I have a lump or something on the side of my left breast, like where an underwire part is of a bra. Breast Caner has been in my family twice that i know of and they have both died of it. The thought of me having it scares me because of this. My mom is taking me to the doctor but i am too afriad of the results to be honest.
Is there any way a lump feels? Is it totally round or kind of un even?
2006-11-18 17:16:09 · 13 answers · asked by the boss [amj] 2 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Cancer
Be sure that you go to the doctor and get it checked. I am sorry that you're feeling scared, but if you do have cancer it's important to find out right away. You might even find out that you don't have cancer. But either way it's important to know.
And Doug, you get checked too.
2006-11-18 17:20:11 · answer #1 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are pretty young to have breast cancer, it's not impossible but it's pretty rare. It could be many many things, cysts, fibrosis, milk ducts, lymph nodes, and some of them are due to hormonal changes. Do you wear an underwire bra? They are not the healthiest kind to wear. If it feels thick where the lump is, it could be fibrocystic breast disease, that's a series of hard, thick areas lumpy feeling. Softer lumps you can roll around are more likely to be cysts or tumors but alot of breast tumors are benign.
They will probably send you for a mammogram, maybe an ultrasound, they can tell alot by those tests, they may do blood test to check your white count to rule out infections too, and possibly a fine needle biopsy, they just insert a tiny needle sorta as if you are getting a shot and aspirate fluid. Sometimes they numb the breast and take a small snippet of the lump. It's not too bad or painful the results come in about 1-7 days depends on where you live, where the labs are, etc.
Try to relax, I think with your age and since you just found it and are going to the dr, you will be ok.
2006-11-19 01:30:33 · answer #2 · answered by Tina of Lymphland.com 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Feeling a lump or lumps in your breast(s) can be scary. For a lot of women, the first thought is cancer. The good news is that most breast lumps, 80-90%, are not cancerous. They are usually benign tumors or cysts that do not invade and destroy body tissue or spread to other parts of the body
Tests that can be done to tell whether or not a breast lump is benign:
Ultrasound - to tell whether the lump is fluid-filled (usually harmless) or solid. This test is 80% accurate.
Needle aspiration - a needle is put into the lump to remove fluid or cells. This test is 90% accurate.
Biopsy - a sample of breast tissue is taken and examined. This test is 100% accurate.
Mammogram - X-ray of breasts to detect breast abnormalities. This test is 70% accurate.
The chance of breast cancer increases dramatically with age. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) has given the following statistics for a woman’s chances of developing breast cancer:
By Age: 25 ~1 in 19,608 ... 30 ~ 1 in 2,525 ... 35 ~ 1 in 622 ... 40 ~ 1 in 217 etc ....
As you can see ... your age group is not even mentioned. The reason being, is that the chances of a girl your age getting breast cancer is extremely rare.
Don't worry ... until you KNOW you have something to worry about hun, otherwise, you'll worry your whole life away. I wish you well .....
2006-11-19 01:42:25 · answer #3 · answered by ♥Carol♥ 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is really great that you and your Mom are going to the doctor together. Moms are sometime much better on that whole family history detail stuff then 17 years old are. Part of seeing your doctor will be telling her how scared you are so that she can give you a realistic assessment of your risks. I don't think anyone could tell you much information about what this might be without tests, and some of those tests can take a number of days to get results, even if it wasn't the holidays.
Have you told your Mom how scared you are? I would bet she is scared too and might like a chance to talk to her baby.
2006-11-19 01:41:33 · answer #4 · answered by PJ H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Different types of lumps have different consistencies. For example the fibroadenoma that I had a few years ago was smooth, round and felt like rubber and was the size of a golf ball. But some can be jagged and hard also. The best thing to do is to see a doctor and let them do a mammogram and/or and ultra sound.
I know this is easier said than done but try not to panic until your doctor says it is cancer. It does you no good to freak out right now. You may find that you panicked over nothing.
2006-11-19 01:25:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hope this helps
When breast cancers do begin to show signs, the first is likely to be a lump in the breast or underarm area that feels different from the breast tissue around it--usually it is single, firm, distinctive, and most often painless. It is likely to appear in one breast but not the other. In the most common form of breast cancer, infiltrating ductal carcinoma, which accounts for 80 percent of breast cancers, the lump is made up of scar tissue and other fibrous growth that forms around tumor cells as they spread
2006-11-19 01:29:13 · answer #6 · answered by Staci R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have almost the same problem, except its with the testies (im a guy). I'm even too afriad to tell my parents about it, so i congradulate you on doing that. I hope you get a good answer because i might use the advise as well.
2006-11-19 01:18:51 · answer #7 · answered by Doug 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is hard and round, it is they usually start with one and then spreads into a whole bunch of little, meadium, and big bumps all throughout the side, and will after a while start to go to the middle.
2006-11-19 01:19:02 · answer #8 · answered by dogy_16123 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the lump can be just fibroid tissue, and be benign. Dont worry until you need to
2006-11-19 01:21:55 · answer #9 · answered by chris f 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suggest you talk to your doctor immediately.
2006-11-19 01:17:44 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