Fibroadenoma keeps growing.

Hi all,

I first felt a small lump in my breast last year, week before my 22nd birthday, so went to the doctors. She said she thought it was a fibroadenoma and referred me to the breast clinic. After my ultrasound I was told I had a single lump which was around 1.5cm and if anything changed to go back to the doctor's. Around 3 months later I had noticed it got bigger and so went back and got referred to the breast clinic again. That time they found 2, 1.5cm ones and a 2cm one in the same area on the side of my breast but overlapping. Then around 6 months from my initial appointment I started to get pain in my arm pit and also am finding it hard to do work which involves lifting my arm or sleeping on my side because the lump is now visible from outside the breast and I catch my arm on it frequently, causing pain. I have been to the doctors and she said there was a change in the skin and so sent me to the breast clinic again but they said they couldn't see anything different. The lumps have grown to 2, which are 2cm and the other is 4x4cm and has changed from a circle to more of a curved shape (like a bean). The doctor suggested I apply for funding to get them removed as they have grown massively and cause pain. It causes me so much stress because my nan had breast cancer and they have said they won't do a biopsy because of my age but I am aware they keep growing but dont want to keep going to the doctors every few months because I have bad anxiety. 

So, I was just wondering if this whole experience of being referred several times is normal or if people have had a similar experience of the fibroadenomas growing very quickly? Also if anyone has had them removed? And the pros/cons/process involved with that. 

Thank you very much for anyone who takes the time to read this. 

  • A very warm welcome to the forum Otisdog11 although I'm sorry to hear about your fibroadenomas and for the worry they are understandably causing.

    Hopefully some of our members who have been in a similar position will be along soon to offer their thoughts and advice but if you'd like to discuss this further with one of our cancer nurses, you can do so on 0808 800 4040, Monday - Friday between 9a.m - 5p.m.

    You may also be able to get further information and advice from Breast Cancer Now.

    Kind regards,

    Steph, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • An update on this. I applied for funding to see about removal and was denied due to my issue not being 'clinically exceptional compared to other patients'.

    I was told to "wait and see" as fibroadenomas can reduce in size, and to go back to the doctors in 12 months, unless there is a sudden change. Since my last doctor's appointment (beginning of the month) it has grown again and has made wearing a bra painful due to the position of the lump.

    I kind of feel like I've been told to ignore it and to stop bothering them.

  • Hi, sorry to hear that you’re having such a hard time! 
    i just thought I would share my current experience with my fibroadenomas to maybe help. 

    so a couple of years ago I went to the doctors about a little lump and was told that it’s probably a fibroadenoma and was referred to the clinic. At the clinic they found another area that wasn’t yet a lump but I think they said it was a dense area. Anyways they did an ultrasound and the original lump was confirmed as a fibroadenoma however the dense area looked a little concerning so they did a biopsy (I’m 21 and was 1 18-19 at the time). After waiting ages for the results it came back that the dense area was also a fibroadenoma and no further action needed.

    after about a month I noticed that  the dense area that was biopsied had now grown into a lump. it continued to grow so I went back to my gp. She said that she could feel quite a few lumps so was sent back to the clinic. At the clinic I had another ultrasound and they told me that I had 6 fibroadenomas 4 of which were overlapping. They said that when they are overlapping they measure them together and I think I was measuring at just under 4cm, they said that they won’t consider removing them until they get to 5cm. 

    I’m now 21  the lump has continued to grow slowly however in the last year it’s had quite the growth spurt I can cup the lump with my whole hand. But I also have really bad anxiety which is preventing me from going back to the doctors I feel that because it has been confirmed to be a fibroadenoma they will think I am paranoid for returning due to the increase in size but it’s getting to the point where it feels like it will just keep growing and growing but because I wasn’t advised that I should come back if it grows I am too scared to go in about it.

    any ways one of my fibroadenomas were biopsied and they are still growing I don’t know if that helps ease your mind at all. I know that fibroadenomas can grow and that there is such thing as giant fibroadenomas so please know that the fact that it’s growing doesn’t ultimately mean that it’s something more sinister. However I completely understand that it can be really hard when you have a lump that is continuously growing or changing. It’s very confusing because you are always told to go to your gp for any breast changes but when you have a fibroadenoma that continues to grow they are always changing and it can be difficult to know when or if you should be getting seen again. 

    my advice to you would be to push for a biopsy if you are super worried. you should be able to have some peace of mind and your age shouldn’t be a reason not to give you that. I hope that you get the answers you need :)