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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Breast Cancer / January 2004Small 'ball' under nipple
Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but I'm just looking for advice before I get unnecessarily concerned. I'm 16, female, and today felt a small firm 'ball' the size of a pea under my left nipple. Could this be any number of things, or is it likely to be something of concern? Should I leave it a day/week/month and see if it goes away, or should I hurry to the doctor? Just not sure what side of 'worried' I should be! My mother had a small lump removed from her breast a few years back, but then again I'm only 16 so I'm hoping it's nothing like that. Impartial, constructive advice greatly appreciated :) Amy, UK Amy, I don't want to scare you, but a pea sized lump, or 'ball' as you call it, should really be checked out by a professional. It could be any number of things, including normal changes that happen as your hormone levels change. You may have an infection in a mild duct, or you may have a cyst, etc.. It could also be a benign tumor or even a malignant one. Now, I know that the thought of that at your age may frighten you a great deal, and most likely it is NOT that. But, for your own health and peace of mind, have it checked out by a professional. Take Care, Sharon Thanks. What would the professional check for? I will get it checked if it doesn't go soon, but in the meantime I'd be interested if there's anything I could feel for that the doctor would. If it were an infection, cyst or hormonal change, how long would it stay for. I'm pretty sure it wasn't there a week ago. It's not at all painful/tender. Is that a sign of anything in particular? Sorry for all the questions - I'm just interested what a doctor would be asking me. If there are no answers then how would the professional know what it is? Thanks again. > Amy, I don't want to scare you, but a pea sized lump, or 'ball' as you call > it, should really be checked out by a professional. It could be any number [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Take Care, Sharon Amy, this is certainly a good place to voice any fears about breast cancer. Lets say first of all that the chances of having breast cancer at your age are in the region of one in a million. We've just been discussing incidences here, and the published typical US annual rate for age group 15-19 is just 1.5 cases per million population. To put that in perspective, your risk of breast cancer is about one fiftieth of the risk of your being killed on the roads. It is most likely an infected or blocked duct. If it appeared in a week and doesn't get any worse then it wouldn't hurt to leave it another week or so to see if it gets better. Sometimes these things come and go with the menstrual cycle, so your doctor may well tell you to leave it until after your next period. If you are worried, if it continues to get worse, or if it gets troublesome, then go and see your doctor. Tim Jackson > Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but I'm just looking for > advice before I get unnecessarily concerned. I'm 16, female, and today felt [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Amy, UK Thanks for the really helpful and reassuring replies. I will keep an eye on things for the next week until my cycle ends and see what's what. Amy > Amy, this is certainly a good place to voice any fears about breast cancer. > [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] > > > > Amy, UK Just to update this thread, I went to the doctor after a few weeks and it hadn't changed, and was told it is a fibroadenoma, a benign (non-cancerous) lump of fibrous tissue, which is harmless if left and may shrink in time. More info at http://tinyurl.com/y4zk. Good health to you all. Amy > Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but I'm just looking for > advice before I get unnecessarily concerned. I'm 16, female, and today felt [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Amy, UK Did you have this biopsied, Amy? > Just to update this thread, I went to the doctor after a few weeks and it > hadn't changed, and was told it is a fibroadenoma, a benign (non-cancerous) [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > > > Amy, UK Not yet, as it fits all the callsigns of fibroadenoma (1cm, moves around easily, firm, painless, occurs in young women - I'm 16), along with the fact only 1.5 in 1 million 15-19 year-olds have anything cancerous there. Am having a follow-up at breast clinic to see if it can be removed as it is annoying to know it's there. It could be scar tissue apparently, and this fits in with an injury I had. Amy > Did you have this biopsied, Amy? > [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > > > > > > Amy, UK As long as they biopsy it, then you know the facts. I was misdiagnosed for 3 years, with lots of mammograms and ultrasounds, so don't settle for a mere opinion like I did. Mine was 1.2 cm 3 years ago, moves around, firm and painless too. And now there are four. Good luck, Amy. > Not yet, as it fits all the callsigns of fibroadenoma (1cm, moves around > easily, firm, painless, occurs in young women - I'm 