Current Events > Should I get my boob properly checked?

(+) Yeah! (+)

I'm insured.

So I have a bump in my left boob, doctors looked and touched it, but said that it's likely that it ain't threatening from the way it looked and felt. I could get a proper scan done, to be 100% sure, won't cost me a dime either. But should I? I'm kind of lazy to go there this week. What would you do?

Better to be safe

If it does cost anything and you have the slightest doubt in your mind, why not?

would be better for your peace of mind to remove that wriggling doubt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQRW0RM4V0k

Kurumiee posted...

I'm kind of lazy to go there this week.

Apathy may cost you.

If it is anything, it's better to catch it early to have more options than to go when it might get worse.

Might as well get all three checked

I agree, absolutely do it

Vegy might check it for free.

Zombified_Toast posted...

If it does cost anything and you have the slightest doubt in your mind, why not?

would be better for your peace of mind to remove that wriggling doubt.

Absolutely this.

if it's free fucking do it, it could be a roach ootheca

How old are you?

Over-testing is something I would caution you about, as I have this discussion with a lot of my younger patients. Screening tests function on four principles: specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values. All of those are lower in younger patients specifically for breast issues. Much higher chances of false positives, and a positive screen needs to be followed up with diagnostic imaging. That builds up a lot of anxiety in low-probability patients, and it could lead to a negative biopsy which has the potential to deform the breast. I would have a follow-up conversation with your PCP.

Speaking as someone who in October was diagnosed with Stage 1 cancer, yes, get yourself checked out. Stop being lazy and get that shit checked out immediately. The longer you wait, the worse it can get. I'm on the lucky side, I got diagnosed and had surgery within a week. The general recovery was 2 weeks, with lasting effects being 6 weeks.

If it turns out to be cancer, would you rather have stage 1 or stage 2 because you were lazy and put it off? Because I can assure you that Stage 2 is much much worse than Stage 1.

If you have to ask the answer is yes.

MrPeppers posted...

How old are you?

Over-testing is something I would caution you about, as I have this discussion with a lot of my younger patients. Screening tests function on four principles: specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values. All of those are lower in younger patients specifically for breast issues. Much higher chances of false positives, and a positive screen needs to be followed up with diagnostic imaging. That builds up a lot of anxiety in low-probability patients, and it could lead to a negative biopsy which has the potential to deform the breast. I would have a follow-up conversation with your PCP.

I'm 26.

You're extremely young. Unless there's a family history of breast cancer I wouldn't try to worry too much, but that's an in-person conversation with your physician. Breast tissue in women <35 years is so dense that you probably wouldn't even get set up with a mammogram. You'd need an ultrasound, which has an even higher false positive rate.

You need to weigh your options, and there's a lot of nuance in this discussion. Also, make sure that your PCP is a physician (licensed MD/DO) and not a mid-level like a nurse practitioner or physician assistant.

bruh who the hell votes no on this

BeesKnees posted...

bruh who the hell votes no on this

The only actual doctor in this thread kind of is.

Yes get it checked. It could just be dense tissue, a lot of people have this, but even after it's cleared it is a good idea to check on it every so often because our bodies are dumb and fuck shit up

You could for your own peace of mind, I guess if your doctor felt it necessary he'd have referred you for one already

I was 19 when I felt a small lump in my left breast, being young and stupid I ignored it and over time it grew larger to the point my breast became noticeably distorted - I eventually had to see a doctor and it was diagnosed as a fibro-adenoma which is a non cancerous tumour, and I had surgery to remove it - so yeah you can get lumps at any age, hopefully its nothing nasty though

Kurumiee posted...

won't cost me a dime either

ehhh, do it then