is it breast cancer or am i just paranoid?

Question

i am 24 yrs old. i just found a lump in my armpit. at first i thought it was an ingrown hair. now it has turned into a lump. i'm scared. i don't know if it is cancer or not. my mother says it looks like my lymph node. i don't know if i should worry about it or not. i know getting it looked at is the smart thing to do. but right now i don't have insurance and can't afford to pay for a doctors' visit. i don't know what to do. is it breast cancer or not?

Answer 1

Don't start thinking the worst right away, it will only stress your mind out. So take a deep breath and focus. I understand you said you don't have insurance, but a clinic visit isn't that expenisive, so really a lump isn't something you should mess with or ignore. So I would make an appointment and have it looked at. If you would like send me an email with the state you live in and i will let you know if there are any free clinics in your area that offer free mamomgrams and breast cancer screenings. Most states have them. Email me direct at [e-mail]. I will help you research as much as I can. Below I have pasted the symptoms of Breast Cancer. Take a look at them. But please don't work yourself up. As for the one you who left the comment at the age of 24 it probably isn't breast cancer. Ignore. I am only 26 and I have Breast Cancer. Always seek medical attention when things in or on your body aren't normal.

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Women with breast cancer may experience the following symptoms. Sometimes, women with breast cancer do not show any of these symptoms. Or, these symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other medical conditions. If you are concerned about a symptom on this list, please talk with your doctor.

However, many breast cancers develop with no symptoms at all. Some tumors may be visible on a mammogram before symptoms develop. It is important for all women to be familiar with the appearance, feel, shape, and texture of their breasts in order to detect changes as soon as they occur.
New lumps (many women normally have lumpy breasts) or a thickening in the breast or under the arm


Nipple tenderness, discharge, or physical changes (such as a turned inward nipple or a persistent sore)


Skin irritation or changes, such as puckers, dimples, scaliness, or new creases


Warm, red, swollen breasts with a rash resembling the skin of an orange (peau d'orange)


Pain in the breast (usually not a symptom of breast cancer, but should be reported to a doctor)

Answer 2

Below is a link to a site where you can calculate your lifetime risk. It only works for women over 35 as your risk before that is so slight that it is hard to make generalisations. If you are under age 35, type in 35 as your age and answer all other questions as accuratly as possible to get a vuague indication, but your risk is likely to be even lower than the one this will calculate. Remmember this will show your risk if you live to about 85! Hopefully this will help you stop being paranoid. The cancers you have mentioned in your family do not increase your risk of breast cancer.

Answer 3

If this lump is in your upper layer skin (since you thought it was a hair ingrown) it probably is not something serious. Might be a natural fat-lump or something like that. Your lymphatic glands are situated deep in armpit and you might be able to palpate them if you "press" hard.

If you control your breasts you will find that there are lots and lots of glands inside. They are soft to feel. A cancer-lump will feel HARD. Like a small rock kind of hard.

If you really worry about this, you should go see a doctor. Dont go around not figuring out what it is.

Answer 4

the same thing happened to me. i felt the bump but i could not see it. it felt sore, almost like a bruise when pressure was applied and it was located at the base of my armpit right where my boob "started". my doctor told me that it was most likely an ingrown hair. she also said that you can't feel cancer (the cancer itself does not hurt or have any feeling) which is why women don't usually find them right away. my bump hurt for the 1st couple of days and then it eventually shrank and disappeared by the end of the week. look up www.plannedparenthood.com. i know that they provide services for those in need.

Answer 5

Due to your age, it is unlikely to be cancerous, but you should defiantly have it checked out as you can never be too careful. I am 28 years old and recently found a lump in my breast, had a mammogram done and now I have to go have a biopsy; you can never be too careful when it comes to your health.

Answer 6

Can't afford a doctor's visit? Borrow some money, honey! How much is your life worth? Breast cancer can happen at ANY AGE.

Answer 7

Just get it checked out my husband had a swollen lymph node seems like you may have one too his was under his armpit and they just cut it open and drained it and he wore a bandage for about 3 weeks and it was all better!

Answer 8

Oh Sweatie, I hope that it ends up being nothing, but better to be safe then sorry. I suggest seeking medical advice. Hosptials and Clinics have payment plans. When you call and set up the appointment, explain to them you will need to talk to the billing office to set up a payment plan.
I wish you the best of luck and I hope everything turns out well.

Answer 9

you should get it checked out, its very unlikely to get cancer at your age but it is possible. it is most likely a benign (non serious) lump but only a doctor can tell.

Answer 10

if i were you i'd do some research on that, i mean real research, not just asking people on yahoo. Go to the library. At least then you can get some facts that you can depend on. I wouldn't trust the people on hear if it came down to life and death information.