16), along with the fact [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] > > > > > > > > Amy, UK When you say you were misdiagnosed, what did they say you had, and what was it actually? May I ask how old you are? Amy > As long as they biopsy it, then you know the facts. I was misdiagnosed for 3 > years, with lots of mammograms and ultrasounds, so don't settle for a mere [quoted text clipped - 53 lines] > > > > > > > > > > Amy, UK I was told by the best Imaging clinic in town, which specialises in breast cancer screening that I have fibrous breasts. I was told to drink less coffee and the lump should go away after menopause (which I'm not at yet). I'm 45 and have been misdiagnosed since I was 42. It turns out that that was just their expert opinion. Had I known that only a biopsy would have told me for sure, I would have got one. Don't be fooled with this lumpy breast thing. Apparently mammograms don't work well if you are under 50 years. Even with careful ultrasound as well (they had me there for 2 hours with more and more mammograms and ultrasounds, two years in a row) they came out with the wrong opinion. Just make sure you 'get it removed', and of course, that they analyse it. > When you say you were misdiagnosed, what did they say you had, and what was > it actually? [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > > > > > "Xiugiami" <xiugiaminospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:AIOAb.218348$Fv8.177606@twister01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com... > > > > Did you have this biopsied, Amy? > > > > [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > Amy, UK Is the biopsy you recommend the same thing as a 'fine need aspiration'? That is what the letter I just received says they may perform, along with a mammogram and ultrasound. Amy > I was told by the best Imaging clinic in town, which specialises in breast > cancer screening that I have fibrous breasts. I was told to drink less [quoted text clipped - 95 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Amy, UK > Is the biopsy you recommend the same thing as a 'fine need aspiration'? > That is what the letter I just received says they may perform, along with a > mammogram and ultrasound. A "fine needle aspiration" is a type of biopsy. It's one of the easiest to have, and can be used to drain the lump if it turns out to be fluid-filled. There's lots of info on the web about types of biopsies; one site is: http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/breastlumps/a/brstlumpbiopsy.htm If you're having a mammogram & ultrasound as well as a biopsy, it sounds like they're doing pretty thorough follow-up for you. This is good! Hoping for a good result (keep us posted!), Ann T. Remove 'dontsendspam' from address to reply by email Everyone told me the BB-sized lump, 1/2cm, was "nothing to worry about." Even the surgeon said to wait and see if it grew. I said "No, way, check it out NOW!" Due to the small size, the surgeon was afraid the needle biopsy might miss the lump and would not risk an error so opted for a regular biopsy. The results were positive for cancer. Opted for both breasts to be removed due to mom and her DAD having breast cancer. Pathology found involvement in two lymph nodes and it was VERY aggressive - her2+3, er-. Due to finding it so quickly, the chances for recurrence were only 10% - the best odds given. Had I not taken control of what I needed to have done, I dread to think what would have happened. As it is, I've been cancer-free for three years - the magic time-frame for this type cancer. My prayers are, of course, that your tiny ball is nothing, but no amount of conjecture or thinking will provide an accurate diagnosis. Checking things out never hurts, but not checking them out... Hugs, Sandra > Is the biopsy you recommend the same thing as a 'fine need aspiration'? > That is what the letter I just received says they may perform, along with a [quoted text clipped - 105 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Amy, UK Hi, I'm unclear as to the difference between a "regular" and a "needle" biopsy. Can you clarify? They can offer me a fine needle aspiration. Was your lump easily moveable? Mine is in a different place every day (within a range of 2cm in all directions). It can be easily pushed from the surface, back to where it is hard to detect at all. Weird little thing. May I enquire how old you were at the time? My understanding is that cancer is much more common the older you are, and much less common the younger you are. I am 16. Additionally, fibroadenoma are much more common the younger you are. Perhaps I'm in the wrong group here - clearly everyone I speak to in this very helpful forum will have experienced cancer first-hand, so I must remember any opinions here are naturally biased, but helpful, view. I am really happy you are doing fine now :) Happy Christmas. Amy > Everyone told me the BB-sized lump, 1/2cm, was "nothing to worry about." > Even the surgeon said to wait and see if it grew. I said "No, way, check it [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > > > > > > > "Xiugiami" <xiugiaminospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:9fQAb.220184$Fv8.39632@twister01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com... > > > > > As