A few weeks ago I found a lump in my left breast, I finally bucked up the courage to go to the doctor today and she's gonna refer me to my local hospital. I was hoping that she'd tell me to calm down and stop being a drama queen but she said there was definately a lump and I need to get it checked out. I'M REALLY SCARED! Doc tried to re assure me but I'm bricking it!! Has anyone else been through this? I've got no one to talk to about it cos I don't want to worry my family this close to Christmas.
2006-12-19 08:07:44 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Women's Health
You need to talk to someone! Anyone! Phone the Samaritans if you have to, for your own sanity. Its probably no more than a cyst but of course it has to be checked out properly. Good luck;
2006-12-19 11:08:58 · answer #1 · answered by huggz 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You didn't say how old you are but try not to get too worried until you see a breast doc. When I was 28 I went through the same thing. I felt that thing for months before I finally told my Mom who freaked (I understand you not wanting to let family know yet). She made me go to a breast surgeon. He did a needle biopsy, which is painless, and the results came up negative for cancer but he did want to take the lump out to make sure. It was an outpatient procedure which was also relatively painless except for being a little sore afterward and I have just a tiny scar. The final diagnosis was that I had fibrous breast cysts which are benign. The bottom line is you need to get it checked out. Even if for you it were to turn out to be cancerous there are so many ways to treat that nowadays that it really isn't a big deal as long as you catch it early. I wish you Good Luck but DO get it checked out NOW.
ps - Alex up above (first answer) is quite correct about not drinking caffeine products (coffee, cola) That is what my doc told afterward and I haven't found anymore fibrous cysts since.
2006-12-19 08:52:15 · answer #2 · answered by Maggie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hey there- good for you for making it to the doctor by yourself but don't worry i'm sure your family will be glad to be there for you!
As for the lump itself again try not to worry, it's hard I know, I had the same thing happen a few years back, went to the doc's and she sent me to the hospital even though she thought it was nothing serious but it's better to be safe than sorry.
Got to the hospital where the doctor there felt for the lumps and then a nurse took a sample of the tissue for analysis using a needle. I'll admit that stung a bit! But not too bad. I then waited around for about 30 minutes before the results came back and all was fine. It's very easy to get worked up especially when sitting around on your own so definately confide in someone and bring them along.
A friend had the same problem and she was also given a mammogram- but that's because her family had a history of breast cancer. Again all clear.
It's fine to be scared but just talk to someone, and ignore some of the answers here!!! Scaremongerers!! Think of the relief you'll have if you find out its nothing at all and worry about the next step if you ever have to come to it. Hopefully you won't.
Good luck chica xo
2006-12-19 09:07:07 · answer #3 · answered by loopyfreckles 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A couple of months ago I found a lump, but didn't thing much of it. I went for my yearly check-up with my Ob/Gyn last week and she felt it (w/o me saying anything). She referred me to a breast surgeon to be safe. The surgeon checked it and then did a ultrasound. The ultrasound found it to be a tumor (not a cyst which is fluid filled), but it appears to be a benign fibroadenoma. I was then sent to get my first mammogram (I am only 35). It confirmed what the surgeon had said, but the only way for them to be sure is to have it biopsied. This can be done with a needle or to have it surgically removed. I will have mine removed on Friday. I am VERY nervous about the surgery since I haven't ever had one before. But, not too worried about the biopsy coming back negative because these doctors do so many of these and know what to look for. Basically, if it is smooth feeling and rolls under your hand (as opposed to being rough or feeling like it is stuck to something) it is probably a benign tumor or a cyst. (This is my husband's account)
2006-12-19 08:40:31 · answer #4 · answered by Thomas H 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
its the hardest thing when u find a lump and have to wait. Chances are the lump is nothing, but you are absolutely right to get to the doctors, as even if it is serious, then you have caught it early. Its going to be too easy for me to say throw yourself into christmas and try to forget about it, because that is impossible. The only advice i could offer is, the lump, whatever it is, will still be there when you go to the hospital. No amount of worrying will make it go....and there is such a high chance it will be nothing, it happened to me, and it was just a blocked duct. Best of luck
2006-12-19 08:13:28 · answer #5 · answered by tizzy 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi - I believe that only women over a certain age get breast cancer, a TINY TINY number of younger people can but its not often. You probably just have a cyst or some fatty tissue but, as others have said, try not to worry until you know for sure what it is. Good luck, take care and have a peaceful Christmas xx
2006-12-19 19:21:20 · answer #6 · answered by Secret Squirrel 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dont worry yourself to much... 2 years ago now i thought i was dyin of breast cancer cause i found a lump... i got reffered to hospital... my family where worried... big drama... but it was just tissue due to hormones and stuff... i was actually quite embarrased about the whole thing... but i did the right thing by getting it checked out...
try not to worry, but do tell your family... a problem shared and all that... you may even find someone in your family has been through the same thing
Good luck...
2006-12-19 08:15:35 · answer #7 · answered by Lily Allen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes they have to cunduct a biopsy to discover whether it's malignant or not. I've known a few female friends who been though this and they were scared too - that's ok, but don't immediately assume that you're untreatable.
Talk to your extended family about it, even before xmas - you may find that one of them has been through it, too.
A lump can be many things, not always as bad as you think.
2006-12-19 08:16:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Please try not to worry, easier said than done i know, i went the docs in oct for a lump in the breast, she checked both and was concerned about the other one, the lump was a cyst, which they drained, the other is breast cancer, ive had one op in nov, but got to have another in jan. + an mri to see if it as spread, but i wont let this spoil my christmas or my familys. im getting engaged new years eve. youve done the best thing going to the doctors.
I wish you all the best for xmas and good health for the new year
2006-12-22 09:43:11 · answer #9 · answered by survivor 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Erm well it is a good thing that you are going to get it checked out, but it may be nothing ya dnt know yet, i thought i had a lump but my mum is a nurse and she told me it was like a cyst,
hope it all goes well for you
2006-12-19 08:11:16 · answer #10 · answered by lucie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm in pretty much the same situation; small lump in my left breast. My doc told me to stop having caffeine and chocolate and to take more vitamin E.
2006-12-19 08:10:31 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