Please could you come and talk to me about breast cancer, or the possibility of it?

[philmassive]

To cut a long story short I went to the doctor yesterday to report pain in my breast and she is sending me for a mammogram. I have a 'nodule' in my arm pit which is incredibly painful to touch. I have reported it previously and the doctor at the time told me to stop shaving my arm pits as it might just be an infection which wasn't being allowed to clear.

I am so frightened. Please could someone who knows what will happen to me (not a diagnosis, I don't think any of you are able to do that over the internet) but what the procedures that they might ask me to go through are, and the time periods that I might have to wait, that sort of thing.

Dramaticallly all I can think is that I'll die and my dc's will be motherless. I am so frightened.

Hi, hugs for you because it is bloody frightening and yes I was convinced it was the worst and I was going to die too.

I had a lump and got referred to the local breast clinic. They saw me in just over a week from seeing GP. I had a consultation where they felt it, checked for other lumps then did a needle biopsy which drew out fluid and confirmed it was just a cyst. They made me have a mammogram too just to confirm it was all ok. And they were all lovely and reassuring.

Hi philmassive - sorry to hear you are frightened, it is a scary business having tests, but try to think of it as they will find out what the problem is and deal with it for you.

The things you can expect at the breast clinic are, a mammogram (which obviously you know you are having), possibly you will be seen by a consultant for an examination, they may decide to do a needle biopsy on any lumps that are there - but possibly not at the first appointment - it varies between hospitals. The usual wait for results is about 2 - 3 weeks sometimes a bit less.

I know it's easy to say but try not to panic, lots of breast problems turn out to be nothing to worry about. And if it is breast cancer then that is a very treatable illness.

If you'd like a bit of hand holding and support while you are waiting for results pop over to the tamoxifen thread - we are all women who have had BC and are at many different stages of diagnosis and treatment. So we've been through all the waiting and worrying and know what that is like.

Or I can send over some supportive ladies to chat to you on this thread if you'd rather

Do you have anyone who can go to the appointment with you? - it always helps I think to have a bit of support if possible.

HTH if there's anything I've said that you want more details about just shout

Ooh thanks folks, I am dipping between utter terror and 'calm, calm, it will be nothing', but of course I know that it may well be something and feel like I need to accept that as much as I can. Although I think that that may be impossible.

Would really appreciate the support so will find your thread thanks Kurri. Just suddenly washes over me when I'm least expecting it that I might have to go through this ordeal and start welling up, and don't want to discuss it with RL friends as I'm hoping that it will turn out to be nothing and it will go away.

Thank you both for your replies, it really means alot to know that other people have been through it and are coming out the other side.