Breast Cancer or Pregnancy?

[Krysimarie]

Hello,

About 2 years ago I felt a lump in my left breasts and had two noticeable protruding lumps on my underarms.  I went to the doctor who sent me to a breast specialist.  The doctor gave me a scan because of my age (I was 24 at the time) and said that although he too felt a lump, because he didn't see any clusters it was probably safe to say that I have lumpy breasts (!!!) and that the lumps on my underarms were due to a virus.  I haven't thought anything much about it since.  

The problem is that recently I started noticing sharp shooting pains in my breasts.  It started with my left breast where the original lump is. The pain now occurs in both breasts.  My breasts are swollen, with swollen nipples and large visible veins. Because of other symptoms such as a swollen abdomen, headaches, very bad lower back pain, and nausea I assumed that I was pregnant but after a light period and 3 negative tests, I don't think that I am.  I decided to look up what other problems might cause these kinds of symptoms (which have been occurring for over a month now) and what popped up was secondary breast cancer.  I should also mention that I have noticed cracking and pain in my bones for about the last year which is very strange since I'm athletic and have never had this problem before. It's almost as if I have osteoporosis! Around the same time I developed migraine headaches which subsided a little while ago, but have reappeared in the last month along with all the pregnancy-like symptoms.

In any case, when the symptoms of secondary breast cancer came up I have to admit that I was very frightened, especially when it included everything that I've been feeling, including the bone pain.  The problem is that I know that the chances of me having this are very slim due to my age, but because of my previous scare I'm a little more worried.  Do you think this is something that I should be concerned about or could these symptoms be due to something else entirely? I would go visit a doctor but I'm out of the country and don't have access to affordable healthcare so I thought I would ask here first. I am concerned though as the symptoms are still persisting.

Thank you for any help that you can provide.

[Krysimarie]

Thank you for your advice Katarina.  I will try to get a check up and you're right about surfing on the internet and looking for symptoms.  You start to feel like you have every disease ever. :) Hopefully I'll find out what's going on soon. Thanks again.

[katarina777]

I think you need to have a thourough checkup with a doctor. Completely other things may be going on. Like you mention being out of the country for one thing, or it could be hormonal like thyroid, or something else. like stress.

I can understand your concerns, I really can, but I also know that surfing the internet leads to the type of syndrome medical students get, and where they are sure they have a certain disease.

And I agree that pregnancy sounds reasonable but if it's been a while and the tests still show up negative, then it's probably not.

I know from myself that sometimes, weird things just happen and then they eventually pass, but I also understand the worry that goes into it.

Anyway, hope you feel better soon, Katrin

[Krysimarie]

Update: I found a website that contained some photos of women with advanced/secondary breast cancer and so I'm feeling more confident that I probably don't have that and am just being a worry wart! :) Of course, I would still be grateful for your input.  

[Krysimarie]

Oh and I forgot to mention the other two big symptoms are extreme fatigue, to the point where I can't muster up the energy to do anything, and loss of appetite.  I also saw these on the secondary breast cancer website so thought these were worth mentioning.  Thank you.