Super Worried.. not Diagnosed but Concerned

Hi Ashley,

First and foremost there isn’t anyone on this site that hasn’t experienced the awful fear you have now. It’s absolutely normal. When you notice any changes in your breast it’s always best to get it checked out. MOST problems are NOT cancer. Using Google to try to self diagnose is the worst possible thing you can do...if you just have to search ‘benign causes of breast skin itch’...in other words try to move toward positive findings. Google will scare you witless otherwise. The odds that you have cancer at your age is slim to none! That said, avoiding the doctor is only making things worse...it’s HARD, but make the call. Early detection of problems increases survival enormously if by rare chance it is a problem. Besides, seeing the doc will most likely resolve this issue immediately...it could simply be irritation, dry skin or infection. Remember the numbers are so on your side. Get it checked out and feel better. Keep us posted please.

No kidding, I just went through 3 weeks of devastating anxiety and i'm still dealing with the emotional effects, even after benign results, so I hear you on that. My "early detection" statement was more so levelled at the OP's " scared to go get checked and be told I have something really worse than I thought.." statement. Avoiding medical advice because of fear, while common, has caused much further devastating results to a lot of folks, something I've had experience with loved ones unfortunately. Besides that I believe that the OP will be more comforted by having a doctor tell her that her issue isn't a problem (which in a likelihood will happen) instead of googling and staying in an anxiety ridden state of limbo. I think I also offered kind words of support that did state that it was probably nothing. My intentions were truly not meant to encourage further anxiety, and if my reply did, my greatest apologies to Ashley.

I have a daughter with anxiety and I have it myself. I was trying here to lighten the atmosphere because I have seen the devastating effects of not treating anxiety carefully. The focus on this forum is often toward the pathological and I think we need to watch that. I spoke to this young woman the way I would speak to my daughter or niece. Sometimes threads here get carried away with recommendations for second and third opinions and scanning and "gut trusting". I like to start with the simple more logical conclusion because I think that tends to dampen down the stress.

Ashley, What we're all trying to say in our own way is that even though it is hard...and scary...to have a skin problem on your breast, it is best to have it checked out. You could call your GP, a dermatologist, or your OB/GYN. It is good that you are aware of your body and alert for changes. Take the next step and get it checked. Update us and let us know how things are going.