[Chisame]

I've been feeling all these weird ailments for a while (latest and worst being this tightness in my chest that hasn't gone away in a few weeks) and decided to get checked up. I was checking my breasts (I don't normally do a breast self exam but for whatever reason I did it that day) and found a flat lump that's connected to my breast (not very mobile, I don't think--the breast tends to move around when pressed so the lump moves around with it) on the upper outer quadrant of my left breast (coincidentally, 50% of breast cancers are found in this area). I also haven't been doing the BSE regularly so I don't even know if the lump has been there for weeks, months, or years.

Needless to say, I'm just about scared out of my mind. All of it has me freaked the john tesh out. I went to a doctor to get the chest feeling checked out a few days ago and I had X-rays taken along with an EKG. Chest X-rays (i.e., lungs, heart, and chest) showed up normal but my heart rate is unusually fast (108bps vs the normal 80bps). When I showed the doctor the lump, he suggested I get a mammogram done. I don't even know what the hell is wrong with me and why I keep feeling so shitty (fast heart rate, chest pressure, etc.) and now this.

I'm still pretty young (22 this Friday) but breast cancer and cancer in general doesn't honor age. It doesn't help that my diet is terrible, that I'm always on the computer, and that my sleeping habits are shittier than mini cooper. I'm scared as hell to get this mammogram and at the same time, waiting for Tuesday to come is killing me. I keep getting so many negative thoughts that this lump is behind all my various ailments that I've felt for so many months--that it's metastasized throughout all my organs and that I'm some walking cancer ticking bomb or something. It's just so frightening to have this be happening.

[cavil.]

There are many women who are with you. Don't be scared. =)

[xxanonymity]

don't worry. think about something else.

[ikay]

um, can i ask, does it feel like the lump is smooth and not rough? because my doctor told me before that it's benign if it feels smooth, it moves around and it hurts a little, and it's also called fibrosis (since you said it's flat).. he told me that the signs for breast cancer are there's a round color blue/green thingy on your breast, the breasts hurts and when you try to feel your lump, it's a little rough.. i've been in the same situation before (having a mammogram and such), but the only difference is that they had to take mine out through surgery because mine's fibro adenoma, which is like a round shape thingy inside of me.. for fibrosis, i think it'll only be taken out through pain killers (from what also my doctor told me), cause it melts the cyst and takes the pain away..

i hope it helps..

[KimchiLand]

don't worry, my aunt had breast cancer a year or so ago and shes perfectly fine now

[GetM0tivated]

It might not be what you think it is, and you're just going to kill yourself thinking about it that much. Maybe your heart rate was high because you were nervous? In any case, take this as a lesson to take more care of yourself, diet-wise and such. That's my opinion. I hope everything goes well for you.

[poopoo]

don't worryyyyy & good luck!

[s u Z i e]

oo..
hope everything goes well!!^^..

can you come back and tell me (us) about your experience?..thanks :]

[mistresstigress]

I wish for your result to come out healthy, and don't stress too much. Fast heart rate doesn't necessarily mean anything is wrong with you, although it CAN be a sign. Don't worry about it, I know a close friend who has a fast heart rate but she is normal as ever. And about the breast, it's good that you're taking a health exam in the first place. I'm doing mines soon as well, so we are all together in this. By the way, how much is your Mammogram cost?

[aaandy]

I wouldn't be that worried. In Human Sexuality class we learned that most lumps (I think around 80%) found in the breast are benign tumors. Then again, you should always visit the doctor if one appears.