Because breast pain can be related to the menstrual cycle, sometimes we advise women that it's OK to wait a month to see if the pain goes away after her period.  However, you are 52 and you have had a hard place, itching, and pain for three weeks, so I would advise you to go ahead and make an appointment with the doctor.  This is a serious enough matter to put the $50 to $100 dollars the doctor is likely to charge for an office visit on a credit card.  You can also check out this information about free and reduced cost mammograms at this link.  If your income is low, there may be free clinics in your community that can help you. 

You might have a cyst or some kind of fungal infection or allergic reaction, so don't panic yet about this being cancer.  You do need to be proactive about finding out what this is.  I hope you get good news.