Fibrous Breast Tissue

[sajetto]

I know this is probably TMI, but I'd like to have some input here. I'm 22 and last year my doc found what she called a "rope" from the top of my right breast, under the armpit all the way down the side of the breast. She wanted me to come back 2 weeks later so she could see if there were any changes due to my cycle. Well, to be honest I never went back, checked it myself and it did indeed get larger and tender when the end of my cycle came. I figured that meant it was not cancer.

Fibrocystic Disease runs in my family and I've never heard of any of the women in my family having breast cancer. However, my DF's grandma caught me checking it last night and freaked out saying that I need to have a mammogram. It seems kind of early for someone in their early 20's. Is this something you would worry about?

 

[Sleepy]

Please go get yourself checked again. 13 years ago I had so much fibrous tissue I could have ended up with a double mastectomy had they removed all of it. Instead I had a pretty significant reduction. Anyway, I was never worried about cancer since none of my family had history of it. 5 years ago my aunt found cancer and just last month, we found out one of my cousins (whom we lost contact) had cancer removed serveral years ago as well. All these years I thought I was "safe" and now I know I am not. Be on the safe side and just get checked.
ETA: I was 22 when I had my surgery. While my aunt was 67 when she found her cancer, my cousin was only 37. I am now 35.

 

[2bemarried]

You should ALWAYS have questionable breast tissue checked out. Breast Cancer affects women of all ages....even teenagers...so go have a mammogram done.

 

[Pigeon]

Get it checked out, please. I'm a breast cancer survivor. I've met plenty of other survivors who have gotten bc in their twenties. Contrary to popular belief, most newly diagnosed women do NOT have a family history of bc.

 

[laurabelle]

I know this is probably TMI, but I'd like to have some input here. I'm 22 and last year my doc found what she called a "rope" from the top of my right breast, under the armpit all the way down the side of the breast. She wanted me to come back 2 weeks later so she could see if there were any changes due to my cycle. Well, to be honest I never went back, checked it myself and it did indeed get larger and tender when the end of my cycle came. I figured that meant it was not cancer.

Fibrocystic Disease runs in my family and I've never heard of any of the women in my family having breast cancer. However, my DF's grandma caught me checking it last night and freaked out saying that I need to have a mammogram. It seems kind of early for someone in their early 20's. Is this something you would worry about?

You really should have a follow up done. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in my 30's and one of my best friends was diagnosed at 22. Many of us young women (under 40) with breast cancer get put off, or don't think it could happen to us. I had no family history of bc, over 80% of those with breast cancer don't have a family history. You are more than welcome to visit us over at the GAGWTA Dis breast cancer survivor thread. We have supporters and those going through a scare/possible diagnosis who post there too. I hope you come visit... http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=810357 or you can PM me.

 

[sajetto]

Thanks laurabelle, I'm so glad to hear that you are a bc survivor. I didn't even know there was a whole thread dedicated to you gals. God bless all of you!

Now, I'm starting to get worried. I figured it really wasn't a big deal, but now that I've read these posts I'm thinking it might be. If it was cancer wouldn't it have gotten bigger over the past year? Is it possible this could just be some thick tissue? What is the first thing they do if they do a bio and it comes back with the bad cells?

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I had a problem with this in my 20's and 30's, and found that if I gave up caffeine all that "lumpy" tissue went away. Best to have it all checked out. I, too, know someone who had BC at 21, just months after having a 1st baby.

 

[HeatherH]

More likely than not it is NOTHING to be worried about.

But WHY would you risk that? A simple trip back to your doctor could alleviate your fears.

And, if by some remote chance it IS something, catching it EARLY is your best chance for treatment.

Please, don't ask here, just CALL YOUR DOCTOR tomorrow for a follow-up.

All the best.

 

[Sleepy]

I had a problem with this in my 20's and 30's, and found that if I gave up caffeine all that "lumpy" tissue went away.

It is true that caffeine does aggrivate the tissue, but in some cases (like mine), my tissue was a result of hormones caused by pregnancy (and I went from a 34B to a 40DD that never went away). The lumpiness stayed and even today (14 years after having my son), I am nothing BUT lumps (even had a reduction to reduce the amount). Diagnosing a cancer lump on me is even difficult for a doctor.

 

[Christine]

sajetto,

It probably is NOTHING, but I think the point that everyone here is trying to make is that you need to go back and follow up. While fibrocystic tissue is not harmful, it needs to be watched a bit more closely in that it can "hide" something. Not that you have something, but your doctor needs to get familiar with how your breast tissue feels during all parts of your cycle and she needs to document it in your file. So, now when you come back to her every year, they can compare how it feels. They may even want to mammogram it or sonogram it just to get a baseline for how it looks.

I have very weird, lumpy breast tissue. In fact, during my second pregnancy, I got a big swollen "rope" of tissue under my right arm. It has been there for 12 years now and gets bigger during my monthly cycle. It's nothing bad, but the doctors always like to make themselves "familiar" with it.

Please don't worry but just do what your doctor says and go back and follow up.