Neck & breast lump

Hiya, just thought I would post this on here as it's literally taken over my life the past few years & feel like it's something I want opinions on.

So September 2019 I got strep throat or tonsillitis? I don't actually remember much about it but was obviously bad enough to go to the doctors about. He said the glands on my right side of my neck were swollen due to the infection, not sure if this made me more aware to feel my neck etc but had noticed I had a particular lump just under my jaw that wasn't going down. I developed so much anxiety over it & was fully convinced it was something sinister. I ended up going to the doctors to which he said it was nothing, sometimes after infections lumps swell & don't go back to their normal size. He also did a blood test where everything came back clear. I was reassured for a few months & then started to worry that he'd missed something etc so went back for a second opinion. The 2nd doctor said the exact same thing & since then I've had it checked probably 6 times in the past few years, all by different doctors, as well as a few blood tests which all came back clear. 
 

About a year ago I noticed another lump on the other side of my neck in a similar place, though much smaller & a lot of the time I couldn't feel it, yet again I've gone back & they actually can't even feel that one. The lump on my right side is under 2cm ( to me it honestly feels about the size of a golf ball) I can move it about, it hasn't grown, & sometimes gets painful. I work in a nursery so pick things up all the time which could be the reason for that? 
 

Fast forward to now, I went to the doctors in the past few weeks to get it checked again & to push for an ultrasound as I felt it was probably the only thing that would reassure me fully. I thought I'd mention to her a lump I'd noticed in my boob which I honestly thought nothing about. I'm 20 years old which is why I genuinely didn't think anything. She felt it & also found another one in my other boob & said she's going to refer me to the breast clinic? I also think I've found another one along the side which seems quite painful when pressed ( they all do). 
 

Honestly just looking to see if anyone's experienced anything similar? I've had the worst time with health anxiety, have literally convinced myself with every illness under the sun & get so worried that worrying is actually going to cause me to become ill? 
 

It's probably worth mentioning aswell my Mum had ovarian cancer & died from it a few years ago which is probably the reason I'm a major hypochondriac. She tested negative for the BRCA gene so there shouldn't be any connection there but I can't help but worry! X

  • Welcome to the forum Bailey01 although I'm sorry to hear about the lumps you've found and for the worry they are causing.

    Many of our members know how scary and stressful this can be so you are not alone and hopefully some of them will be along soon to offer you their support and advice.

    I know you've mentioned you've had a very tough time with health anxiety lately. It can be very difficult to live with, so if you feel you have got to the point where it's impacting on your day to day life, it may be worth bringing this up to your GP (if you haven't done so already) as they can help you find ways to manage this. The NHS website Every Mind Matters and Anxiety UK have a lot of useful tips and advice on keeping this under control as well.

    Waiting for appointments is always tough but I hope this information I've found on what to expect at a breast clinic appointment will ease your mind and help you feel more prepared.

    We're thinking of you Bailey01 and will have our fingers crossed your lumps are no cause for concern.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator