I strongly believe I have breast cancer...

really need help. I believe and I know I have breast cancer, as from the beginning I could feel a lamp near my armpit and till today it remains, my GP says that it is fat. I believe otherwise as I had nipple pain with it, furthermore my kidney, the rib cage where it protect the kidney near the front feels stone hard, and it hurts , I get constant headaches, they say I am stressed as I am a student studying, these headaches are not normal rather it is painful and insurance whereby I wake up in the night and cry. I have difficulties in breathing, further I find food hard to swallow, I feel like the tonsillitis have gone so big. I am concerned because nothing is improving and they don’t think I have breast cancer as I am 20!- that’s no excuse. Right at this moment as I am typing I am suffering from the left hand pain that’s triggers from the arms all the way to the legs, I’m also getting a burning sensation on the left side of my face. I am ever so worried. I need help, either breast screening or MRI. Can I do it privately or can I request my gp, he won’t listen and thinks that it’s is nothing. Thank you. 

  • I think if at all possible you need to request to see a different gp. Before you go, make a list of everything you are experiencing so you can make sure you don't miss anything when you tell the doctor.

    It is important to remember that it is possible that your symptoms are all unrelated issues. See another doctor and ask them to check your lump. If they think it is anything to slightly be concerned about, they will send you for a scan and possibly a biopsy. This will be able to tell you once and for all if it is a lump to worry about. During the scan they will also be very thorough and check for any other lumps in the area, so you can be sure if there is anything, they will catch it. How long have you had the lump for? 

    The other symptoms may be something else entirely. Stress and anxiety attacks can cause severe headaches and breathing/ swallowing difficulties, so that is something else to consider. Migraines can also cause other seemingly unrelated symptoms in addition to constant and severe headaches.

    As hard as it feels, you need to try and keep yourself calm. Go to the doctors and insist on seeing another gp for a second opinion, you might want to try and book a double appointment so you have time to discuss everything with them. Tell them about the lump, then tell them about the other problems, and ask them to go through each of them with you. Hopefully they will be able to run some tests and put your mind at ease, or refer you to a breast clinic for further scans.