Petrified that I have breast cancer!

[ronniexo]

Hi everyone.

About 2 weeks ago, I noticed a pain in my left breast (I'd say half way between my armpit and areola). Naturally, I decided to feel around and found a painful lump. It's not hard and it moves a little bit. I have always had lumpy breasts, but this really concerned me because it's just that specific lump that hurts. It hurts more when I put pressure on it with my fingers. My breasts usually get tender and sore before my period, but that didn't happen. It's just that area that hurts. I brushed it off at first, but of course I decided to google my symptoms, and everything went downhill from there (I was also starting to get over a lung cancer scare). I know that breast cancer is usually hard and jagged, but I've read that that's not always the case., which doesn't help me one bit.

I decided to go to the ER, and had a quick breast exam done on the area. He said that everything felt normal and what I felt is probably a cyst, so he sent me to get a breast ultrasound done. The technician went over the area several times and couldn't seem to find anything. This should have been good news for me, but I kept thinking that the lump is obviously there, but why isn't it showing up on the ultrasound? I also remember seeing him find a semi-dark oval shaped area and took a picture of it, but didn't say anything about it. I started to have a panic attack right there on the table because I have read SO many stories about people that have lumps that don't show up on ultrasounds and mammograms, and the doctors tell them they're okay, and a couple of months or years later, it turns out that they have breast cancer. I keep thinking, "what if that happens to me?".

So then I talk to the doctor after he reviewed my ultrasound images, and he says everything appears to be normal, and he said what I have is most likely Fibrocystic Breast Disease. But I just cannot accept it! I just keep having this gut feeling that something is wrong. That something was missed. He told me that if the pain/lump doesn't go away in a few days, to seek further assistance. I just got over my period a few days ago and it's still there. I also noticed these flat, round red marks on the same breast the would appear and disappear within a day or so. They didn't itch or anything, but I of course related it to breast cancer (more specifically inflammatory breast cancer). I am literally driving myself mad, and it's ruining my life. I cannot get out of bed, I have no appetite, and no will to do anything. I am so terrified and I am having multiple panic attacks a day.

Should I get a second opinion? Should I get a biopsy done? I feel like even if I get a biopsy done, that I won't feel satisfied (because I read that even biopsies aren't 100% accurate). I seriously do not know what to do anymore. I feel lost, hopeless, desperate and doomed. All my friends and family are starting to lose their patience with me. I am only 27 years old, and I just want my life back! Someone please help me

[Slangevar]

I have fibrocystic breasts... I'm constantly getting weird lumps in my breast, some of which are painful. I don't feel the pain anymore because my breast doc put me on 1000 mg of evening primrose oil per day. I highly recommend it if you are having pain.

As for the "lump," can you still feel it now?  If so, go in to your gynecologist and have him/her do a clinical exam.

Btw - it may not have been a cyst at all. Most women have so-called "glandular tissue" that flares up at different times in their cycles. Mine feels like a big lumpy mess in the top of my breast, with occasional little pebbles on the outside.

[ronniexo]

Thanks for the reply! I will definitely check out the primrose oil.

Yeah, the lump is still there, and it still has some pain. It's small, about the size of a pea. But it feels fairly similar to the rest of the "lumps" in my breast. It might have always been there and the pain just brought it to my attention. I don't think it's a cyst either (wouldn't that have shown on the ultrasound)? Also, if it's just glandular tissue, or even fibrocystic disease, could that be the reason nothing showed up on the ultrasound?

I think I will make an appointment with a gynecologist for a second opinion. This is driving me nuts.

[Slangevar]

A cyst would show up on the ultrasound, as would cancer, for that matter. Cysts look like black round or oval blobs while cancer tends to look black, irregularly-shaped, spikey and it doesn't let the sound waves show through it.

Glandular tissue doesn't really show up on the ultrasound... it just looks like breast tissue, but it can feel like a big mass of playdough.  (You notice the difference more as you age... my breasts used to be all dense glandular tissue, but now it's only at the top of the breast... the rest is quite squishy.) 

[hamsterswheel]

I have fibro breasts.

The first time I found a lump exactly like you describe.,it was sore to touch. Definite lump. Saw Gp she said prob cyst.

Went to breast surgeon, she said no, it's normal breast tissue but ordered u/s to be sure. As she said u/s was clear and was normal breast tissue. I stopped touching it and it stopped being sore. It also used to be sore just before my period.

This summer my left breast had an area that was sore. Flaired up around my period. I went to breast surgeon and he said I have fibro breasts. All he felt was normal breast tissue.

Yours never showed up on u/s because it's normal tissue.

[ronniexo]

Thanks Slangevar and hamsterswheel. It helps ease my mind a bit seeing that you guys have gone through something similar. Would you guys happen to have any idea as to what could be causing the random red marks on my breast? I have had 4 so far (all at different times and individually). They are small (about 1/4 centimeter), round and surrounded by tiny red veins. No pain, no itch, no bump. They are completely flat and go away within a day. Of course, this is worrying me too.

[hamsterswheel]

Is it not from you poking and prodding the skin?

If not then, the fact the marks go away means nothing to worry about. (even of they didn't go away doesn't necessarily mean something sinister), but them going away is a pod sign.

[ronniexo]

No, they appear on a totally different area on my breast, usually on the inner part close to the areola. I suppose that it's a good sign that they go away...it's just so weird!