How long can you live with untreated breast cancer and have no symptoms?

Question

Ok, I'm 21 years old and a little over a year ago I found one little hard thing in my left breast and a long hard mass in my right breast. These hard parts could only be felt when sitting up right and pressing down on the area. If I was laying flat on my back I couldn't feel them. I went to Planned Parenthood and got a breast exam and they said it felt like fibrocystis and not worry. Well here it is almost a year latter and the hard little thing in my breast can now be felt laying on my back as well as sitting up. I went to a surgeon and he's sending me for a ultrasound. So what I am wondering is if it was breast cancer all along, am I screwed? I Feel fine, no problems, but how long before it's too late to do anything about breast cancer?

Answer 1

Oh, you'd have definitely been sick by now if it were cancer. Now, it may have been pre-cancerous and may have become stage 1 cancer, but I seriously doubt it. I also have cystic mastitis.....but I've also had breast cancer. I felt a big difference in the cysts and the mass that was cancerous. You have to become very familiar with your breasts so you can tell the difference. Also, it could be an infected milk duct--no you don't need to be nursing or pregnant to have that. It's very common. Try not to get upset unless you have something to get upset about.

Answer 2

Untreated Breast Cancer

Answer 3

You are having an ultrasound rather than a Mammo because of your age. You are very young and the fact you have recently had a baby is a good thing too as these could simply be fibroadenoma's (fatty lumps/cysts) which are very common in young women after childbirth. Your question is impossible to answer. You really must not worry, your age is in your favour and if your doctor was at all concerned he would have sent you to the breast clinic via the 'two week wait' route, you are too young but if a doctor is concerned they can insist. It is extremely unlikely you have cancer and for ladies who have had cancer long term there are often other symptoms too. I bet you any amount of money that your 'lumps' are cysts. They may well be left as they are as some shrink or they can be removed (admitted as daycase), try not to worry I'm sure you are fine!

Answer 4

I can't really answer this question directly because it's really specific -- if it is cancer by some chance then it all depends on the type of cancer and other factors.

I am hoping that you will find out it is something benign and not cancer. But if you do need more information later on about breast cancer in young women, go to the web site below, an excellent web site I have used.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

My dad died this summer from lung cancer. When he was first diagnosed surgery was considered, but the surgeon said he wasn't a candidate. He then decided not to have any treatment, no radiation, no chemotherapy. He lived for 18 months and he smoked and drank the whole time. At least he was happier than if he had gotten sick and weak from the treatments. Yes, you can live with one lung. But here's the thing, when you have lung cancer all you can buy is a little more time, months at best, and sometimes the cure will kill you. I think the way my dad chose is the best way.

Answer 7

Slow down, in your mind you already have it! Did the Dr. give you reason to believe that? I am sure the ultrasound is only a precaution. It is so common for woman to have lumpy breast and out the the many that have it only a small percentage have cancer. At your age I really doubt you have to worry. Go get the xray, I will be thinking about you, I know you are scared, I think it will be OK.

Answer 8

It depends on how the cancer goes. I'm a guy and yes I am a breast cancer survivor. Back in the summer of 99 I felt a lump. I decided to watch it and see what would happen. Well in 2002 I lost health insurance do to a job loss and had to wait until I found another job with health benefits to go (by then it had gotten about 5x bigger than it was in the beginning). I waited another few years (work was too busy to go to the dr ...I'm a male and we don't go to them much as you know haha) and finally went in Oct 2005. I was diagnosed with breast cancer and went thru chemo, radiation and surgery during the next 5 months. I was close to stage 4 which is the worst (that was 6.5 years after I first noticed it myself). Though I was feeling fine the dr later told me I was knocking on Heavens door when I first saw him. It had by then spread to my bones which I'm getting monthly treatments for but so far I'm going strong almost 8 years after I first noticed it. The lump at it's biggest point was 7 inches wide. Chemo shrunk it down to about 4 then they yanked it out of me in May of 2006.

Answer 9

The chances are at your age it'll be fine but you won't have peace of mind until you have been tested.

The answer is that there is no way of knowing. It depends on so much i.e. whether it invasive or non invasive, whether it has spread etc,

Hopefully the first diagnosis was right, I really hope so. Good luck and I know it's hard, but try not to worry.

Answer 10

It's probably nothing. This isn't the best forum to ask questions like this, there are some evil people out there. I'd wait for your results to come back and try not to worry.