I am having a dilemma and would like to go armed with some real life info when I next see my consultant.
I’m 32 and being monitored for yellow discharge/blood from left nipple & recurrent nipple eczema.
My consultant won’t do any type of scan on the grounds that I don’t fit the risk categories (i.e. postmenopausual, on HRT, family history of bc).
However, I already personally know of 4 women (of 26, 27, 27 & 34) who had bc, and they didn’t fit those categories either. By the time they had a palpable lump, it was too late for all but one who opted for double mastectomy at 28 and is still alive and kicking at the age of 60.
What I really want to know is whether I should pay privately for MRI or mammogram.
I don’t see the point of unnecessary tests, or exposing ourselves to radiation unnecessarily, but in some cases these doctors just seem to be too laid back about younger women.
There younger ladies on this forum who unfortunately been diagnosed with BC, I am not one of them as I am 50, however I can remember having discharge from my nipples after my third child and aged 31. My concerns were not taken that seriously and one consultant only looked at my breast, no examination at all. Granted nothing appeared until I was 48, but I felt let down at 31.
I know you will get plenty of replies with advice from younger ladies.
I truly hope you can post back on this site in a few weeks saying everything is absolutely fine.
I remember being very annoyed cause i went in at 28 and a smiling (git) breast doctor said oh its nothing you’ve just lumpy boobs! I was like er no (i did have family history and he still wasnt convinced!). I had a mammogram and its didnt show up beware of that one! The ultra sound picked up calcium spots and then i had the needle biop to confirm whoops yes you were right its not just lumpy boobs.
Jump up and down like a looney til you get it done i say because the other thing that happened to me was whilst they gave me the speech of you’re young we’ve caught it early rah rah rah my bone scan showed a light spot on my rib i was told it was probably due to an aold sporting injury because i had been very active and it was nothing to worry about…again reinforced because of my age they were going to throw everything at it…turns out the spot on my rib was bone mets and i wouldnt have had to go through FEC chemo! so anything you think is out of place you jump up and down for it i do…if ive got any worries and they use the words we think i like bugger off and check! they would if it was them!
I am 41 and was 40 at diagnosis, they kept telling me it was a cyst because of my age, it wasnt it was a grade 3 tumour…when I eventually got to see the consultant privately he said all lumps should be treated as if they were cancer until presumed otherwise, so my answer is yes I think they do, but to my mind it is on the increase in younger people and we should be like the USA screened at a lower age…
You should definitely have a mammogram and an ultrasound even if you have to pay for it - for your own peace of mind. I had a discharge from my nipple for many years, my doctor said stop squeezing. Aged 51 I had BC and it has just recurred aged 68. I just wish this site had been around then.
Good Luck and let us know what happens.
I was sent home 5 years ago, after clear ultrasound, clear mammgram, a needle biopsy which was benign, but showed cell atypia.
5 years later and I am back, it was a tumour, and possibly the biopsy missed the core of the tumour, surgeon says.
Again, a clear mamm, clear ultrasound, Young women frequently have dense breast tissue which makes mamm and untrasouns not work particularly well, Get an MRI, talk to the breast care team…you have to be proactive because they really do seem to presume us young women are just dramatising!
All the best!
Claire
I was diagnosed with bc in March, age 34. I didn’t fall into any of the supposed ‘risk categories’ however, thankfully, my gp took things v.seriously from the word go and I was seen at a ‘one stop clinc’ just a few days later. The following week I had a right mastectomy and total axillary clearance. I now go to a support group and there are many ‘younger women’ that go there.
Personally I really think you should badger your gp into getting you referred to a breast clinic. I think you defo need a mammo and an u/s just to be on the safe side. You should not be having to go privately at all!!
Hi there sorry to hear you are another who is having problems with GPs taking younger women seriously. I was 24 when I found a lump my GP said he would refer me but he put down non urgent due to my age and said dont worry you are to young for it to be anything younger women dont get breast cancer 4 months later and many ohone calls to the hospital to case up referal I was finally seen and diagnosed with aggressive breast cancer 1 week before my 25 birthday it had spread to the lymph nodes and i had to have a mastecomy all treatment going and have only just finished treatment now 3 years later but am still on tamoxifen.
i only wish GPs would take younger women with lumps etc more seriously I would go back and demand to be refered I also had no family history or anything I was just one of the unlucky ones PLEASE PLEASE go back and be firm you have a right to be seen and get it checked out. If you do go privatly it will i am guessing work out very expensive as with me I had mamogrammes (4), ultra sounds biopsys and tests done on my lymph nodes, I am also not sure if once you go privatly to be seen if the worst happened and you did have bc you could be refered back to the NHS not sure about this but may be worth checking it out first.
Sorry I could not be of more help please keep us informed
Love clairemm x x x
You are all so right, go get the tests, privately if necessary…my own experience was a good one and at 38 with no history my GP took it very seriously. My only advice is to NEVER accept that no news is good news - ALWAYS ask for a negative result to be confirmed.
I, too, ticked none of the boxes for risk factors. I was 44 at dx - not as young as some, but still considered young for BC. Luckily for me I saw a GP who took it very seriously and I was in the breast care centre of the local hospital the following day. I am so glad, as it turned out I had a grade 3 tumour & spread to lymph nodes. I have a friend dx at same age who had been to her GP two years previously with the lump, and was told it was nothing to worry about. You can only imagine what she felt like when she was finally diagnosed.
Please get yourself checked out if only for your own peace of mind.
