Hi!

I just wanted to reply to this one... I'm 20 and when I was about 16 I found a breast lump. I never did anything about it and finally 4 years later I felt like I should probably get it checked just in case so I called the doctors on Monday and had a telephone consulation booked in for that afternoon. I've now been booked in for a gp appointment and I'm pretty sure it'll be nothing, which is what the doctor on the phone told me too... but it's big and it feels like it's a funny shape, which does worry me a bit because I do think it has grown over the past few years. (I also have a small one in a different place in my other breast but I'm pretty sure that one isn't a problem, although I'll mention it).

I think it'll be fine (and I'm trying to convince myself a bit by saying it) but it's still super scary. Booking in for the appointment has made it feel more real!

My face to face gp appointment is on Friday morning and tbh I'm scared they'll say there's nothing wrong on the basis of it being 4-5 years ago I found it and my age... which obviously they'd have a point but I kind of want a proper test just to be sure (although the idea of a referral is terrifying!)

All this to say- One of the things that made me decide to actually get it checked was that over the past few years I've started to have lots of other random symptoms of things too... including ibs like symptoms and pain all over my body. It comes and goes and I don't know what causes it but I thought going to my gp about my breasts would be a good starting point because at least the lump is clearly there and easy to feel and if there is a problem that might be the problem with the rest...

I think it's normal to link everything, even if we think we're wrong as we do it. I'm also swapping between laughing about it and deciding it's a massive problem and freaking out searching for reassurance from others that it'll be okay. Either way, all I can think about is this lump... even though I've ignored it for so long!- I think calling the doctor finally made it real.

The main symptoms would be things with your breasts though... the discharge may be a symptom but I read benign lumps can also cause discharge! And also it might just be from breastfeeding as you say.

Otherwise, cancer would only be affecting other organs (e.g. bowels) if it had spread so if you've only just found the lump then hopefully the speedy test means that's not true!

(Might be worth trying to get an ibs diagnosis if this isn't cancer. The ibs could be something else so it's worth following that up too... I'll be trying to find the courage to do the same!)

Sending lots of love before your appt on Thursday. Please keep me updated! I'm seeing the gp on Friday at 8:20... we'll see if I get a referral.

Also, you've got this. You're so brave and we'll both have had our appointments soon!!

Hello! I'm in a similar situation. I'm 22 years old and have never had any weird lumps or anything in my breast. Then bam! I find a weird rubbery lump in my right breast. I'm worried sick it's something bad. I have so many plans and am halfway through nursing school and am about to get engaged so I'm pretty nervous about it being something that will change the course of my plans. I'm terrified. My appointment isn't till the 28th and then I know they will have to run a bunch of different imaging tests before they can tell me anything. So I know it's gonna be a waiting game. Anyway, I saw your post and thought maybe we can keep each other updated on what's going on. I feel very alone and I know talking to somone going through a similar situation might be helpful! I'm sure we are both gonna be okay! But I would love to give you comfort if you need it. :) 

Hi!

Yes it's so horrible just being here worrying. I'm a bit worried about referrals and things too because I'm currently at uni but I'll be home in two weeks and not back until September. I'm worried I'll be made to travel for 3/4 hours for any appointments because it's a different county so they may not be able to refer me elsewhere... I actually tried to book the appointment at home but the receptionist was nasty so I gave up :')

We can absolutely keep each other updated. Feel free to send me a message!:)

Yes I think the waiting is probably the worst part. It's hard to accept things you really have no control over! But I think statistics our on our side. 8 out of 10 referrals end up being benign anyway! So I'm trying to remember that while I wait for my initial appointment. I live in a small town so it's hard to book appointments with doctors. mine appointment is next Monday so im just counting down the days untill then. I just got off birth control and wonder if the hormonal fluctuations have anything to do with breast lumps? I don't know and I'd rather not go on google to find out since I just end up scaring myself! I think the only thing to do right now is just to go about your day like normal, because most likely everything is fine. And the receptionist at my clinic are also very mean too :,) 

Hey,

Well tomorrow is the day... I'm feeling okay about it. I think I've convinced myself nothing is wrong but I also know that whether I'm referred or not tomorrow I'll be stressed by the outcome!

I think I'm going to mention other things whilst I'm there- the body pains I seem to have pretty much all the time, because I'm terrible at going to the doctors and it might mean they refer me if they think it could be linked or else tbh I need to get it looked into anyway.

I'm lucky I got an appointment so quickly- it's only because I'm going home from uni next week and my old surgery wouldn't see me.

