I'm 21 and my doctor found a lump in my right breast yesterday...?

Question

I have to have a mammogram and sonogram and I'm kind of freaking out. Breast cancer doesn't seem to be a problem in my family as far as I know... what other possibilities could it be and what will they have to do?

Answer 1

80% of breast lumps end up being nothing to worry about! You're doing the right thing by getting it checked out though! Because no one really knows what causes cancer it is possible to get it without any of none "triggers". I was 28 with no family history, never smoked, nursed both my children etc. Because they caught it so early they where able to take it out and no further treatment was necesarry! Now I just have a yearly mammogram.

If caught early breast cancer is much more treatable!

There's some great resources pertaining to young women from the Young Survival Coalition at youngsurvival.org

Answer 2

Most likely it's going to be a cyst or a fibroadenoma. Both are benign. They will probably do your ultrasound first. If they can decide that it's a cyst there, you might not have to have a mammogram. The ultrasound is no big deal, they put some gel and run a transducer over your breast and take pictures. It's not painful. The mammogram is an exam that takes about 5 minutes. They take 4 pictures, 2 on each breast. The technologist will place your breast onto the machine and slowly compress it until your skin it taut. It should be uncomfortable, but not painful. Tell them if it's getting too tight. You're only compressed for a few seconds while they make the exposure. The compression paddle comes up automatically. Try to relax and not worry. It's pretty common for someone your age to have lumps in their breasts. It's due to hormones. Good luck with everything.

Answer 3

I had a lump once, and it was scary since my mom died of the worst kind of breast cancer you can get, at age 50. Anyway, it could just be a cyst that formed around something, like the lump that I got. My husband gave me a great big squeeze, and since I have breasts that are not exactly small, it caused bruising. You could have even bruised yourself by banging into something, then forgetting about it. Your Ob/gyn may want someone to do a biopsy, if the sonogram shows fluid. Probably it's completely harmless, but it's wise to get it checked out properly right away. Hope all goes well for you.

Answer 4

It is very rare to found breast cancer in young woman, though not impossible.
The most common cause of a lump in a young woman are fibrocystic changes, this are cyst filled with fluid that enlarge in the previous days of the menses and usually are painful. Only the large cyst are treated through fine needle aspiration.
The next most common cause are the fibroadenomas, this are bening tumors that are painless. This are usually treated conservative, if the tumor is too large it may be removed by excisional biopsy.
Both are diagnosed by sonograms.
Mammogram is not usually done in women younger than 40 because the mammary gland is too dense and the image would not show clearly what the lump origin is.

Answer 5

Breast cancers can take place in any age approximately much less in all probability in 20's and Nineteen Thirties esp on adolescents. Breast maximum cancers may well be achievable at your age in case you a have an extremely close relatives history of BC that has been detected of their 20's.(ex. your mom or sister). whilst i grew to become into 18 I had a lump on my left breast and it incredibly freaked me out, the time-honored practitioner settle directly to eliminate it by using excision biopsy and it grew to become out to be benign tumor. And owh, BTW maximum lumps are benign(no longer cancerous). and additionally some lumps according to possibility be detected in pregnant women.

Answer 6

Breast cancer is rare at your age, cysts are relatively common.

Your Dr is wisely getting further tests to confirm this.

If it is a cyst (most likely) you will probably have more in the future and it makes you statistically more likely to develop cancer when you are older, so get used to the testing!

If it is Cancer (worst case scenario) it is very treatable in the early stages and you could still live a long and fruitful life!

Do some reading, it is a lot less scary when you know what you are dealing with

Answer 7

it is probably cystic fibro something or other....they tend to come and go and come back again.....it is most likely cystic because of your age.
whoever does the sonogram will probably try to ease your mind by telling you it doesn't look like anything...

but your breast tissue is dense so really don't be alarmed if they say they cannot get a reading...
same thing with a mamogram....and yes they do hurt....they flatten your breast like a pancake....

if they cannot get a reading you may have to go back to the doctor who may want to do a needle biopsy.....don't be scared that isn't painful.....they just need to get a sample to make sure it is cystic and not cancerous....

do not think about cancer or losing a breast until the doctor says cancer and we need to remove a breast.

Answer 8

First ... breath! A lump is a scary thing and I think all of our worst nightmares, so my sympathies are with you.

However, I would try my best not to freak out yet. There's alot of explanations for a lump besides cancer. Many lumps are not malignant but simple aberrations.

Best of luck!

Answer 9

It could be other things!! Seriously! Don't over worry yourself until you know!! I have a friend who has lumps in her breasts, (can't think of what it is called) but she can't drink caffeine, and she has to get checked a couple times a year but it's not cancer. Just try to relax and don't worry until you have to!!! Good luck to you hun!!!

Answer 10

At your age, it is probably a cyst. I had one when I was about your age.