breastfeeding, worried and trying to keep it together

"I know Google is bad but I've tried using it to see what the likely outcome is so I'm prepared. Well it's not looking overly great it seems though I'm slightly hopeful that I am one of the lucky ones still. I believe I'm as prepared as I can be for hearing the results...not sure how prepared one can really be though if it's bad news."

Hi note3!

Keep your fingers crossed, if you like, but you are not likely to have breast cancer! Stay away from that quack, "Dr. Google!" Almost everything you find is either wrong or old. And people who have lumps/bumps in their breasts which are not cancer tend not to post. So the things you do see--including the posts on this site--tend to overrepresent those who have breast cancer. Those who don't have cancer move on/stop posting and return to their usual lives. Those with cancer tend to stay for the community. (If you turn out to need us, we'll be here for you!)

About those symptoms. Lumps can be many, many different things. For example, many, many women have fibrocystic breasts. Or blocked milk ducts (since you're breast feeding). Or any of many, many other things. And if the lump in your armpit is a lymph node, it could simply be that it filtered an infection (exactly what they're supposed to do).

Go back and see your doctor--have a list of the symptoms that concern you with you. And be prepared to guide them to the lumps that concern you. Know whether it's easiest to find when you're sitting, lying or standing. Where your arm should be, whether a pillow should be under your shoulder. Whatever. You'll be able to show him what you're feeling and you'll be able to get comfort that you've done what you should for well-woman care. You have found a change in your breast, and you've asked your doc to evaluate. (If you don't think s/he is comfortable evaluating, ask for a referral to a breast specialist.) That's everything you should do, for now.

Note that even if they send you for diagnostic imaging (like a mammogram or ultrasound...), only 25% of those are asked to have a biopsy. The remaining 75% are either returned to their usual screening schedule, or are asked to come back for follow-up imaging. There's no reason to think you will be in the 25%.

And if you are in the 25%, 80% (of that 25% who get a biopsy) get a pathology report that shows benign results. So only 20% of that 25% are told they have cancer. There's no reason--if you're asked to have a biopsy--to assume that you would be in the 20%!!!!

Finally, while young women can get BC (you'll find examples here), BC is very largely a disease of aging. You are a young woman, and nothing you've told us makes it likely you have BC.

Hang in there...and come back and talk with us if you like,

LisaAlissa