That's entirely possible- I've seen online that some lumps come and go with period cycles so I bet it could well be for hormonal reasons. (Mine doesn't come and go... and I've had it for so long but yeah)

I've been doing my best to go about my day as normal and I've done pretty well at that today! I'll be really nervous in the morning but it being early is kind of a good thing- gets it out the way. Hopefully the outcome isn't too scary and the rest of my day goes okay!:)

Hi!

I had my appointment this morning and the doctor is pretty sure it's a fibroadenoma, maybe a cyst. She checked my breasts and also my armpits and I'm confident she's right.. She said I'm doing exactly the right thing by checking them and coming in just to make sure was a sensible decision, although it's been 4 years since I found the lumps!

She advised to come back if anything changes and also told me that the lumps feel "firm". If they start to feel "hard" I should come back then too. She said hard is like pressing your forehead, firm is like your nose and soft is like your chin. Also, my lump moves around when you touch it, which is more likely to be a fibroadenoma than cancer.

She also said if it gets large and uncomfortable we can look into it then too but at the moment I don't need to do anything.

I also mentioned the body pains I get and I'm having bloods done for that next week. She quickly checked my stomach area for any lumps for that too and then checked that I'm not hypermobile. We're going to look into a food intolerance etc. Obviously that's not really relevant to this thread but all this to say I had a really positive experience today and if things change I'll definitely feel comfortable to go back for another appointment about my breasts!

Keep me updated on your appointment!:))

Yes I definitely will and I'm glad it's nothing to worry about for you! I'm also glad your doctor was able to give you peace of mind... And that's interesting about lumps. Mine moves around but is pretty firm. I think your doctor is smart to run labs to see if you have a sensitivity to any foods or if your deficient in anything. I am really hoping my appointment clears things up for me or at least makes me stop overthinking about it. This little thread has already made me feel a lot better about it. It definitely makes your world spin backwards when you think the worst and start connecting every body ach and pain to something sinister. I'm glad you can breath now and can find relief and even answers to your body aches! 

I wonder if they will even run imaging on my lump because of my age (22) and my odds for breast cancer right now are low? I guess it all depends on the doctors assesment. Mine lump doesn't hurt at all and is very round and moveable. I'm lucky I even felt it in the first place. It's about the size of a large blueberry but feels almost rubbery to me. but I'm feeling more confident as the days go on that it is probably nothing to worry about, But again I'm so glad your doctor was able to clear everything up for you! :) 
 

So I had my appointment a couple days ago and she just pretty much referred me to get an ultrasound so I am scheduled for that on the 2nd. She said they would be able to tell right after the ultrasound is done if I need a mammogram or biopsy or if they can determine right then and there what it is. She said just by feeling it she can't determine exactly what it is but seemed to suspect it was a cyst or different type of growth. I'm hoping they can just let me know after the ultrasound is done what it is rather then getting it biopsied and getting more nervous and worried. I've been feeling a lot more calm about it lately but would like to get my imaging done as soon as possible. I will post again to tell what the ultrasound shows or if I need any other treatment! 

hey!

So sorry- I missed the email notification! how did the appt on the 2nd go?

<3

Hello so the appointment went OK I got an ultrasound done and they suspected it was a complicated cyst or a fibroadenoma.  They gave me the choice to either wait six months and get a ultrasound again or to get it biopsied. They couldn't tell if it was a cyst or solid mass so they said that they would start with a needle aspiration and then move to a core biopsy. I elected to get the biopsy/aspiration done because they couldn't tell me for certain it wasn't anything dangerous. I had to wait a couple weeks for the biopsy to be done. They did let me know that it did look more benign then cancerous but couldn't be sure without a biopsy. I got the biopsy done about five days ago. My doctor started out trying to aspirate and realize that it wasn't fluid filled and then went through with the core biopsy. I guess if it was a cyst they wouldn't even have to send it to pathology but since mine was a solid mass they did. my doctor called me yesterday to tell me that everything looked Benign and that I had a fibroadenoma. Fibroadenoma is normal breast tissue that just grows differently and feels rubbery and movable. It's essentially breast tissue that reacts differently to female hormones and grows in a tight ball. The whole experience was quite scary and the biopsy was not pleasant but it did give me peace of mind. My breast is pretty bruised but oh well! I'm happy its nothing to worry about but it was a long wait for me to get to this point. I'm really glad I had this forum to update you on the whole process. I feel like if anything this whole experience has helped me control my anxiety about things I can't control.

P.S I hope if anyone else finds this forum that it gives them peace of mind that it could be alot of things and not just jump to the conclusion that it is cancer. Most breast lumps found in young women are benign! :)