To ask you to share experiences of breast lumps?

[youreminepontipine]

I have a small, hard, pea sized lump in my breast, it's a bit like a bead under the skin. It's been there for a while, I thought at first it might be hormonal, or maybe a blocked pore or something, but it's not shifting. I gate going to the doctor, and have been puttjng off going, or telling anyone about this, but I've got my head around the fact that I have to, really. I confided in some good friends who were v supportive, and in my husband who was typically noncommittal, and am going to rhbg the surgery tomorrow to get an appt.

I know it's likely up be benign, especially given my age (early 30s) but have literally just lost my best friend's mum to BC, so crap timing really! I have been really depressed the last few weeks. It would be really helpful if anyone who has been through the process of having a lump checked would be willing to share what happened, I will feel more confident seeing the dr if I know what is likely to happen #controlfreak.

Thank you.

[ShutTheFrontDoor]

I found a hard pea size lump that didn't move. Rang the doctor, got an appt same day, the doctor just examined me and confirmed it was a lump and referred me to hospital. I was seen within a week and it was a cyst.

I didnt tell anyone as I didn't want sympathy for something that might turn out to be nothing.

I don't understand why you would wait? It is probably nothing but if it's not then you aren't doing yourself any favours. Why risk it?

[Leena49]

You need to go to doc definitely. First stage go to doctors. The earlier you go the better. Take it one stage at time but you must go.

[Nanny0gg]

Go to the doctor!

I had lumps - many. All benign, although one was painful so they drained it. I am a coward and a very bad patient, but staff at breast clinics know how scared people are and are very kind and gentle.

I had a mammogram and ultrasound. Uncomfortable but okay.

Ring tomorrow!

[SmellyFartado]

My experience - I found a lump in my breast - like yours, it was a pea sized one. I have lost a lot of people to cancer so was terrified on finding it. I called the doctor on the Monday and had an appointment with the local hospital very quickly after this - within 2wks from memory. I went in and had a scan and luckily I was fine - it was a very blocked milk duct. Lots of massage and it eventually went away.

Please go and get yours checked as soon as you can. Best of luck

[SoldeInvierno]

does it hurt? According to my doctor, the worse ones are the ones that don't hurt. I've had 2 lumps on the past which have turned out to be just "water" lumps. Do go to the doctor ASAP. If is nothing, then great. If it turns out to be something serious, you don't want to waste time thinking at home.

Normally, they'll send you for a biopsy and a mammogram. They are both a bit uncomfortable but not painful. Both times I've had the results within a couple of day.

[SmellsLikeTeenStrop]

What happened with me was that because I'd recently had mastitis I was asked to leave it a couple of weeks and come back if it hadn't disappeared. It didn't so I went back to the doctor and got referred to the hospital, this doctor said it was a blocked milk duct but I insisted on an ultra sound and a few days later got one, it wasn't a blocked milk duct it was actually a swollen montgomery tubercle but either way not life threatening.

I'm glad I went for my own piece of mind, it took a while for the lump to disappear and I know if I hadn't gone to the doctors I would have made myself sick with worry over it.

[gordyslovesheep]

I had a pea sized one on my boob above and left of the nipple - didn't hurt, didn't move - it was a cyst - GP took one look and confirmed it - please don;t worry but DO see your GP

[gordyslovesheep]

Oh and I had neither a Biopsy or a Mammogram x

[Hattie23]

I went through this a few weeks ago. It is scary at the time but everyone i met was lovely.

I went to the gp. Male dr so one of the lady receptions came in as chaperone. He gently checked my lump (which was quite large and painful). He explained what he was doing every step and was incredibly professional.

Dr thought it most likely an infected cyst but he asked if i wanted to see a specialist. I said yes and he put in the referral there and then. I chose the hospital i wanted to be seen at.

This kind of consultation means you must be seen within 2 weeks and i was. So at the appointment i was seen by a lovely clinical nurse specialist. She explained first exactly what would happen during the apppointment and gave me time to ask questions. She did a thorough examination and also thought cysts (plural - she found lumps i hadn't).

So next was a mammogram. I'm pretty small and was expecting it to be really painful but it wasn't. Uncomfortable yes but not painful. 10 mins later and i saw a dr who did an ultrasound. Again she explained how it worked and what she was looking for. She already had the mammogram result and thought cysts too.

Finally back to the original clinical nurse specialist who by then had results from mammogram and ultrasound and written confirmation from dr that i had several harmless cysts.

I was there for 2 hours altogether - went in thinking the worst, came out knowing exactly what was going on.

Like i say every staff member i met was super kind, they knew i was in bits. They were supportive and quick acting.

Its so worth getting checked out. Deep breath and go for it. I felt better just by arriving for my appointment.

Hth
Good luck.

[EverlongYouAreGoldAndOrange]

It probably is a cyst. But you need to know that for sure.

Please go to your gp's ASAP.

I found a weird lump when ds5 was about 2 months old. I went to the doctor and expected her to say it's nothing but she sent me to get it checked straight away. It was nothing.

Please go.

[PoppyWearer]

I had a blocked milk duct, like a previous poster. I got an appointment for the next week, had an ultrasound and the consultant lanced it then and there, problem solved.

I hope your case is as straightforward.

[Hattie23]

Receptions = receptionist

[MrsKwazii]

Sorry to hear about your friend's Mum and that you've been worried, do get that appointment though because the sooner you're seen, the sooner any necessary action can be taken.

