scary- breast lump.. can you share your experience? - Cancer: Breast Message Board

DangerGirl1979 · 03-21-2003, 03:54 PM

hello,
i was wondering if people could share their experiences with breast cancer scares or if they have normal lumps in their breasts. my doc noticed a lump, and i had to go in for a follow-up right after my period started to see if it shrunk, which it did not, so now i have to go in for an ultrasound (this tuesday) to see what it is. my mothers aunt on her paternal side had breast cancer, but thats it. I am kind of worried, but trying to remain calm, since worrying wont really do anything for the situation!

oh by the way, i am only 23- does age matter when considering risk factors for breast cancer?

[This message has been edited by DangerGirl1979 (edited 03-21-2003).]

karengirl · 04-01-2003, 07:41 PM

I am 32 and I found a lump in my left breast that did not show on a mamogram but did show on a ultrosound. I went to 3 different surgeons that kept telling me that it was nothing. They said I was to young to worry about it and that it was probably a fibroid cyst. I finally went to another surgeon and he took it out and sure enough it was cancer and I also had 7 lymph nodes that were positive. I had 6 rounds of chemo and 35 radiations. my advise it have it removed just to make sure. You will not be at ease unless you do. I wish you luck. I have 3 young boy's and I do worry about it coming back but I try to have a good attitude and I have faith in God.

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karen

nville1 · 04-03-2003, 05:46 PM

Howdy
I was 35 ('bout 10 years ago) when I had my first screening mammogram. I was told all was "normal", but they wanted me to have it repeated in 6 months, that there was just "something" they wanted to look at later. No lump or anything palpable. No family history of breast Ca.
Well, I wanted to see a copy of the report, and they got all squirrely about letting me see it. They had me come in and the doctor at first "explained" it to me. It seems there were microcalcifications, he told me it was nothing to worry about, that i was young, etc. I still wanted to READ THE REPORT. So he let me, and I almost fainted, the wording was bad, it said
I had suspicious cluster of microcalcifications, and they could not "rule out malignancy".
I demanded a referral to a breast surgeon. I was given an appt to pacify me. The breast surgeon also told me that they just have to word the report that way to cover their a@@'s, nothing to worry about. However, I am the worlds worst hypochondriac, and I said, it is my body, and I want a biopsy. So a biopsy was done, and I was diagnosed with microinvasive ductal Ca, just beginning to invade outside the ducts.
I wanted it out, I wanted it all out, so I had a mastectomy and got the fantastic news that all nodes were negative! No chemo, no nothing.

2 years later, I had the other breast off after new clusters of microcalcifications started appearing. I just wanted it all to be over, no more worrying about it. I had great reconstructive work done, there are people who have changed with me in the locker room and they don't even know I have had double mastectomies.

10 years later, I am glad I did what I did, that I stood up for myself and insisted on a biopsy. If I was wrong and it was nothing, hey, its just a little scar. But if it WAS cancer and I did nothing, I would have had positive nodes and a very different outcome.

That's my story. I was terrified at first, but now I just feel courageous and free.

Kalie · 04-17-2003, 08:57 AM

Hi Dangergirl,
How did your ultrasound turn out? Age is a factor in determining breast cancer risk, but it shouldn't be the only factor considered. I was diagnosed with stage II breast cancer at 25 (I'm 26 now). Always, always, always look out for yourself. If a doctor tells you not to worry about something and you still feel uncomfortable about it, go to another doctor. Demand another test.

I hope I don't sound preachy. It's just that if I had listened to my first 2 doctors I probably wouldn't have been diagnosed until my cancer was in one of the late stages. I'm alive because I forced the Dr's to catch it early.

DangerGirl1979 · 04-17-2003, 09:56 AM

Well the ultrasound came out saying that it was just an increase in density of tissue. just fatty stuff i guess. i am not worried about it at all, mainly because i have exams and dont need another stressor! and also because i am going travelling for a few months so i cant be bothered! i really think its nothing. it hasnt changed in size or prominence in the past 2 months or so and doesnt hurt or anything. so i am just going to leave it alone because i think its really nothing. but thanks for asking!