long as they biopsy it, then you know the facts. I was > misdiagnosed [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > "Xiugiami" <xiugiaminospam@hotmail.com> wrote in message news:AIOAb.218348$Fv8.177606@twister01.bloor.is.net.cable.rogers.com... > > > > > > > Did you have this biopsied, Amy? > > > > > > > [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Amy, UK > Hi, I'm unclear as to the difference between a "regular" and a "needle" > biopsy. Can you clarify? They can offer me a fine needle aspiration. There are different degrees of biospy, which all involve poking a sharp object into the dubious tissue. The fine needle biopsy involve what is essentially a hypodermic syringe. If the lump is fluid filled then the fluid can be extracted. A small amount of tissue will adhere to the needle, and this can be examined microscopically for cancer cells. This method will detect cancers in about 95% of cases, but does have a significant false-negative rate, so a negative result is inconclusive. A "regular" biopsy would be one of a number of different types of core biopsy, which are done with different commercial instruments. The general idea is to insert a hollow probe which cuts off a small sample of tissue, perhaps 1mm diameter and 1cm long. This might use suction to draw the tissue into the probe and some sort of tiny moving blade inside the probe to cut it off. Some are automatic, air powered, some surgeons prefer the control of a manually operated instrument. The net result is a solid and representative lump of tissue in which any cancer is much more likely to be seen under the microscope. The most invasive sort of biopsy is a surgical biopsy which is essentially the same procedure as a lumpectomy, and involves the surgeon making an incision and cutting out a sample of tissue. > Perhaps I'm in the wrong group here - clearly everyone I speak to in this > very helpful forum will have experienced cancer first-hand, so I must > remember any opinions here are naturally biased, but helpful, view. I don't think you are in the wrong group, and my own experience is strictly second hand. Indeed everyone in Usenet is biased, and the game in these support groups is to hear the range of views and arguments, and to use this in conjunction with your own research to form your own conclusions. It is particularly difficult for cancer survivors to understand the benefits of inaction. If more intensive screening were applied to everyone at a wider range of ages, and surgery were performed at the drop of a hat, apart from the high cost we would end up with a lot of healthy people getting radiation-induced cancers or drug-resistant infections, for which they would not thank us. We need to do all we can at every stage to identify those who will benefit most from every test or intervention, and to strike a healthy balance of risks. Tim Jackson Thanks. Just one other question: Doesn't putting a needle into a cancerous lump, then pulling it out through healthy tissue, risk depositing cancerous cells into 'clean' areas, thus spreading the cancer or allowing it to start growing 'outside it's sack' whereas it may have been self-contained before? Also on the NHS is it reasonable to just ask the doctor to make an incision and remove the lump, as it is mobile and feels like it would just pop out of a small hole, like a pea in a pod? Amy > > Hi, I'm unclear as to the difference between a "regular" and a "needle" > > biopsy. Can you clarify? They can offer me a fine needle aspiration. [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Tim Jackson > Thanks. Just one other question: Doesn't putting a needle into a cancerous > lump, then pulling it out through healthy tissue, risk depositing cancerous > cells into 'clean' areas, thus spreading the cancer or allowing it to start > growing 'outside it's sack' whereas it may have been self-contained before? This is a subject of occasional discussion. Statistics do not show any deterioration in outcomes as a result of biopsies, but I have not heard a convincing explanation.. Maybe it does spread the cancer, but any displaced cells are soon excised along with the lump. Another view is that metastasis is not as simple as mechanical detachment of cells from a tumour, there are genetic changes associated with metastasis, and maybe the cells are not likely to form a new tumour unless this has happened. > Also on the NHS is it reasonable to just ask the doctor to make an incision > and remove the lump, as it is mobile and feels like it would just pop out of > a small hole, like a pea in a pod? It would be reasonable to ask. Whether the surgeon would think it would be reasonable to do it, is a matter for conjecture. Why not ask and see? Tim "Moi" <reply@newsgroup.only> wrote in message news: > only 1.5 in 1 million 15-19 year-olds have anything cancerous there. Am > having a follow-up at breast clinic to see if it can be removed as it is > annoying to know it's there. It could be scar tissue apparently, and this > fits in with an injury I had. Amy, My form of breast cancer is very rare and the odds are much higher than the ones you are stating here. I was also diagnosed