Have benign mass/high risk family history

canadianmaiden111
canadianmaiden111 Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer

I am a young 20 year old who of which discovered a mass in my right breast of which it have gotten checked out. Through a biopsy of six samples, it came back as fibro. However I am concerned because I've had this now since December and it is growing larger since my biopsy. Should I be concerned that it could potentially be cancerous in the future? I remember the ultrasound lady and the doctor there were concerned (before the biopsy) due to the stuff surrounding my mass because it looked unordinary. I have a very strong history of breast cancer and ovarian cancer in my family. My great aunt died of such ovarian cancer and my mother cousin passed away from breast cancer she was in her 40s. Not to mention my fathers side is riddled with cancer most of his siblings have had some form. I am concerned because I've heard for potential benign becoming malignant. It doesnt hurt (the mass) but it makes my breast very hard. Should I be worried?



Many thanks to those who read this! Bless you!

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited June 2013

    Hello canadianmaiden111, and welcome to Breastcancer.org.

    The article What Mammograms Show: Calcifications, Cysts, Fibroadenomas, from the main Breastcancer.org site describes some of the benign results that can come from testing. I hope that will give you more information until other members post with their personal experiences.

    The label "benign" often makes people think that the mass is not dangerous and may not require treatment but the fact is that it can grow larger, creating a visible lump on the breast and causing some discomfort. I think this mass growth is reason enough to check with your doctor and ask him about your concerns.

    Best wishes.

    ---The Mods

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  • canadianmaiden111
    canadianmaiden111 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2013

    Thank you I appreciate the feedback. I am to call my Dr in August to make an appointment for the fall to look at the mass again, (so I was told after my cleared biopsy) however I think it best if I call sooner.



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  • MelissaDallas
    MelissaDallas Member Posts: 7,268
    edited June 2013

    Hi Canadian,

    To quell your anxiety somewhat, fibroids do not turn cancerous.  They are benign and stay benign.  They can, however get very large and uncomfortable, plus they can get so big that they can obscure other things going on in your breast when imaging is done so sometimes they are removed.  60% of women have fibrocystic breast conditions and usually you don't just have one fibroadenoma and may develop more in time.  Fibroadenomas and cysts may wax and wane with your menstrual period, or become painful at certain times of the month. 

    As far as your family history, they things that make for a strong family history are first degree relatives, so your great-aunt and mom's cousin probably don't indicate you are at high risk.  If your mom or sister had breast or ovarian cancer, especially at early ages, that would be a lot more concerning.

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  • Beesie
    Beesie Member Posts: 12,240
    edited June 2013

    Ditto to everything that MelissaDallas said.

    Fibroadenomas are the most common lump in young women, and they do not become cancerous.  They are benign and they stay benign.  But they can grow.... and they can shrink. I had a very large fibroadenoma when I was 16; it was so large that I had to have it surgically removed.  Another developed a few years later; I left that one in my breast for about 4 years but finally decided to remove that one too, again because it was so large.  But they are harmless and if they aren't bothering you, then can be left in place.  On the other hand, if it is bothering you, you can have it removed.

    As for your family history, on your mother's side, the relatives who've had breast cancer are 3rd or 4th degree relatives - if no relative on that side of the family who is  closer to you (a parent or sibling particularly) has also had breast cancer, then these more distant relatives won't affect your risk.  You have to remember that 1 out of every 9 women get breast cancer, and 1 out of every 3 women get cancer of some sort (and 1 out of every 2 men) so having some members of the extended family who've had cancer is very normal.  On your father's side, what types of cancer have his siblings had?  And has he ever been diagnosed with cancer?  There are certain cancers (ovarian and prostate particularly) that are related to breast cancer and that could indicate a pattern, but even if your father's siblings do have a genetic propensity for cancer, it doesn't mean that your father inherited the same gene, and if he didn't inherit it, then you can't have it either.

    For piece of mind it probably is a good idea to get checked out sooner than the Fall, but I really don't think you have anything to worry about.

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  • canadianmaiden111
    canadianmaiden111 Member Posts: 3
    edited June 2013

    I appreciate all the feedback and I agree that high risk is not in my category! (I should remove that from title) my father siblings have had skin, and thyroid cancer Bessie. And my grandmother (his mother), has had lung cancer. I am just so worrisome I guess that is just human nature.

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