Do I have breast cancer…?
Posted on Feb 07, 2010 under breast cancer |I think I have breast cancer, but I don’t know. My left breast is smaller then my right by like 1/2 size. They are also sore all the time. Do you know what is wrong with me, is it breast cancer? They have weird lumps in them every so often.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Having breasts that are not symmetrical is completely normal. If you’re worried, go to the doctors and have them check you out. It is possibly you could have fibrocystic breast changes. They can cause soreness and lumps in your breasts every so often.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Breasts are usually not exactly equal. Fiberous breasts are very common, and along with these (benign) fibers, comes breast tenderness. Avoiding caffiene and drinking more water can sometimes help a little. Your physician can give you a breast exam and if necessary a mammogram. Depending on your family history, and your age, I doubt you have cancer, but your physician will be able to help you figure this out.
February 7th, 2010 at 7:21 am
Your Q&A shows that your 14.
If a 14 year old had breast cancer her case would make headline news and be written up in medical journals worldwide.
The chances of a 14 year old having breast cancer are as close to zero as makes just about no difference. The chances of her having it in both breasts are even smaller.
Breast cancer is almost unheard of in under 25s, let alone young teens. It’s extremely rare in women under 30 (fewer than 0.1% of all those diagnosed) and very rare in women under 40 (5%). Most women diagnosed with it (80%) are over 50. I was classed as a ‘younger woman’ when I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was 50.
Everything you describe is normal hormonal development.
It is quite common for one breast to be slightly larger than the other.
Pain and tenderness is quite normal, especially when your period is due. And pain is rarely a sign of breast cancer anyway; most people diagnosed with breast cancer have felt no pain.
Breasts are pretty lumpy things; and if you feel the with your fingertips you’ll always find lumps. The fact that they come and go and occur in both breasts make it even less likely, if that were possible, that this is anything to worry about. And most breast lumps, even in women over 50, aren’t cancer.
It sounds as though you are doing breast self examinations. You shouldn’t be; it will tell you nothing, and may worry you unnecessarily.
The American Cancer Society and other cancer organisations recommend that women begin breast self-exams at no younger than 20, if then. Before that it’s pointless firstly because there are so many hormonal changes that there is no ‘normal’ - and self examination is about a woman knowing what’s normal for her and reporting any changes. And secondly because the chance of breast cancer is almost nil.
You don’t have any symptoms of breast cancer and you’re in an age group where it’s just about unheard of.
Talk to your mother about this; if you really don’t feel comfortable doing that, talk to your school nurse - she will be used to girls having worries like this and will take you seriously, and will be able to reassure you that you don’t have breast cancer.