I was 32 when I had on and off shooting pain in my breast, running up to my armpit. Left it a week or so to see if it was just a muscle but it carried on so went to my GP. He examined both breasts (female receptionist chaperoned, sitting on other side of curtain so didn't see anything) and he thought he could feel a lump. There have been cases of breast cancer on both sides of my family (all successfully treated) so he wanted to check it out further.

I was seen at my local hospital within two weeks for an ultrasound, and told it looked like cysts - this was confirmed within a week by the consultant. Told me that there should be no problems with them as they were relatively small but also advised me to switch to a POP pill rather than the combined pill. Had no problems since.

Everyone I saw was professional and put me at ease. They took me seriously and were quick to put my mind at rest. The NHS seems to be very clued up on investigating breast lumps so you should be seen quickly. Hope it is just a cyst - take care and hope you get lots of support at home too. It's very easy to think the worst, hopefully it won't be.

[invicta]

I found a lump in June. With breast lumps, you are guaranteed to see a hospital consultant within two weeks after being referred by you go.

I had a mammogram and biopsy. Everyone is very professional, and if there is a male doctor, a female chaperone is always at hand.

Unfortunately, my lump was cancerous. Despite this, it hasn't been too bad. After seeing the doctors, we always saw a bc nurse who gave us advice and can answer any questions.

Within a couple of months of my first appointment, I had a lumphectomy which was day surgery. I don't need chemo but will need radiotherapy.

Overall, the whole process has been good. The doctors are all pleasant and professionals, and the appointments come close together which is good. You get usedmtomflashing your boobs, but it's all dignified. The biopsies and mammograms are uncomfortable, but the dentist is far worst.


Don't panic. As everyone else has said, it could be a harmless cyst. If it is something more sinister, the NHS is brilliant for bc, and in most cases, it is curable.

[youreminepontipine]

Thanks, your stories are really helping. Invicta, I hope your treatment goes smoothly.

Shutthefrontdoor, I've been avoiding it because I've been treated really badly by a former GP and was afraid of being lambasted as a timewaster..

[Iburntthecakes]

ALL women with a breast lump are sent for a breast clinic appointment within 2 weeks - no one will think it's a waste of time.

[halcyondays]

I've had about 3 lumps that all turned out to be harmless cysts. None of them hurt. I think they say that 9 out of 10 lumps turn out to be perfectly harmless, but of course ou do need to have it checked out just in case.

[Orenishii]

I had a lump between my left breast and armpit. I got an appointment with the doctor, who could also feel it, and referred me to the clinic within a week. They really don't hang around and no one will think you're over-reacting, being a control freak or anything like that :)

Mine turned out to be scar tissue in the chest muscle from too much training in martial arts But the whole thing - seeing the GP, being referred, being seen by the specialist clinic - happened very quickly, efficiently and handled all very calmly. I was super impressed with it. So please don't worry, from other posts on this thread that seems standard - just get it checked out, and take it from there.

[Hattie23]

Whatever it turns out to be, you are not a timewaster.

[nightowlmostly]

Just found this, I'm debating whether to go to the GP tomorrow as well!

I found a lump in my breast about 10 days ago. It feels like regular breast tissue but like when you're premenstrual, a big lumpy bit. But it's not the right time of the month, there aren't any others, and it doesn't hurt at all.

I was leaving it for a bit to see if it would go away, if it was hormonal maybe, but it's not shifting. I had a baby 5 months ago, so maybe it's something to do with that. Does anyone know if it sounds sinister? I've looked into lumps and bumps over the last few days but it's hard to figure it out.

OP you've got to go to the GP, but you know that!

[holyfishnets]

Lots of friends (about 8 or 9) have had B lumps checked out but only one was cancerous. She is still with us ten years down the line.

[Teamthrills]

I found a pea sized, hardish lump a few yrs ago. Was referred to hospital. It was examined by specialist, then went for ultrasound & finally had a biopsy, which I found to be completely painless. The lump turned out to be a benign cyst.

Do get it checked out asap.

[katiegolightly]

Go to the doctor! It'll be a quick and painless examination and a referral for an ultrasound or mamogram. Don't think being referred is bad news, everyone gets referred :)

The VAST majority of these are benign cysts. I had the same, twice - mid twenties. I was quite panicky but told my mum and one or two others only to find out so many people had the same - all benign, just one of those things.

It's far more common than people expect, and everyone only ever hears the worst stories that are more sinister.

Have it checked out, even when benign they often give you the option for it to be removed if it bothers you. Mine remains in many years later!

[nightowlmostly]

Are these things always pea sized? Genuine question, what I'm worried about is a bit bigger than that. I'm convincing myself it's nothing!

[MushroomSoup]

I'm not telling this to panic you but my lump turned out to be a cancer. My point is, if you are one of the very very few people for whom the lump is not a cyst, you need to be getting it seen to as early as you can.
I had a biopsy and a mammogram on my first visit (uncomfortable but not painful) and we took it from there. I am now free from cancer and doing well. I was 36 at the time, 41 now.
It is rare for it to be BC at a young age but it's important not to shy away from the GP because of 'what might be'. It's most likely nothing serious, but taking it seriously may save your life, as it did mine.
You will be treated with dignity and respect all the way through and nobody will see you as a time waster.
Good luck xx