Right about where the top of the breast is *about* to start (I have very small breasts lol) I have a lump. Almsot like it is attached to the bone below? Hard to explain. No pain, it doesn't move easily, and its hard. I've waited the 'required' time of a month...almost 2, to see if the size or shape changes with hormones and it really hasn't changed drastically. I thinnk it may have grown ever-so-slightly but I could be wrong. I notice a difference from each side of my chest and know the breast bones are naturally lumpy but this almost 'dips off'. I haven't breastfed since August of last year either. I called my doc a while back to get in but they can't get me in until sometime in March. I rather not wait that long but I'm impatient. LOL. It really worries me because I have a history of breast cancer in my grandmother, great aunt, and their mother. I am in my mid 20's, too. I don't knwo what to do in terms of waiting to see my doctor or if I should go to another doctor in a different field, I don't have much experience in this area. :/
My doctor told me that there are two things that they ALWAYS react to strongly because the downside of being right is so much worse than the downside of being wrong: Breast cancer and pregnancy.
There is no such thing as overreacting. Go immediately.
I would call your doctor back and tell them this can not wait. If they won't take you, go to your local clinic/hospital. You have a history of BC in your family so they need to take you seriously. Hopefully its nothing, but you need to get it checked out fast. Prayers to you....
Yeah, I would insist on being seen earlier, and if they refuse, find another doctor. Between your history and the description, I don't think you're impatient -- you're concerned and responsible.
You need to get this checked out with a mammogram as soon as you can with that family history. And please don't let any doctor tell you that you are too young....there are many women these days that are your age with BC unfortunately. And it can be more aggressive at your age so needs to be treated immediately. Call back to your OBGYN and ask to speak to the nurse or your doctor and tell her all of this with the family history. IF they don't want to see you sooner then don't see them again for anything as they are not a good practice. Find someone new or if you have a trusted family doctor talk to her for the referral for the mammo. But don't stop until you get diagnostic testing.
Not saying that you have breast cancer but if you have more questions about how to go after this testing go to www.breastcancer.org forums . These ladies will know exactly what to tell you. There is even a forum for women in their 20s.
I have a friend fighting inflammatory breast cancer, stage III. If you think it's weird, get it checked out. Better to ask than be sorry. My friend had no lumps and no typical symptoms. Things just weren't "right". Which doctor did you call? If your PCP can't see you, try your OBGYN, or vice versa. I would be pushy about something like this because you have a history of cancer in your family.
My general doctor (not OB or MIdwife) is who I see for stuff like that. I'm surprised you waited 2 months! I freak out when I find something like that (I've found two cysts in the last 3 years) and my doctor always has me come in immediately for a mammogram AND an ultrasound to confirm it is nothing.
Please call a doctors office (if you don't have one that you see - see who your husband sees) and have them schedule you right away.
I too have a family history of breast cancer (my Dad's mom and his sister had BC, and my Dad had a lump removed when he was young - noncancerous though). My Mom has a sister who's had BC twice...
It is probably nothing, but please don't wait any longer.
Get on the phone and call the doctor demand an appointment. Tell them that you will take a cancellation or whatever to get in to see him and have him order like yesterday a mammogram. Do not like them tell you next week them you want it now and mean it.
I too had a lump that had no feeling in it and told the doctor. His office staff stated that they could not get an appointment and I told the nurse tht it should have been yesterday that I needed the appointment and the doctor agreed and I was scheduled. So you do have to stand your ground and be proactive about your body.
My feeling the lump and knowing my body may have been what saved my life. So be the squeaky wheel and get it taken care of. Please report back to us what you find out.
the other S.
This happened to me in October of 2011 - I found a lump, called my dr, played phone tag for a couple days and then on a Friday was told they couldn't see me for 3 weeks. I told them I found a lump - which changed everything. My doctor saw me on Monday, I had the mammogram Tuesday, a biopsy Wednesday and the diagnosis Friday - breast cancer :-( I had a double masectomy/reconstruction surgery in January, 6 rounds of chemo, no more cancer and will have the final reconstruction (implants) surgery in April. I feel great and am so thankful (first to God) to my dr for speeding up the process. Like the others have said, no such thing as overreacting - take care of your body! Good luck :-)
Age doesn't matter,if your an established patient call them back for an appt. if they are still not able to get you in ask if you can get a short notice callYour insurance may rquire a referral so begginning with your primary is idea for an exam then blood work then further testing if a referral is needed they will give you one.I went in right away when I had pain and lump in my breast 6 ysr ago now.I was ending bfing my baby it turned out to be an infection they squeezd fluid out of nipple onto a slide sent to lab I alsohad sonograms done twice because the lump still remained after antibiotics it resolved on it's ow after a long while.I was told I could have fibrocystic breast disease ut was never diagnosed with it.
I agree that you need to be seen sooner, not by the OB but with a mammogram. Call the doctors office and ask for an order for one. My insurance is a ppo so I don't need it for that but the breast screening center wants one, plus that puts you in a faster line with Diagnostic rather than Screening. If you wait to see them in march, they'll probably order a mammo then and then all of a sudden it's April before you get what you need. I know you're freaked out, I have had breast cancer so I've been there. Even after though I would feel something I didn't like, drag down for a diagnostic mammo and get told "it's just fat!" :) good for you for taking care of yourself, I hope it is nothing. Keep us posted.
I don't know what kind of Dr you have called or ins you have but with a history of breast cancer in your family I would run NOT walk to the Dr and asked to be seen by someone else if your primary care doctor is too busy to see you. Don't mean to scare you but my Aunts' doctor put her off and it cost her her life; by the time her doctor "fit her in" she was in stage 4 cancer and died 8 WEEKS later. Make an appt NOW.
Good Luck,
