Lump on breast and long history of cancer in my family

**thesweettwin** · 03-30-2011 09:51 PM

I'm 19 years old and I was told when I was 15 that I have fibrocystic breasts. So, I have always had little lumps here and there, but a couple months ago I found one that didn't quite feel like the rest. I blew it off thinking I was over reacting. Last week, however, my bf noticed it. He never noticed it before because it was so small, but now that he noticed it, I am getting more concerned about it. It has obviously gotten bigger and if I press on it, I get a pain deep inside my breast. I have a long history of cancer in my family, including my mother, grandfather, aunt, and great great grandma. I know that I should probably go get it checked out but I don't have insurance and already have medical bills from an accident I was in a few months back. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice for me? Anything would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

**Claret** · 03-31-2011 04:55 AM

When was the last time that you had a breast palpitation done by a physician? You need to have these done regularly and you should also be having mamograms to ensure the lumps are just cysts. When one of these grows or enlarges you may very often need a needle biopsy to take a sample and ensure they are not pre-cancerous or cancerous. Get to a clinic asap. There must be a free clinic,or a a breast clinic that you could use for free. If not, find the money, go to the Doctor.

**Seeker_Advice** · 03-31-2011 09:28 AM

Based on your family's history and what appears to be a growing and/or changing lump, I would get it checked.

As was mentioned above...a clinic, of some sort, even a hospital...perhaps not the ER per se but you could call them, tell them your family history, what you've found and ask them what to do.

DO NOT be penny wise and pound foolish.

A little more "debt" beats the "risk" of the alternative...something much worse...in my book any day.

Go get checked out!

**JadedQueen** · 04-02-2011 05:34 AM

Okay... first things first... don't panic but do have it checked out. I am in the same situation with no medical coverage... but there are ways around that. First things first... is there a clinic in your area that offers care on a sliding scale fee? (they basically calculate your income/expenses and depeding on your income level you pay a sliding fee for doctor services (often times it's no more than $20.00 per doctor visit and sometimes it's completely free).
If you have a salvation army in your area contact them and they can give you a list of resources for doctors that have a sliding scale free or even a free clinc.

Once you get in to see a doctor (and don't delay get in as soon as you can) a doctor will do a breast exam and will probably schedule a mammogram (usually they don't do mammograms until you are 40 yrs old but with your family history they will probably schedule one for you). i went through this exact thing 2 years ago and from the first doctors visit, three mammograms, two biopsies, and surgery the grand total medical bill was $20.00 and the cost of any prescriptions. There are agencies that are set up to make sure care is provided to those that need it, a lot of doctors donate their services to patients that qualify. I didn't meet the age requirements to qualify for the program (you had to be 40 yrs old) but my doctor was concerned with what she felt and my symptoms that she made sure the program would accept me. After all the mammograms, biopsies, and surgery (lumpectomy which was benine) everything worked out fine.... and I have a feeling things will work out fine for you as well. Just please follow through with seeing a doctor and making sure, don't put it off because of the expense because there are programs out there that will assist you.

**D.D** · 04-02-2011 11:39 AM

i felt a lump on my breast when i was 19 too, i also felt pain when i pressed on it, i did my research, i found out thats its very very rare (almost impossible) to get breast cancer at 19, but i was still terrified that i went to the doctor, he told me not to worry, i had a mammo and an echo, i had actually 3 lumps,it was cysts, the doctor told me to wait a few months, if it grows than ill have to get it removed because it will become visible, few months later, did the tests again, it grew, so i had it removed, it didn't even leave a scar.
so don't freak out as much as i did, it could be something silly like my case, but u still need to get it checked, because yours is obviously growing that ur bf noticed it, the more it grows, it will hurt u more, and the chances for it to leave a scar will increase.
the surgery was a piece of cake (the day after it i even went to work) and it doesn't cost a lot.
i know how scared you are right now, and the only way you can get rid of that feeling is by getting it checked.
good luck.

**thesweettwin** · 04-03-2011 04:43 PM

Thank you for the replies. I found a free clinic in my area, so I am going to go get it checked out, hopefully this week. I was feeling it today though and it seems that it doesn't hurt as much as it did before. I'm wondering if it is just a cyst and was sore because of the time of the month that it was. I haven't had a breast exam or pap in almost a year, so I know it's time to have one anyway. I'm a little scared now but I know that with my family history I need to have it checked sooner rather than later. And my family is really encouraging me to have it checked out also. Thanks again for the advice and encouragement.