Am I too young to have breast cancer?

Question

Okay,
I just turned 24 and I have 3 sons and 1 stepson. I quit breastfeeding about a year ago b/c I noticed a small knot in my right breast, just beneath my nipple, and it became painful to nurse. I went to my ob/gyn and she said it was just a clogged milk duct, so I payed it no thought. Last October, I visited her again b/c my menstrual cycle was all mixed up, and she then suggested a breast ultrasound. Due to various reasons, I did not have it sonogrammed until last week. Today the radiologist called to schedule a biopsy asap, and my nerves are a mess. It is not a clogged milk duct. So what is it? What are the chances that it is cancerous? How serious is it , considering I noticed it about a year ago? Anyone had this experience? Should I be really worried? or is this common?

Answer 1

I would question the results of the sono... was it a soild mass or fluid filled??? soild are worse... Most of the time you will have a biopsy and find it was nothing.. esp... after nursing 3 children its common to have cysts etc... The age is a serious issue though.. it is actually worse or more common that at a younger age.. 20'-30's the chance of serious cancer is greater than lets say a lump in an older women .. like 80 .. so its very very important to follow up and get the biopsy... My sister in law had a lump at 23 and it ended up being nothing serious... My Great Aunt died at 35 of breast cancer..... good luck... the biopsy shouldnt be a big problem... just a needle stick... not nearly as painful as it sounds.. may have some minor brusing....do some research online.... it will help you with your concerns... and Please keep your appointment....better safe than sorry with those issues...

Answer 2

I'm not a cancer expert, but here's a couple things I'd like to say:

- When my mum was in high school, she played field hockey and once her breast was hit by the ball during a game. She said it felt like there was a bump there ever since then. 25 years later, her OB/GYN freaked her out by saying, "We need to take a look at this!" when really it was just a lump of hardened tissues from that field hockey game. So OB/GYNs can be wrong. It's their job to worry about anything.

- I've heard that cancerous lumps do not hurt at all, and you definitely said yours was painful. It sounds like you have a cyst.

Please relax. The odds are you're just fine!

Answer 3

You can get breast cancer in your 20s. Usually it is older women but not always. My mom has had to have several biopsies and they have all been negative. I forget what they call them but she has "lumpy" breasts. Make sure to go to your biopsy. Hopefully it is nothing but if not, the sooner they find out, the better. My mother -in-law is a survivor of breast cancer so even if you have it, don't consider it to be a death sentence. Good luck!

Answer 4

Breast cancer is not limited by age. Hopefully your lump will turn out to be benign. If it is breast cancer, I recommend contacting your local cancer society about their Reach to Recovery program. It is a sort of mentoring program where women that have been through breast cancer help women who have been recently diagnosed. My mom is a volunteer with them. She is a 24+ year breast cancer survivor. Good luck.