Male 25, I just saw my doctor, still unsure

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samian
samian Member Posts: 4
edited June 2014 in Male Breast Cancer

So, I'm a guy... I found this lump in my chest, not visible but can be felt just underneath, one inch above nipple and out towards armpit slightly. It's a small hard lump about the size of a bead or grain of rice, no pain when he was grabbing and pressing my entire right chest or the lump(do I call it a breast too? I do have some meat on my chest). He told me it was nothing to worry about and called it a nodule, said it was too small to be a lymph node and that he was able to grab and pick it up so it wasn't chest muscle, but above it.

2 things are still bothering me. First, the area around the lump or nodule, pretty much 3/4 of my right chest is slightly swollen, bigger than my left chest. He acknowledges this and told me it should die down in a month, that's a really long time for swelling to die down. Is it normal for swelling like this around a benign nodule? I feel a swelling sensation on and off throughout the day, sometimes in my nipple too. When I stretch my right arm up and stretch my chest along with it there is a tightening feeling along the muscle fiber where the lump is located. Second, the lump does not move around easily or at all when I try moving my fnger above and around it with slight pressure. There are many sources online that says a small hard painless and unmovable lump in the chest is a good sign that it's cancer... nothing about being able to grab it and "pick it up" though. I understand that as a male and 25 y.o this is supposed to be rare, especially since this lump is above and not beneath my nipple, but other than that the description matches. I'm scared... I thought seeing the doc today would put my mind to rest. Why is there swelling and pulling sensation there and what else could this lump possibly be?

A month is a long time to wait for swelling to hopefully die down. I'm under Kaiser and will probably be out of insurance early next year when I turn 26... I have to go through my general doctor each time, or another general doctor in order to try to get a referral to a specialist. How else can I get a specialist to look at me?

How did your lumps feel when you were diagnosed? Everything I'm reading online is related to the female breast, it's scary feeling that there isn't much information for men...

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  • steelrose
    steelrose Member Posts: 3,798
    edited November 2012

    Hi jepherz...

    I'm a female, but my Dad had breast cancer so I always encourage the guys to pay attention and follow through when suspicious! It is rare in men, especially at your young age, but I would most certainly get that referral! Go to another general doc if necessary and don't take no for an answer. Chances are good that it's benign, but be safe! I hope one of the guys will come along soon with some words for you... I just wanted to let you know that you're heard! Get that specialist to check you out so you can put this behind you, and go about the business of being 25!



    All the best,

    Rose.

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  • TectonicShift
    TectonicShift Member Posts: 752
    edited May 2014

    hi, jeferz. i think you should get this checked out soon, if only for your piece of mind. i would say call your doctor's office and tell him you want to go to a good breast center for a mammogram or ultrasound.

    or better yet, call and make an appointment yourself. most health insurances do not require a referral for a mammogram; you can bypass your regular doctor and make a appointment for a mammogram yourself. (not sure about kaiser.) when you call, explain that you are a male who has found a lump and has swelling or thickening of one breast. they should get you in right away.

    where are you located? we can help you find a place.

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  • CoolBreeze
    CoolBreeze Member Posts: 4,668
    edited November 2012

    With Kaiser, you are stuck with their system, unfortunately.  If he goes outside it, he has to pay.  They only let you go elsewhere if they don't provide something and they are pretty complete.  He is going to have to convince them to take this on quickly - or pay.

    Where are you?  I'm in NorCal, Sacramento.  I know a doctor who only charges about 100 bucks for an appointment and will probably do the referral for imaging for you but then you have to pay for that imagining.  You can call around, RAS is one that might be willing to work with you.

    If you are anything like my oldest son, who is 26, he doesn't have spare funds for this.  If your mother is anything like me, she'lll give you the money.  :)

    It is true - you are very unlikely to have breast cancer at your age.  But, if you do, you don't want to wait until you are uninsured to have to deal with it.  

    Also, there is no law that says places like Planned Parenthood and Komen and the American Cancer Society only help women.  

    What I don't know is if they can do mammograms in men?  I can't imagine that they can but how do they diagnose them?  All through sonogram/biopsy? 

    Where is Charles when we need him!

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2012

    When I was diagnosed with BC, a male employee confided in me that he had a mammogram done.  And he is very slender!  He had one done after his dad was diagnosed with BC.  So yes, mammograms can be done on males.

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  • 1rarebird
    1rarebird Member Posts: 91
    edited November 2012

    I recommend that you get this lump biopsied ASAP. It sounds similar to the one I had over 3 years ago. All the doctors said it was probably benign but it should be biopsied to make sure. After seeing my mamogram and ultra sound images, my surgon agreed with the other doctors and said "let's just take it out" and you'll be done with it. He did and it turned out to malignant and spreading.  I'm glad I didn't have to wait the month you are being told it'll take before the doctor does something to answer the basic question: is the lump cancer or not?  If it is, you don't want it getting a further head start on its spread while you wait the extra month.  I wish you the best of luck with this.--bird

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  • LuAnnH
    LuAnnH Member Posts: 8,847
    edited December 2012

    I'm not sure how your insurance works, but what about going to the er?  Usually they try to determine what the problem is and send you on your way.  Maybe they will do a ct scan on your chest to see what it is.  If it is something that should help you get that referral.  Just a thought????

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  • 1NippledBandit
    1NippledBandit Member Posts: 78
    edited December 2012

    I'm a male and was diagnosed at 37 after two family docs (over 2 years) told me it was a simple lipoma.  Bottom line... if you are nervous about it, press the issue with your doctor and have it checked out.  I had a man-o-gram and an ultrasound done on the lump which doctors then called "suspitious".  I then had a bioposy which confirmed cancer.  Two weeks later it was removed and I have been cancer free since.  I was nervous also, but the family docs kept telling me it was nothing.  If you are nervous, get it checked!

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  • Winnymac
    Winnymac Member Posts: 40
    edited December 2012

    I think the odds are on your side but for sure push them to go further. With Kaiser you do have to be pro-active when it gets to more serious issues, well downright pushy really. We don't have Kaiser now but used to. Anyway, my husband ignored his lump and when we did go in 5 months ago he was already stage IV. I don't say this to scare you, he is older, 50, but just reassuring you that you are right to take it seriously, if it turns out benign, you will have your peace of mind back.

    Keep us posted.

    Winnymac

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