Breasts Forum - Hard lump on breast

Womens Health > Breasts Forum > Hard lump on breast

Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. Review types of breast cancer and examine possible risk factors here....

Q: Hard lump on breast

asked by: DoctorQuestion on October 7th, 2009

I am 27 years old. Recently I have had a hard lump on the right side of my right breast that is near my armpit. It is hard and rough. I also have swelling above my breast in the area where my arm meets my chest. It gets kind of sore when I extend my arm too much. I went to the Dr about 3 months ago but they disregarded it as swollen lymph nodes. I went back to the Dr 2 days ago she felt the lump but was puzzled at the swelling. I have now been referred to get a diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound on Friday and I am very concerned. Also I was going to the tanner but the pigment in this area has not darkened. Could all this be a sign of breast cancer, if so what kind?

Replies(5)

Dr. Robert Wascher , MD

replied on October 9th, 2009

Breasts Answer A7489

Almsot any lump in the breast can be a breast cancer, although, fortunately, breast cancer is quite uncommon in women your age, and most breast lumps in women who are in their 20s turn out to be benign.

Unfortunately, one cannot accurately tell if small lumps in the breast are cancerous (or not) simply by looking at them or feeling them. So, a mammogram and ultrasound are appropriate diagnostic studies in your case.

As you are concerned about the possibility of cancer, I cannot help but to note that you are a smoker. Smoking is the #1 cause of preventable cases of cancer in the world. Secondly, your use of tanning salons will also put you at increased risk of developing skin cancer, including melanoma (which is a potentially deadly form of skin cancer).

Sincerely/ Robert A. Wascher, MD, FACS

http://doctorwascher.com

DISCLAIMER: "Ask a Doctor" questions are answered by certified physicians and other medical professionals who volunteer their time on eHealth Forum. For more information about experts participating in the "Ask a Doctor" Network, please visit our medical experts page. You may also visit our Breasts , for moderated patient to patient support and information.

The information provided on eHealth Forum is designed to improve, not replace, the relationship between a patient and his/her own physician. Personal consultation(s) with a qualified medical professional is the proper means for diagnosing any medical condition.

Comments (4)

This question has been answered by the doctor. This topic is now open for public discussion, however no comments below this point will be answered by a doctor.

Learn About Us

Get Help

Join In

Do More

We comply with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health
information:
verify here.

The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealth Forum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealth Forum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made. Schizophrenia health sitemap.
This page was last updated on January 1, 2009.
© 2008 eForums, Inc