Hi I'm LucyLou, and I'm 18 years old. I'm telling my story for other worried people out there with breast and / or arm symptoms  - our minds sometimes think of the worst but I hope my story may help somehow. Whether older or younger, but most of the time we will be okay - say that to yourself. 

Get yourself checked obvs, if anything is off, but don't jump to worst case, esp if you're young cause it really is so rare in teens / youngsters! Here's my story, just in case it might help...

About 2 weeks ago, I presented in A&E with what I felt was a large hard breast mass. I was already worried completely freaked out. 

The nurse examined me and immediately felt something and was like 'oh yes I feel it there.' That was when my anxiety really spiked. Then a doctor - who I think was a breast surgeon - examined me. At first he said 'maybe hormones' but after thorough examine it seemed to get a bit more serious, and he recommended an urgent 2 week referral. 

To me, he seemed concerned. And he was talking about scans, biopsy's, referral to breast surgeons etc - I was in a daze and having a massive panic attack at this point. I asked 'could it be cancer' - he was like 'mmmm well let's look at the simple things first.' 

He didn't really hint at what he thought it could be and I didn't feel reassured much either to be honest. So I left the hospital so worried and sobbed deeply all the way home from A&E.

For 2 weeks I was so anxious. I had to have medication for my extreme anxiety. I worried I'd die, I have emetophobia so I was worried how I'd have treatments too which made things 1 million times harder as well. 

And during these 2 weeks I also developed armpit pain / arm ache. It was bad and constant, nothing seemed to help it. 'Omg maybe it's spread' was what crossed my mind. I urgently booked in with another doctor who reassured me he didn't feel it was connected. Nodes felt okay. 

Still I was so anxious. I sobbed all the way to the breast clinic and even when I was there behind my mask. 

When I attended the breast clinic I was a wreck. Too anxious to be embarrassed. Thought I'd pass out or be sick from fear I was that bad. But the doctor was so nice and caring, he put me at ease very quickly. I had an ultrasound of my breast and was reassured 'looks like normal dense tissue'. 

I expected to feel ecstatic but it's such a rollercoaster it's still sinking in. 

Ive read that at ages 15-19 the chance of breast cancer is about 1 in a million, it really is extraordinarily rare. I'm not saying don't 'check yourself', please do so you know what's normal for yourself and that, but don't worry yourself sick like I did -

And also, I believe if I'd have known how to check my breasts properly at the start I could have a avoided being so anxious - so make sure you do it properly - look at cancer reasearch for more info on this. I'd thought I had giant mass but in actual fact, my breast was fine it was just the way I was checking myself (bringing all the tissue together and it really really felt like a mass, I mean even at A&E the doctor referred me - but look, the exam and scan were both okay!) :happy:

I still have the armpit pain, but that doesn't seem to be a concern to anyone which I'm pleased about. 

So yes, my message is, please try not to worry yourself sick like did. Most of the time it isn't the scary thing we fear (especially when much younger, when it's extremely rare - and under 40's it's rare too) 

Things that helped me cope were...

-In all likelihood it isn't 'that' (repeating to myself)

-Whatever it is, going to your appt won't change whatever it is, you'll just know more. 
-waiting is the worst, but no day is guaranteed so just try to enjoy the day that you're in, one hour at the time

-don't delve too deep and really do try to distract yourself - you are the same person, life is the same. For me car journeys helped me so much. (They've always helped me stay calm for some reason.) 

Take care x