Terrified after finding lump

Hello Everyone

I just found this forum while googling about a lump I found recently on my left breast (I know what they tell you about googling symptoms and now I’m terrified). I found it a week ago and went to my GP on Monday who referred me to the hospital. As I’m 25 years old she said she thought it might be a Fibroadenoma - I’m not sure what people mean when they say the lump ‘moves’ as I’ve been trying to work out whether it is a fibroadenoma or not. My mum and grandmother both had cysts though they were a lot older than me when they had them. The reason I’m so terrified is because a good friend of mine died last year at the age of 24 after being diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 22. They said that they had caught it early but yet it still spread and she ultimately passed away. I can’t sleep as I’m so scared and I’m worried about how I’m going to get through the next two weeks as this is all I can think about!

The lump is just above my nipple and feels smooth - the doctor estimated it to be about half a centimetre.

Hello mspotter

Welcome to the forums, this must be a very worrying time for you but you have come to the right place for support from our experienced users who I’m sure will be along to support you soon.

You may also like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and lines open again at 9.00 in the morning and normal opening hours are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.

Best wishes

June, moderator

Sorry you are going through this. I have been referred for triple assessment myself and am worried sick so I think I know how you feel.
It’s horrible about your friend, but please try to reassure yourself that this is very unusual. You are very young and the chances that you have breast cancer are very small.
Sending you lots of love
Georgina

Hi mspotter, I was diagnosed aged 28 so if you need a younger person to chat to, please feel free to pm me xx

Thanks for the comments, I’m feeling even worse today. I know people say don’t google it but mine isn’t moveable and is firm, smooth and rounded. I think as my friend passed away not long ago from breast cancer I’m completely on edge. My appointment is February 13th. Is it normal to be referred via the two week wait referral system as that is the phone number I had ring. Izzysmum, I hope everything goes well for your referral. Have you got long to wait?

Please do try not to worry, as my mum would say there is no point in worrying about something you don’t have the answers to. I know that is hard but trust me you will have a lot of waiting to do if you are sent for tests. Yes two weeks is withing the norm of waiting for an appointment, sadly there are many ladies out there all in similar situations. You are young and have youth on your side and many lumps are normal and not cancerous. A lot of women have many lumps in their breasts that don’t bother them and they are not cancerous. I have over the years had many lumps checked out and had cysts drained but the doctors say they will fill up again. I hope you are fine, try to distract yourself, get on with living your life and your normal routine. Don’t think about the appointment until you are at the hospital, take someone with you and when you get there try to focus on the positive. You are in the right place, you will have answers to your questions and once this is the case no matter what the outcome you will feel better in dealing with it. X

I have a lump in my left breast, I have yearly mammograms due to my sister having breast cancer last year. My recent mammogram was ok but I was still worried about the lump so went back to my GP for the second time and she said for the second time that she could feel a pea sized lump that was probably a blocked milk duct and said that my last mammogram ( August ) was ok. I am still worried as I have read sometimes abnormalities do not show up on mammograms , I am 44 yrs old and not quite sure what I should do next.

Dear Gasbag

Welcome to the forum. You may find it helps to talk things over with one of our Helpline staff. They will be able to offer you information and support. The opening times are 9-5 on weekdays and 10-2 on Saturdays and the number is 0808 800 6000.

Very best wishes

Janet

BCC Moderator

Hi Gasbag,
No wonder you are worried. “Probably” a blocked milk duct is not satisfactory. If I were you, and for your own peace of mind, I would go back and ask her to refer you to the breast clinic for an assessment, especially in view of your sister. With younger women mammograms are often pretty unreliable, which is why the breast screening is only for women over 50. She may well be right about the lump being a blocked milk duct, but she doesn’t know for sure, so you must go back and see her. Most lumps are nothing at all to worry about, but only a specialist can tell you that.
xxx

mspotter

So sorry you are having all this worry at such a young age. You say your lump is not moveable and is firm. I don’t think this really means very much. My lump WAS moveable, and quite soft, but did, sadly turn out to be cancer. So your firm non moveable lump could very well be what your doctor suggested. There is a downloadable publication about fibroademona which you will find by clicking the following link: http://www2.breastcancercare.org.uk/publications/benign-breast-conditions
This might put your mind at rest. Hoping for a good outcome for you.
Hugs Poemsgalore. xx

Thak you, I think i might go to the doctors tomorrow to ask if they can recommend any sleeping tablets or something as I’m having real trouble sleeping and it’s now starting to effect my work. It feels like a defined lump, I can tell where it starts and ends and feels smooth so that’s why I think the doctor could be right but as its pretty firm and doesn’t move much it’s made me worry that it’s something worse. There’s no history of breast cancer in my family and the only person to have any form of cancer was my great grandmother but she was 90+ when we were told she had skin cancer. The doc said my lymph nodes weren’t swollen but god am I scared out of my wits!

mspotter, I am in the opposite situation to you, if you like… I have no obvious palpable lump (though ‘lumpy’ breasts) but have several palpable LNs. On both sides and in my neck which makes me think it might be something else, though I can’t find anything ‘good’ it might be.
Anyway, you asked if I have long to wait… I have an appointment two days before yours. This will be 12 days since I saw the GP. I wish you well on the 13th x