I am a 25 year old male over weight used to smoke. About four months ago my left nipple started hurting i noticed there was a lump underneath it. At first I thought it was nothing but after a month or two i started worrying. I ignored it until a few weeks ago. I have no other symptoms of bc just the lump and the pain only when it is touched. I showed it to my doctor but he said it was probably nothing just some fat or something. He said if i wanted i could get a ultrasound. I did and the results suprised me. The ultrasound showed a hypoechoic solid mass in the retroaerola region. It is well defined with lobulated and irregular margins. It has no calcifications or posterior shadowing. It said something about no enhancement into the surrounding paranchemya? or something like that. When I looked at it I started to get worried and the nurse doing the ultrasound said don’t worry it is probably an infection but the radiologist is on his way to look at it. It looked like this black mass with about four tentacle things coming off of it. I remember when i first started to feel the lump it felt smoother than it does now, however for awhile I couldn’t stop touching it and squeezing it alot. I wonder if that is why it feels different now. The right breast had something small but they said that it probably isn’t gynecomastia because it usually happens in both breasts. I have never wanted bitch tits more in my life then i do right now. Even more troubling was the radiologists face when he was looking at the screen. It looked like he didn’t know what he was looking at. He said he didn’t know if it was solid or fluid, then he went on to tell me that breast cancer in men is rare and given my age even more rare. then he said if it was cancer I would need to get a masectomy, get radiation and chemo. He told me I should have a mammogram and talk to a surgeon. I left the office scared to death. Since leaving the office I have been looking on the internet for some answers or some people to talk to.Since then i met with my doctor and he suggested antibiotics for two weeks to see if it helps or a core needle biopsy. I went for the biopsy which is in two weeks and next week I am going to meet with a surgeon to talk about my best options. I am so sick of waiting it is so hard not to stress all the time about this. People keep telling me I’m not in the age range it is more than likely gynecomastia. I saw that other kid lucky25 on this website. Now I am even more worried. Please help. What are the chances of it being benign given the circumstances? I know no one can diagnose on the internet I am just looking opinnions, suggestions or encouragement.
Hi
Sorry to hear that you have a lump and that you are currently playing the waiting game. I can’t offer you any answers, only the results of the various tests can do this. I know the general rule of thumb is 9 out of 10 lumps are nothing serious … but at this stage it’s oh so easy to convince yourself that you are the 1 out of 10. It’s all very scary and although the internet is a great source of information again it is so easy to scare the pants of yourself reading stuff and convincing yourself that you have the biggest baddest cancer ever known to man. Be careful of how much research you do until you have facts to hand.
I think you are doing the best thing opting for the biopsy - that should give a clearer picture of what it is and your surgeon will go through all the options with you. I hope that your lump is nothing sinister, whatever the outcome this site is a great source of support and information.
Let us know how things are going and try to think positive - difficult I know and you are probably sick of ppl telling you that.
Hi Jonnoj
Im sorry you are going through this, its a hard time for you at the moment, you were right to go for the core biopsy. The only thing we can recommend is trying to keep busy, it doesnt take your mind off of it but can make the time go quicker. You are right no one can diagnose on the internet we just have to try to be patient. Come on here when you need to talk.
Yvonne x
and Jonno…
touching the lump won’t make it bigger or smaller but the more we try to think - is it bigger… the less it helps.
i am sorry - u have to wait.
be patient.
j
Hi Jonno,
Im Nickys Mum (lucky25) I know how scary this must be for you, but as others have said you are doing everything you can, and as you rightly say It Is so rare In men ( especially young men) the hardest bit for nicky was not having anyone to talk to that understood what he was feeling ( even the Drs were baffled).
Please dont read too much on the internet as It will Just confuse you more, I will get Nicky to drop you a line If you would like, maybe Just to help with those questions that only another In your situation can help with.
Take care,
Love + Hugs
Irene
Thanks guys it really helps to hear those things. I hope all of you are doing well too.
Hi jonnoj
Welcome to the forums, I’m sure you will continue to receive help and support from the other forum members, you may also find helpful a Breast Cancer Care factsheet on gynaecomastia it can be downloaded from the website via the link breastcancercare.org.uk/content.php?page_id=10715 .
Best wishes
Katie
Thanks Katie I really hope that I have that instead of the alternative. I also came across a video on youtube.com. The video is of an African American male named Rob Mccoy. The video talks about his diagnosis at the age of 24! and his treatment and reccurance. Really scary stuff, however I noticed that Lucky25 was 25 when he was diagnosed and he is looking for someone younger or around the same age.
Irene if you see this before he does let him know. I really hope it helps him.
Thanks guys
Hi jonnoj
I know 2 men who have had breast cancer, if you contact BCC North East, they will surely put you in touch with one of them.
Caz x
not always a good idea to trawl the internet as it can scare you to death. I would wait for diagnosis, breast cancer affects about 300 men annually and most are middle aged or above
Mole
Thanks for all or your posts it is really helping me. To all of you who are already diagnosed I am truly sorry and I wish you the best. I don’t want to seem like I’m complaining I am scared I realize there are people worse off than me.
Hi Jonno
Don’t be silly you are not complaining you are just like the rest of us who were waiting to find out, scared out of your whits I am really keeping my fingers crossed for you. You are the same age as my son and I must be terrible for you. It doesn’t matter what sex you are we can all be scared and it’s ok to be so.
Good luck
Deb x
Aw Jonno please try not to worry, which is a silly comment I know, but nothing as yet is certain. U must try to resist reading some of the horror stories on the net as these will make u more anxious. What we dont read are the cases of men going through this who find out all is ok. I can only hope it is ok for you. You must never say there are people worse off as breast cancer is a personal battle not a competition which is why this site is so fantastic. The support is for all our worries, big or small.
Take care and let us know how you go and as I would say to my own son if this was happening to him, try to stop digging and poking at it as you will make it sore!
Sue xx
I got a second opinion. I saw one of the best surgeons who specializes in oncology in my area. He has alot of experience dealing with breast cancer. He looked at my ultrasound films and rescanned me. He said it is not cancer. He told me it is either an enlarged or inflamed breast bud or the beginning or gynecomastia. He told me the clinic I originally went to is known for doing things like scaring people into getting biopsies. He said it is how they make their money. I wasn’t the first person they saw with the similar situation. I understand that it is better to be safe than sorry, but the radiologist at the first clinic i went to was an cold ass. I trust this doctor more he treated me like a person and really made an effort to make me understand everything. He ordered a blood test to check my hormones and another appointment in a month to view the results and rescan me with an ultrasound. He told me that he could remove it if I wanted. He said there is no need to do that for any reason other than comfort and he said that it is almost guarnteed that the pathology report would show it as benign. I am going to do the blood work ( hopefully good ) and then have him remove it for piece of mind. As of now I feel alot better I would say about 80% still catch myself thinking “what if?”
I would appreciate any feedback you have.
Thank you for your support.
I won’t forget it.
Because of people like you I have decided to try and do something locally to help the cause.