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Breast Cancer (Expert Forum)
22 year old with quarter sized tumor
Questions posted in the Breast Cancer Forum are answered by medical professionals from The Cleveland Clinic. Topics include Breast Biopsy, Chemotherapy, Hormone Therapy, Lumps, Lumpectomy, Lymph node dissection, Lymphedema, Mammograms, Mastectomy, Radiation Therapy, Reconstruction, Self Breast Exam, and Surgery.
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22 year old with quarter sized tumor
by Aruba417, Aug 03, 2005 12:00AM
Hi. My 22 year old sister found a lump in her breast about 3 months ago. She had an ultrasound on it and had 4 different doctors review the films and all were sure that it was a benign tumor about the size of a quarter and it was just fibroadenoma. They told her to just watch it and if it bothered her that they would remove it. Well...it became very bothersome and painful to her so she went back to the doctor. She was surprised to find that it had grown 6mm in 2 months. She had a biopsy this morning, and during the biopsy they found another small tumor behind the original one. So they did a biopsy of that one too. She has had problems with her breasts since she was a kid. Around 11, her breast (the same one with the tumors) became very hard and painful, and the doctors said that this was just due to hormones. Also, this same breast has always been smaller than the other. Does this have anything to due with her problems now? Breast cancer does not run in the family, but other cancers do. She will not get the results of the biopsy until next week. What are the odds that this is cancer?
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-RN,MSN-rf, Aug 04, 2005 12:00AM
Dear aruba417: Fibroadenomas are non-malignant (benign) lumps that feel smooth, and round. They can vary from very small to quite large (5cm). Fibroadenomas are usually distinct on a mammogram and ultrasound. There can be more than one fibroadenoma. Most believe that they grow over a 12 month period and then remain stable. They are most common in women in their teens and early 20's but can happen at any age - although they usually don't occur much after menopause. If the size is stable and the fibroadenoma is not bothering the woman - there may be no reason to remove it. There is no way to speculate on the probability of this being malignant - although breast cancer is not common in 22 year old women.
I found my first fibroadenoma when I was 33 (I had the ultrasound on my birthday in fact). From the time of the first doctor's visit to the biopsy there was a lag time of ~10 weeks. In that time the fibroadenoma not only grew, but it grew tentacles and had 3 lobes to it. So, it is not uncommon for those things to grow in a short time.
Good luck to her! This might be her only fibroadenoma experience, but if she's anything like me (and apparently many others in this forum) she might face many more years of this. She should definitely start educating herself about her breasts, benign breast conditions, etc... The internet is helpful, but there are also books available that deal only w/breasts and breast problems. The more she knows, the less worry she'll have!
I'm 33 years old. In January, I found a lump in my left breast. I went to my doctor about a month later, who sent me to an imaging center to get a mammogram and an ultrasound. The breast doctor examined my results, and assured me that I had a fibroadenoma. He gave me the option of having a needle biopsy, just to put my mind at ease, but he didn't think it was necessary. At any rate, I was to come back in six months for a follow-up.
My follow-up exam was yesterday. Apparently, the lump had grown, and the doctor (a different doctor this time) proceeded to do a core biopsy. Of course this frightened me to no end!!!! The results will be in on Monday, but I am worried! I'm hoping that it is still a fibroadenoma, but I can't help but to wonder if this was misdiagnosed, and it's actually cancer instead of a benign lump. I try not to think about it, but I can't help it! Reading your stories has calmed me down a little bit because I now know that fibroadnomas do grow and this is nothing to be unduly alarmed about. I'll still be on pins and needles (no pun intended) until I get my biopsy results. I may call today, since the doctor indicated they may be in today.