Hi Joy, I'm 18 years old and recently had a breast lump scare. 

At first they seemed concerned about me. And I was *so* worried as well. But in my case it was nothing. 

It definitely seems that the odds of anything sinister like breast cancer are extremely rare in teenagers - I've read it's about 1 in a million. 

I thought my mass was huge, and it really did feel rock solid. Before I'd even gone to the breast clinic they were talking about 2 week referrals, breast surgeons etc. It turns out mine was dense tissue. 

A much more common likely cause generally speaking would be a fibromaedema (I think it's spelt that way) in someone as young as your daughter. 

Beleive me, when I had a scare I got so worried, but focus on the odds - it's sooo rare. And do try not to worry. x

Thank you so much for reading and replying - and very pleased to hear you were ok! I know that statistically it is so rare but it's hard not to worry, isn't it? Thanks again x

Thank you very much! Not a problem at all, I got myself in a right state and it was nothing, I kept 'checking' all the time and every time felt sick to the pit of my stomach! It truly felt bad. But looking back I can see how adrenaline and emotions can convince your gut that somethings really wrong - but it's just your mind does that to you and it's torture, I get it.

And, I'm a natural worrier so this was off the scale for me. But I got through - and so will you! :happy:

Has your daughter has already been to a breast clinic and it's the clinic who's mentioning a biopsy or is it the doctor?  - I ask because at first I had all sorts of suggested tests thrown at me you name it - "You might need scans, needle biopsy, going to do urgent referral, we'll refer you to the breast surgeons, you might need surgery etc..." this was before I'd even been to the breast clinic!! Inside I was like 'what the heck!!' 

If this is the case with you then don't read too much into it as at the clinic it was a totally different story, for me anyway - for a start the people there were sooooo lovely. I have autism, and I was a wreck and they were so understanding and supportive they truly were and really put my mind at ease!

If she hasn't been to a clinic / had a biopsy yet, I'm no expert but they'd probably do an ultrasound first. I definitely felt led to believe I'd need a biopsy but I didn't in the end. 

And importantly, even if she's been to the clinic and they're going to do a biopsy, try not worry - hold these thoughts close... 

-She's so young, so do keep reminding yourself how rare it'd be and how much more likely it'd be something non sinister. 

-It would be so much more common to be something like a fibromaedema or a cyst for example.

-Whatever someone age the odds are in their favour when it comes to going to the clinic for not having anything sinister - and as I say, your daughter is so young so that's another great thing in her fabour!
-They're just very cautious these days, that's just what they're like especially with breasts. 
 

I wish you all the best :happy:

You are very kind, thank you for your reassuring words. Yes, it is the doctor talking about biopsy and she hasn't yet been to breast clinic. You make a good point about waiting for the experts to take a look....

Hello Joy and thanks for posting,

I can understand that this is a really horrible time for you - the thought of anything serious being the matter with a child is inevitably frightening and fear can run away with anyone. I expect a lot of  parents would be the same in a situation like this. But despite your family history try and keep an open mind for now because referrals and biopsies are often about ruling something nasty out to be on the safe side.

Breast cancer in teenagers really is extremely rare so there is a very good chance that something else will turn out to be causing this lump. 

Anaemia is a cause of tiredness and pale skin and can be due to a lack of iron in the diet while your daughters change in dietary habits could easily explain the weight loss. There may well be no relationship between these things and the lump. 

I expect it will be a challenging time until your daughter has a diagnosis, but try and hold your nerve. Many people are tempted to search the internet to try and work out what is the matter. We tend to advise people to limit searching as it can take you round in fretful circles without being any the wiser. Other coping behaviours, distraction in particular, are usually a better bet.  

I hope your daughter's appointment comes through soon and that this turns out to be nothing more than a health scare. 

Best wishes,

Julia

Dear Julia,

many thanks for your kind and reassuring post

. I am cross with myself for my thoughts running away with me today as I know it is probably ok. It's just that eternal 'what if' that preys on my mind.

thanks again and take care,

Joy

Ah, Lucy - so pleased you got through that, it sounds very frightening..... for you and your family. Thank you for taking the time to reassure me - teenage girls are very strong and I need to remember that! I will let you know how my daughter gets on. 

Joy x

Your daughter will need to start eating animal products again or else she'll probably need iron injections on an ongoing basis. I have an iron deficiency and am on iron tablets but I eat animal products. I had heavy bleeding from an ovarian cyst which led to the iron deficiency. I don't think I would have gotten it only for that. I don't think my iron deficiency is as severe as anaemia.

The iron from vegetarian sources isn't absorbed by the body as well as from animal sources. There's a lot of nutritional gaps in a vegan diet..lots of missing nutrients. Sorry to sound negative but anaemia is really common in people who follow a vegan diet as well as vitamin B12 deficiency. The blood test would need to check her vitamin B12 levels..if you're low on them, that can also cause exhaustion. What kind of protein does she eat? Does she have nutritional yeast? There's vitamin B12 in that. Tofu is actually a fairly good source of vegetarian protein but there's not as much protein lentils/chickpeas etc as there would be in a piece of chicken (about 20g). 

People can lose weight on a vegan diet as it's usually fairly low in calories. If anything, I thought 'does she have an eating disorder?' as a lot of people with eating disorders become vegan to avoid higher calorie foods. I shouldn't generalise but if she loses anymore weight, I would be concerned tbh. A BMI of 18.5 is the absolute minimum for good health..I think anorexia can be officially diagnosed at BMI of 17 or so. 

I can't advise on the lump..don't know anything about that but hope she receives medical help she needs with that. Sorry you're going through this..hope you're getting support from some friends. I understand staying calm..I did that when my aunt was sick and it's so stressful because inwardly, you're terrified but outwardly, you project this calm aura.