Hi Puddleduck
I have a strong FH o BC and was fortunate enough to have been placed on a screening program at the age of 30. I had my first mammogram earlier this year age 35 and low and behold, my cancer was detected. My Mum however, who sadly passed away nearly 10 years ago did not have such an empathetic GP and when she first presented, age 40, was made to feel like a hysterical woman. It wasn’t until eight years later that she was diagnosed.
To put my professional head on!! I work in primary care for the NHS. It should NOT have to be the way, but sometimes the louder you scream… I am sure that this must be causing you emotional distress and I believe therefore, that your GP should refer you on these grounds if nothing more.
Don’t back down.
Hi there, I was dx at 39 in 2005 and now have brain mets. I live in Australia. the state govt. provide free breast screening for women over 40. By the time I found a gp who gave me a referral and got booked into a private clinic it was months later…It really sucks doesnt it. Its age discrimination. You go for it girl, even if it is a blocked milk duct or a cyst or something, it should be monitored for years to come. Take care, love suzy
Go back and push for more… I was 41 when diagnosed and my GP tried to convince me it was a cyst and that was even after I had a mammo 6 months previously for a discharge!
Definately make a big fuss and demand to be referred to a different breast unit who will take your symptoms seriously. My personal feeling is that they shoulod be doing tests for bc as it does seem to be getting more frequent in young women and anyway, they need to know why you are getting this discharge and eczema. I don’t see why you should have to pay priavtely but if you have no joy with the nhs then I suppose you will have no option.
Make a fuss and good luck
Kate
Uh-oh don’t get me started…as you can see Puddleduck some strong views from the ladies on here.
You must demand to be scanned…if they won’t do it, ask to see another or complain. I am so cross about things like this.
I was not taken seriously when going to my GP and it took 5 months to get a dx. I started out with a small lump (prob about 2cm) in January, I went and saw the doctor in January and February, both times I was told I had lumpy breasts and at my age (34) was not high risk (no fam history either). I went back in April and saw my own GP who referred me as non-urgent. Got an appt for Breast clinic in May, they told me it was a cyst or grissly tissue and to come back in 10 days for ultrasound. Then when I saw the radiographer she started pulling faces and looking at me with big eyes and holding my hand…I knew I was in trouble then!!! Turns out to be Grade 3 triple negative with a high liklihood of me having the duff gene. By the time I started my treatment the lump was about 6cm. Currently having chemo, then bi-lat mastectomy and rads.
Good luck, I wish you all the best and do let us know how you get on.
Love
Ali
x
HI
Just to add my tuppence worth. Get it checked out. I was diagnosed 4 months ago with aggressive Her+, grade 3 with lots of lymph involvement.
Anyway to cut a long story short I had to push very hard as I wasn’t taken at all seriously and ended up paying over £650 for my diagnosis.
Firstly, I don’t tick any of the boxes - no family history, exercise, small breasts, good health, non smoker - need I go on. My GP nearly fainted when I siggested private - the NHS waiting time was 9 weeks and then my not have been taken as consultant would decide if I was an urgent referral.
I am so glad I did go private - still very angry that I had to, but I dread to think what would have happened if I’d taken the advice - just a wee lump - just hormonal etc.
Please, do not be fobbed off - it will be the best money ever spent - for peace of mind.
Not meaning to scare you - but I too had a little discharge - GP examined it and said nothing to worry about - WRONG!!!
Get checked out…
I am telling all my friends to be breast aware and not take no for an answer - my GP even said ’ you’re under 40, it’s so rare. Yeah right!!
Not wanting to sound angry but you can see from this website that it does happen and you need to take charge of your own health.
Hello cb120, lynnc, PamM1, Olivia07, techy, princess18, clairemn, WANAS, RoadRunner, carly72, Suzy39, llynnt, dippykate and bestie.
Thank you all for your support and help.
On a positive note, the discharge hasn’t returned for 2-3 weeks and the eczema has cleared.
I have to attend for a follow-up appt in 4 weeks. Is it safe to assume that if there’s nothing outwardly showing, then I’m okay?
The nipple eczema on one side tends to come and go as it pleases.
I’m aiming to be a good girl and do a breast check once a month on day 9 or 10 of my cycle.
I just wonder how many of the non-palpable bcs are common to young women. They only seems to be picked up in routine mammos for the over 50s.
I didn’t tick any of the at risk factors either. I was diagnosed with DCIS in June, aged 39. I presented with a fibroadenoma but DCIS showed up on the mammogram. My consultant said that I was lucky as it would have been an aggressive tumour by the time it had developed. Even though I was reassured that I had a fibreadenoma or cyst, the hospital treat all women the same and do all the tests anyway. Persevere and get the treatment that you deserve.
I was 36 when diagnosed and when I first saw GP was dismissed withouy any examination at all and told that as I didn’t have any family history I shouldn’t worry. Went home happy and returned seven weeks later with larger painful lump, this time I was referred but still told it was unlikely to be anything especially as it was painful. Was diagnosed within 2 weeks with stage 3 grade 3 IDC with infected nodes. I was furious with doctor and have made a complaint, I urge everyone now to see their GP immediately and insist on a referral immediately, I wish I had.
Sorry to be the party pooper again, but I would not assume becuase you can not feel anything it is all clear. I would definately ask for an ultrasound to check out it isn’t something like DCIS where you don’t always have palapable lumps. Mammos can be difficult in younger women due to dense breast tissue. I wouldn’t let this lie but push for more tests -sorry but there are too many young women who have been fobbed off as you can see from this thread and if you think of the numbers of women who don’t even use this website, it is quite common in the scale of things.
I would still insist on tests - they analysed my leaking nipple and one side showed cancer and the other side didn’t so it is owrth them doing that as well as ultrasound
Kate