he/she knows that your mother, your aunt and your grandmother all had breast cancer.  At your age, breast tissue can be very dense making it hard to see anything on mammograms. 

Many women have lumps that are cysts or other benign lumps -- but push your doctor for an ultrasound or MRI. 

And call home more often !!

Hi Karmen so sorry to hear your troubles,i had breast pain and found a lump at 30,i to felt the doctors would not take me seriously as i am young and no family history i left it a few weeks and the lump got bigger,i had grade 2 breast cancer,PLEASE do not think that is what you have cysts and fybriods are common in women in there 30s,make sure you are checked properly and if you are not satisfied keep on at them, my consultant wasnt worrid about my  lump and i begged him for a scan.Good luck with your appointment

Not to scare you, I too had pain with my lump. It was sharp and stabbing. That said, you just need to get it checked out, especially if there is a history of bc in your family. Alot of women have lumps that come back b9, so don't get ahead of yourself with worry. It is important however to not wait! If they don't take you seriously, make alot of noise, it is your life and your body you are trying to take care of. Best of luck

Brandy, I may have to arm wrestle you for the craziest person title!!!

yep you need to see the dr....I was unfortunate when I disovered something and my male dr at the time told me i was to young so it went undetected for another 3 yrs ? i ended up havinf breast cancer and it hurt in the spot where the mamogram held my breast...i had to have a mri to prove that this is what it was..they could not see..then a biopsy...that was ok, but it turnrd out to be inflittrating lobular carcinoma in situ which means it was stationary....it was a slow growing cancer and by or in the milk ducts...? My cancer is estrogen positve..which was feeding off of the esrtogen...that made it grow.   so if at all possible avoid sugars.. they say that alcohol is one of the factors if you have breast cancer in your family...that you might be doubling or trippling the amount of chance to get it if you consume quite regularly...?   Do not let them tell u you are to young...be forward with these dr's...i now and have had a very good lady dr primary,...lady Onocologist and had a lady surgeon who had had cancer herself and is well. I am three times blessed to have these ladies on my team!  I had taken both breasts instead of doing a lumptecomy...if i had it would of reocurred being as they found other cancer cells in the surrounding breast tissue and the other as a precautionary..because it could resurface in the other one as well. now all i worry about is the Se of the pills I have to take, because i am not out of the woods yet. Chemo first then surgery...had both Breasts removed.....March 20. 2007 and cancer free for three yrs waiting the 5 yr mark to hopefully finally be off of everyting.  So..please do not be afraid, there are many groups out there to help you through, but I am betting you do not have anything....let us know please  I can tell you if your skin itches please do not scratch it or nipple...could be dried milk or something else and do not take a chance on opening up or breaking the skin if it is....it can also feel rough like an orange...your skin

Get yourself tested at a good breast cancer center. They are well equipped with all the technology required for a thorough diagnosis. Also, they have expert doctors on panel, and this all will save your time. The routine physical tests that would be involved would be palpation and a nipple discharge examination. In addition to these, you may be asked to undergo imaging tests. It is also commonly recommended that women begin screening mammography and MRI at the age of 30, especially if they have a family history. Based on these examinations, your physician would recommend further, a biopsy or no tests at all and will simply keep you under regular checkups.
I recommend the Brigham and Women's Hospital for their breast cancer center. Their breast oncology center is a state of the art facility, attracting a setting, dedicated exclusively for women.

 Hi...I really did not want to lose my breats either ..but when it came down to weather or nto I wanted to play with my life that way...i went with taking them off...the left one as an eletive..beacuse it could return in other breast.....it was a good decision in long run ..because they found other cancer cells in the surounding breast that had the lump...and they felt they could of done a lumpectomy....I said no....I did not want to wait 5 yrs and see if it comes back.....I would not want to do chemo again!  breasts are just cosmic...and have no real value for your life.....guys really do not care if they like you....I have found that out....I got used to not having them....they don't hurt anymore or itch....or even get hard nipples whenn it is cold...ha ha....I though about maybe getting them tatooed....but if I do that will be way later.....it does not bother me at all anymore....Good luck..most important is your life, not breasts. God Bless