as having a fibroadenoma, I should say 'misdiagnosed'. Make sure that you follow up with the breast clinic and consider having it removed. After having mine misdiagnosed, repeatedly, I asked to voluntarily have it removed. It was cancer. And please don't think that age protects you. I work with many cancer patients, from all ages. I sat in a seminar one day and talked to a lovely young girl next to me. I assumed she was there to find information for her Mom. She was not. She was 19 years old and was a breast cancer survivor herself. I don't say any of this to scare you, I just say it so that you can be cautious yourself. Make sure you have it followed up, for your own peace of mind. Diagnostic films can not 'diagnose' breast cancer. They can only tell the doctor that there is something there that is unusual and the shape and size and solidness of the lump. Needle core biopsies, can detect some breast cancers, but are not fallible. (I had several needle cores done erroneously. I was told that my solid lump must have 'popped' out of the way when the needle was jabbed in.) Excisional biopsies, are much better. Take Care, Sharon Thanks, how is an excision biopsy done? I'm doubtful the NHS would do one on a 16 year old girl with fibroadenoma. > "Moi" <reply@newsgroup.only> wrote in message news: > > only 1.5 in 1 million 15-19 year-olds have anything cancerous there. Am [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Take Care, Sharon Well, had my NHS appointment today and the MALE doctor and his MALE student came in and prodded my breasts a bit. I told him to pinch the lump to feel it and he scorned me for 'feeling it the wrong way' (idiot) then prodded me some more, so my breasts were sore afterwards. He then took me into another room and said it's absolutely nothing to worry about, but he'll send me for an ultrasound to see if it's really a lump. OF COURSE IT IS, I'VE FELT THIS HARD BALL MOVING ROUND INSIDE ME FOR 2 MONTHS! Idiot, again. Perhaps my GP and I and my boyfriend all imagined it. Went to ultrasound and was told the appointment would be made for MARCH! Hello? Then I go back to him to discuss the results. Then he'll arrange an appointment for a biopsy, presumably for MAY! Hello? Maybe by 2062 it'll be removed. Goodbye NHS, BUPA here we come (my dad made the call tonight). Idiots. No wonder they have such long waiting lists. He could've done it all in one day, but he clearly just wanted to get me out the door and onto a list so he could go home to his posh house sooner. <Rant over> Amy, 16, sore > Hi, apologies if this is the wrong place to ask, but I'm just looking for > advice before I get unnecessarily concerned. I'm 16, female, and today felt [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Amy, UK > Well, had my NHS appointment today and the MALE doctor and his MALE student > came in and prodded my breasts a bit. I told him to pinch the lump to feel [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Amy, 16, sore I am afraid that is the way things are on the NHS, in order to provide prompt service for urgent cases, non urgent things tend to have to wait rather a long time. The good news is they obviously don't consider this a cause for concern. If they thought there was any chance it was cancer they would be a lot quicker, believe me. Right now I am waiting for a tooth to be extracted on the NHS (needs a surgical extraction, but not very urgent) and the waiting list there is also about three months. If I thought it was urgent I could pay for it to be done in a couple of weeks (by the same guy), but then if it was urgent the NHS would schedule it sooner. Tim Jackson Wonder if that doc would feel it were more urgent if it were a lump in his testicle or prostrate. > Wonder if that doc would feel it were more urgent if it were a lump in his > testicle or prostrate. Yes, if the male was 16 and the doctor couldn't feel the same thing the patient felt and the chance at age 16 was near zero percent. I did a search on incidence rate of breast cancer age 25 of less. In Canada under age 25 = 0%...The seer report states a women age 25 has a rate 1:20000...nothing mentioned for under 25. I am glad her Dad is picking up the cost to see a private doc and I hope it is truly nothing..which I think it is. I understand the English Medical System is based on spending money where they can effect most favorable outcomes and can under the wait. It is a shame that any woman has to wait for the screening test ...but who would you bump ? Alex > Wonder if that doc would feel it were more urgent if it were a lump in his > testicle or prostrate. http://seer.cancer.gov/publications/childhood/adolescents.pdf I stand correct the incidence rate for all cancers is 222 per million - I believe it means out of million 15-19 - 222 of them will have a diagnose of cancer. This report states that breast cancer is rare in this age group. I would guess saying a 16 year old with breast cancer = 60 year old women being pregnant the age doesn't support either event happening to women. Testicular cancer for men has an incident rate of 22 per million, therefore it should be pursued in a more aggresive fashion. Alex |
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