TERRIFIED! Found lump on left breast.

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LovEbonyy
LovEbonyy Member Posts: 8
edited March 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

Hello,

I'm 26 years old and about a week ago I found a lump in my left breast. It's right underneath at my bra line. It is hard to the touch and painful. It is pretty big and it DOESN'T move around (which scares me). It's gotten slightly bigger. I went to my PCP and she examined me. She said because of my age and the fact that I have pain then it more than likely isn't cancer. She started me on antibiotics because she thinks it's just an infection. I've been taking the antibiotics for 3 days now and there has been no change in size. I'm really scared. However, I have noticed that the lump now feels "squishy" on some parts and rubbery on others. I have 7 more days until I'm done with my antibiotics. Should I seek another opinion and ask for imaging? I don’t think I can wait 7 days for the antibiotics to “kick in”. My anxiety has caused me to miss work. I have no idea what to do!!

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2018

    Your age does put you at very low risk. However, low risk is not no risk.if in a few days, the lump persists, seek another opinion and request imaging.

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  • LovEbonyy
    LovEbonyy Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2018

    Thanks so much for the reply. I will definitely request imaging if this doesn’t go away. I’ll try to get this forum updated! Thanks!

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited March 2018

    Hi LovEbonny,

    I’m sorry you’re going through all this worry, and understand your panic, it stinks! If you are anxious to the point of missing work then perhaps you should put a call into your PCP to discuss your concerns...talk about how badly this affecting you. Perhaps he/she can give you more info to quell your worries. Kbeee is right, your odds of this being cancer at your age is extremely low. You’re also noticing it changing to resemble something a bit closer to a harmless cyst (VERY common in your age group). This might be the antibiotics kicking in. Give them time to work. If it makes you feel any better, The first time my PCP touched my lump he instantly expressed concern...keep in mind that your PCP didn’t. Besides that the vast majority of breast lumps are benign (like 80%!) Try to keep yourself occupied during the wait, but definitely call the doctor if the anxiety is too much. Please let us know how you’re doing!

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited March 2018

    MORE than 80% of lumps are benign. The 80% figure is for only those lumps which are deemed suspicious enough for biopsy, BIRADs4. The risk of this lump being benign is WAY higher than 80%, especially at your age.

    Hang in there with the antibiotics. Give them a chance to work. THEN, if youre still worried discuss some imaging with your doctor.

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited March 2018

    I agree with the other posters! Sounds like a cyst! Your age and symptoms, plus that fact that a huge majority of lumps are benign, should allow you to breath more easily! Allow the antibiotics to work, and if need be, it can be aspirated. Take a deep breath and dont let your imagination run away with you!

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  • LovEbonyy
    LovEbonyy Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2018

    I appreciate all of the replies. You guys have eased my anxiety a bit. I am so appreciative of this website!

    UPDATE: I've been continuing with my antibiotics and i've noticed a few changes: My lump now has a very noticeable "cyst" like spot. It's pretty soft and well defined. I think it's actually on the surface of my skin and not within. However, the area around it is so very....rubbery? It's like the "cyst" sits on top of the rubbery breast tissue or lump. The thicker, rubbery area is not as defined. I almost can't tell where it ends and begins and it feels like it's deep within the skin. It's also not as painful as before (don't know if that's a good or bad thing. Can antibiotics reduce pain??). I am so confused. Anyway I have a day off from work on this Friday and decided that I will visit my doctor again and have her look at the changes. I think i will ask for a mammo or ultrasound or a referral to a breast specialist. In the meantime, does anyone have any idea what this could be?

    Thanks so much!

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited March 2018

    Hi again LovEbonny, sounds as if the antibiotics are working andsounds even more like a cyst since your update. I’m not doctor so I’m glad you’re getting it checked tomorrow...let us know how you do! :)

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  • INFJen
    INFJen Member Posts: 21
    edited March 2018

    LovEbonny - So sorry that you are going through this... My advice is that you are your best advocate. Look out for you and trust your gut. If you feel that something is wrong, I would get a second opinion from a gyno or specialist that can examine you and perform imaging tests. I know that many people like to rule out breast cancer when they hear the word "pain" but that is not always true. I had a lump that was causing me pain too that did turn out to be cancer. Praying this is not the case for you. Best of luck to you and keep us posted on your progress.


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  • LovEbonyy
    LovEbonyy Member Posts: 8
    edited March 2018

    Hi everyone! Again, thanks everyone for the responses. I don’t feel so alone now.

    Here’s another update. I didn’t mention this before but I actually work at a Cancer Center. So I am around many Doctors, PAs, NPs, and RNs who specialize in oncology. Anyway..I asked one of the PAs I work with to examine me today (She’s a breast specialist) I thought that she would have a little more knowledge with this than my PCP.When she looked at the lump she immediately said “oh this looks like a cyst, this does’t look like anything to worry about” she felt it for a while and wasn’t concerned a bit! She was very thorough. She’s said she’s 95% sure it’s a sebaceous cyst that got infected. I’m inclined to trust her because I have seen a little improvement in the lump. There’s a tiny hole at the bottom of my breast were fluid may have drained out (or dried out?) She’s told me it can take several weeks for it to go away. She doesn’t think imaging is necessary. I feel a lot better about this. We’ll see how these next few weeks go!

    Thanks!

    LovEbonyy

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  • KBeee
    KBeee Member Posts: 5,109
    edited March 2018

    Glad to hear it! Rubbery is a good thing in my experience. All of my rubbery lumps have been cysts or scar tissue. My "frozen pea" lumps.....not so good. Happy healing! Good job doing exams and noticing changes.

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  • Egads007
    Egads007 Member Posts: 1,603
    edited March 2018

    LovEbonyy - great news! You must feel so relieved! How lucky you are to work where you do! If I worked there I’d probably be fired for pestering the docs every time I so much as had an ingown toenail!

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  • anotherNYCGirl
    anotherNYCGirl Member Posts: 1,033
    edited March 2018

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