Hi Stoneroad, bless you, you are very young and I can only imagine your state of mind at the moment. Our minds are complex  and what we feel may be a worsening symptom may likely not be. 

  I would like to believe your age may mean the lump is a cyst, but best to get these things checked out. Knowing your step-mum beat breast cancer must be inspiring for you. 
No one can take away the uncertainty you face until you have the results of your ultrasound and biopsies. 
As hard as it is, please try not to spend your every waking moment in fear and dread. Whatever is the cause of your lump is going to be investigated and a plan of care made for you. 

Sending love and hugs xx

Hi Stoneroad , sorry you find yourself here! Your GP certainly doesn’t seem to have much of a bedside manner but she’s done the right thing in referring you as your lump needs investigating, regardless of your young age.
Firstly, try to remind yourself that the majority of breast lumps are not cancer. Obviously this forum is full of people who did turn out to have cancer, but the majority of folk having lumps investigated will not. From my own experience, I’ve had several breast clinic referrals and most issues turned out to be benign. At 21, my GP referred me as she thought I had ‘nodular’ breasts at a routine examination because I was on the pill. Also I do have a family history of breast cancer. The consultant didn’t even feel that any tests were necessary as all felt normal to him. In my 40s I found a lump and got referred - after many inconclusive tests it was removed, and was a benign fibroadenoma. Some years later I found lumpiness in the other breast - another referral, and an ultrasound showed them to be cysts. They weren’t causing me any problems so were left alone. Finally at 59, I found a thickened area, got referred and it was cancer. I’ve had treatment and am still rattling around this site over 5 years later! 
Your anxieties are totally understandable, it’s the most horribly tortuous time, waiting for appointments and results. At my more recent clinic referral they did tell me after a mammogram and ultrasound, that it looked like cancer. When waiting for the biopsy results, every little twinge, ache or pain was bound to be the cancer, throughout my body. But it wasn’t. Our minds go into overdrive and we imagine all the worst case scenarios. 
I can really only suggest keeping busy while you wait, but will also repeat that most breast investigations have ‘good’ results ie not cancer. But if you also want to be prepared for the possibility that it could be cancer, then remind yourself that treatments have advanced hugely in recent years, even since my diagnosis. 
Wishing you well, and sending a big virtual hug your way, HFxx

Aw thank you so much xx it is hard not to let your mind run away with you and think the worst with every little ache. But the body can ache for allll kinds of different reasons that are totally non-serious. Thank you, as you said, whatever the lump turns out to be, the plan of action is in motion now, and it WILL be treated or removed. Love and hugs back!x

happyfeet thank you so much for filling me in on all the times you’ve had to have biopsies and lump removals before, and all the times it didn’t turn out to be cancer. I think all those smaller lumpectomies and biopsies people have go SO under-discussed among friends. I’ve been surprised how many people I know have had inconclusive lumps lurking around or removed, and just as much people who have had breast cancer when they were younger, and are still rattling around 40 years on after being cleared of it, where breast cancer just hasn’t been a part of their life from then on.

It’s amazing how many people have gone onto live totally normal lives during and after breast cancer, that you just never hear about until you bring it up! 

my step mum also said that actually the worst parts of her cancer journey was just bad thoughts in her head, and the waiting for various appointments and results. The treatments are not scary at all compared to the worst case scenario-ing that goes on in one’s head, that just don’t come to pass!

so I’ll keep that in mind, whatever investigations or treatments that go on, they aren’t scary, and they’re going to get it sorted, and the lump removed or treated

wishing you the best + lots of hugs too, thank you so much for helping and telling me your journey. It’s really reassuring xx <3