Can a 16 yr old get breast cancer?!

Before answering your question you should know that this is most likely not cancer.

Now to answer your question...

It is very rare for a person under the age of 30 to develop breast cancer; in fact, this group only accounts for about 0.5% of all cancers. That being said, it does mean that a person at 16 will not develop breast cancer. Many factors first be considered before deciding if she has cancer...

Did anyone in her family develop breast or ovarian cancer under 30?

Is she eating a large amount of products with trans fat or sugar?

Is she eating lots of red meat?

Does she exercise at least 30 min a day?

Is she drinking or smoking (hopefully not)?

After you consider these factors you should further consider the fact that your friend is 16 and is in a stage of body development; changes to her body such as the growth of lumps occur to almost all teenagers.

To answer your question, should you be worried or scared, the answer is no. All you have to do is present these facts to your friend and help her understand that it's normal to have a lump on her breast during puberty.

The chances of a 16 year old having breast cancer are less than one in one million - which means a 16 year old is statistically more than twice as likely to be struck by lightning than to have breast cancer.

And even in women old enough for breast cancer, most breast lumps aren't cancer; at least 80% of breast lumps considered suspicious enough for testing are found to be benign (non-cancerous)

Pain is very rarely a sign of breast cancer; most people diagnosed with breast cancer have felt no pain at all.

No, your friend shouldn't be scared, and nor should you. The doctor will almost certainly be able to put her mind at ease.

I have had breast cancer, and was classed asa 'younger woman' - because I was only 50, which is pretty young for breast cancer

It would be extremely rare for a 16 year old to have breast cancer. This is more than likely a fibrotic cyst or fibrotic tissue, often caused by too much caffeine intake and is common in young females and has nothing to do with breast cancer. She needs to keep her appointment so her doctor can probably confirm that this is nothing to worry about.

Health care provider

No. That is a cyst. That is good that she has a doctor's appointment. He will put her mind at ease in 5 minutes. Breast Cancer lumps are not painful. (I would have never known I had breast cancer had it not been for my yearly mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy) It was silent, it was painless, and I felt no lump or bump. This is completely hormonal in her case.