Are lumpy breasts in young women a sign of cancer?

Hello doctor,

I am an 18-year-old female, and for the past couple of months, I have noticed that my breasts are very lumpy. It feels like there are so many small grains of sand all around my breast, and when I push my nipple in to feel for lumps, it feels very gritty and sandy. Recently, when I got my period, I noticed that I had a lot of breast tenderness and pain as well as back pain. Some of the lumps in my breast felt like little jelly.

I have noticed that one of my nipples is lighter in color than the other one. I am not sure how long it has been that way (probably years); one is also bigger than the other one. I had no sensations on my nipples, and I felt lumpiness from my armpits down to my breasts, and my back hurt constantly. Sometimes when I push my breasts down to my ribcage, I feel lumps attached to my ribs. I am very worried that it is breast cancer.

When I went to my doctor, she told me it was my milk ducts getting ready for childbirth, even though I was not pregnant or looking to have kids. My doctor told me that there was a 99 percent chance that it was nothing; however, she wanted me to have a sonogram of my breasts. I am worried and scared that it is breast cancer, considering my grandmother and great-grandmother had it. I just do not know what to do at this point.

Currently, I am on the tablet Zyrtec for allergies and the tablet Flonase. I was not on any medications for this issue before, but a few years ago, I was on a capsule of Prozac for my anxiety attacks. I was also on iron and vitamin D for a long time due to their deficiencies. The laboratory tests were blood tests, and the doctor reported that the results were clear.

Please help.