<p>Please call your family doctor tomorrow. It is possible that it is just a large cyst (I have personal experience with these things, and they do hurt and swell during certain times of the lunar cycle). You will be sent for a diagnostic mammogram, and the radiologist will most likely schedule an ultrasound exam after reviewing the images. The radiologist will be able to easily tell if it is a cyst or something else. If it is indeed a cyst, it will be left alone. Hang in there. We all are keeping our fingers crossed for you.</p>
<p>My teen daughter had something like this. Kids don’t get mammograms apparently. She had an ultrasound, they found something non cancerous and it was surgically removed. Though stressful, it wasn’t a big deal medically. Breast cancer is virtually impossible for a 14 year old.</p>
<p>I’m going to the doctor tomorrow morning. <em>sigh</em> This has taken a load off my chest (excuse the pun). Thank you for all the support! This has made me really appreciate my health more.</p>
<p>Just a note related to Aerobug post number 19. Cancerous lumps can hurt, it is a myth that if it is a painful lump it is not cancer. I know, mine did hurt. But they do not, in any case I have heard of, increase in noticeable size from morning to evening. I know I said this earlier but the not hurting myth has been known to make some women not get lumps checked.
I hope your appointment goes well and everything clears up quickly.</p>
<p>The odds that a girl at age 14 has breast cancer are vanishingly small. You doctor can figure out exactly what the problem is, but it is almost certainly NOT cancer.</p>
<p>Aerobug: I am a breast cancer survivor. I have met many women who are as well. Yes, breast cancer CAN hurt. I know this from other women who are survivors. Several of these women (OP these are older women) had their concerns dismissed as cysts etc. Two wound up with stage 4 cancer. They came to my doctor to try and save their lives.</p>
<p>Why don’t we simply suggest that something that feels/looks out of the ordinary be looked at to determine the course of treatment?</p>
<p>tofugirl, how did the appointment go?</p>
<p>I’m going this morning today. For some reason, I’m nervous again. <em>crosses fingers</em></p>
<p>Good luck tofu…it sounds like it could be an infection or a benign tumor, although begion growths don’t grow that fast either. Just wondering if you might of had any open cuts possibly from shaving and this was the cause…a strong antiperspirant might have caused it although it would make more sense if if was close to your arm pit. Let us know how your appointment went.</p>
<p>Ok, I went in. The doctor said it was a infection that caused an abscess. The word cancer didn’t even come up. She prescribed some antibiotics and mentioned having to drain it. So glad it wasn’t something worse! Thank you, all of you, for your support! <em>hugs</em></p>
<p>That’s great news, tofugirl … so happy for you!!! :)</p>
<p>I knew that is would be just fine!!! You are a brave, mature young woman. You saw a concern, addressed it, and moved on. Wonderful.</p>
<p>Ouch, though!</p>
<p>Breast infections HURT.</p>
<p>I’m so happy you had the sense to get the lump checked out. I figured it was probably a cyst or abscess, but it’s something you should always get checked by a doctor. Hopefully, the antibiotics will clear it up quickly. </p>
<p>If you do end up getting it aspirated, don’t fear it. It really is not a terrible procedure at all—No anesthesia, no stitches, and not very painful at all. I actually watched the whole thing on the sonogram screen. The needle went in the cyst (or abscess), the fluid was drawn out, and you can actually watch it shrink down and disappear.</p>
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<p>Actually, a breast abscess is bad news. We’re just all glad it wasn’t a lot worse news.</p>
<p>Tofugirl-
- So good that you didn’t hide because of your fear and that you had this checked out!
- Good/no good about the diagnosis! (good that it isn’t something more serious/no good that it is painful)
- Please continue to be conscientious and proactive about your health.
~mafool</p>
<p>A breast abscess in a (presumably) non-lactating 14 year old? Without recent trauma to the area? (I’ll assume no recent piercing of the nipple). Hmm…</p>
<p>Was it towards the outer side of the breast? If so my guess is it may not even be a ‘breast’ abscess. It could be an abscess in a lymph node. </p>
<p>Most likely, and hopefully, it will just go away. But if it persists or worsens despite antibiotics and they end up draining it then ask them to send some of the fluid for culture and to pathology to make sure it is not some weird infection. </p>
<p>Now I hope I’m not scaring you. I don’t want to make you worry, but you know how we parents are, always worrying… :)</p>
<p>Glad all is well…</p>
<p>@vicariousparent-No, it’s right under the areola. The only thing I can think of is that I scratched that area awhile ago, and the effects of it is showing up now. </p>
<p>@nysmile- I hope the procedure goes well. When she first mentioned drainage, I kinda tensed up, but then she explained that it goes exactly like you described it.</p>
<p>The procedure was really nothing at all to worry about. Well, it’s easy for me to say this now after the fact :). Beforehand, I was a nervous wreck. </p>
<p>I want to reassure you that it honestly is a very simple procedure. I went into the sonogram room. The radiologist started the sonogram to pinpoint the exact location of the cyst. The doctor came in the room. Looked at the sonogram screen. He explained what he was going to do. Then, the radiologist turned the screen so I could watch. The needle went in. The fluid was aspirated out. As the fluid was being aspirated, the cyst shrunk and shrunk until it disappeared. The needle was drawn out and a band-aide was put on the site of the needle stick. Then, as a precaution, the fluid was sent out for lab analysis. </p>
<p>In and out of the room in about 10 minutes.</p>