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Original poster

Come reassure me, just found a lump

212 replies

Notimeforaname · 08/02/2021 22:54

In my right armpit.
Its very sore to touch/press lightly.

I suddenly noticed the pain about an hour ago and there's a visible red mark where the lump is. Its definitely not an ingrown hair as it doesn't hurt if I drag my finger across the hair follicles if you get me,its definitely in my armpit/a lymph node possibly?

But I've had some other issues over the last few weeks which are really concerning me now.

About 6 weeks ago I started getting pain in that right shoulder,like it was the rotator cuff or something was trapped if I I tried using my full range of motion. I just got on with things. It didn't go away.
For the last two weeks I've had more severe shooting pains in that shoulder and arm.
My neck has been stiff and painful on and off and some small stabbing pains in different parts of my chest and shoulders (sometimes both sides). On and off through the day.
I have lost about 8lbs in the last 3 weeks..I have lost my appetite a little... But I still eat.

Now this coming up in my armpit is freaking me out and I have stabbing pains in my arm/shoulder/armpit area as I write.
The pains are quite strong now. And if I raise my hand above my head...it feels like I'm tugging on the lump kind of..like the lump wont allow me to get my arm up all the way. If that makes sense.

My whole upper arm feels heavy and sore as well as the stabbing pains.

I'm going to call my doctor in the morning and beg to be seen.

My partner was here when I found it. He tried his best to calm me down. I had a shower and got myself together.
He's asleep now and I'm starting to let my mind wander and I really don't want to start crying and panic again so if any of you nice people have any advice,words of encouragement or perhaps a similar story to mine that might help me out do please leave it here.

Thank you so much, I can attach a lovely picture of my pit if it helpsConfused but it just shows up as a small red patch on the photo so not very helpful.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 19/03/2021 12:38

I feel like for my own sanity..I should just try to ignore it and wait for the calls. I mean I've gone private..and public. And this is where I am.

The stress of calling up to be treated like a fool and told to wait again would be too much for me.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 19/03/2021 12:35

Stuck in a *

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 19/03/2021 12:35

Babamamananarama
I've just read your post now. I feel like I'm stick inna back and forward...I'm thinking 'this doesn't feel right ,call up and push them'' but then when I do, I'm sneered at.
And because this man works both the public and private hospital,I'm terrified he will get the wrong impression of me or my doctors will have said something and they wont take me seriously as my own gp doesn't now.

I dont want to bite the hand that feeds so to speak...or piss anyone off. It seems the more I show up at hospitals enquiring for scans and calling for advice I'm having more eyes rolled at me and told to stop.

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 19/03/2021 12:27

Hi all. Thanks for the support.

I know people can be quick to have a go at doctors and they get a lot of crap but this woman must hate her life.
She was miserable when I was a small child and she's still miserable now.

I feel like,if I start making complaints now, it'll make me look crazy.
My family friend said doctors do make little notes at the end of our referrals if they think someone is not being genuine or prone to exaggeration.
And from the way my doctor spoke to me,she's got the wrong impression of me.

She probably thinks I found a lump and am running with it.

In not sure she even knows it was a doctor who found the breast lump and not me!!

It sounded like on the phone
...that she 'had my number' thought I was looking for attention and getting 'excited ' Hmm

My family member offered to ask again in hospital for my xray to be moved up but as I've been told several times to wait...I dont want anyone to ask anything because that too will make me look like 'a dog with a bone'

Jesus I fucking hate when you get off on the wrong foot or someone gets the wrong impression of you and theres no time to redeem yourself Hmm

OP posts:
Babamamananarama · 19/03/2021 12:20

OP I think you should just take yourself to A and E and ask for a chest X-ray. I wish I'd done that. A chest X-ray is really really easy for the hospital to organise and once you are there they won't send you home.

Your GP is being complacent. Again, I don't want to scare you but you do have red flags for lymphoma. Lymphoma can grow VERY fast. If I had taken myself to A and E a week earlier, when my friends were nagging me to do so, I wouldn't have progressed to be a medical emergency and at immediate risk of a stroke or aneurysm because of the size of the mass pressing on my major veins, which I was by the following weekend when I finally got into the hospital for an X-ray and CT scan.

I have everything crossed that you have something much more minor going on but your GP's dismissal of this is frankly terrifying me.

ColonelNobbyNobbs · 19/03/2021 01:09

Fucking hell notime gp sounds awful. I did the exact same thing when I found a lump a few years ago i.e. had a private and public consultation and my doctor supported it as he knows the system is so rubbish.

Mine turned out to be a sebaceous cyst/nothing serious so hopefully yours is the same.

JohannaC · 19/03/2021 00:51

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IwishIwasontheN17 · 18/03/2021 22:04

That GP sounds appalling. I hope you’re not left waiting long OP. I had tests in the Beacon recently and found they were pretty prompt.

InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 18/03/2021 18:10

@JohannaC

Probably a lymph node.
Yes but OP has more than one swollen lymph node including in her neck and the other armpit. And the consultant said he was concerned about her swollen lymph nodes and chest/torso. As she is quite young I imagine he may want to rule out lymphoma (sorry OP I'm not trying to scare you, probably really unlikely), which is why it's so frustrating that they can't seem to even get a bloody chest X-ray done!
JohannaC · 18/03/2021 17:58

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Druidlookingidiot · 18/03/2021 17:52

@Notimeforaname

Hi lighteincastlewindow I dont have health insurance but did/do have the money to pay for all tests that day at the private hospital. The Doctor insisted he send me back to public even though I could have paid.

I have had my bloods done last week and my own GP sent me a text today to say the results were Satisfactory. And to let her know when I've had my appointment for my xray and ultrasound. Still waiting to hear for those.

I spoke to my own gp for the first time in 2 years,yesterday evening(it was a stand in GP who found the lump and referred me originally)
I called my gp surgery yesterday afternoon and spoke to receptionist, I told her I had a lot of pain and discomfort in both my armpits now and I have felt another small pea sized lump in the other armpit ....and that I am not sleeping or eating and what should I do ,should I keep trying to contact the hospital or should I wait ? (My family friend who is a GP told me to keep pushing and asking for advice) receptionist said dr would call me back.

Well...she did,she called at 6.45pm yesterday...I went through the whole thing with her, I got a bit upset on the phone saying I was trying to avoid this by going private and now what should I do...?

She said ....''You seem to be getting very excited there Notimeforaname, getting way ahead of yourself, sure what do you expect to be done the night before Patrick's day..a bank holiday.?? You need take a paracetamol or something like that and just wait''.... I felt so dumb. Like a fucking moron

That's disgusting, please complain to the Practice Manager. I'm so sorry you've been treated like that.
InSpaceNooneCanHearYouScream · 18/03/2021 17:44

I think your doctor's got a fucking cheek being snotty with you. If I were you I would remind them it is now over 5 weeks since you first made contact and the medical profession have yet to complete even basic diagnostic tests on what should surely be red flag cancer pathway symptoms. I would start making a huge fuss right about now.....good luckThanks

Oodilallygolly · 18/03/2021 16:34

Sorry you’re having a stressful time at the moment- it must be really worrying waiting to hear the news.
Just remember that even at biopsy stage, a big majority of biopsies come back with a no cancer result Flowers

Original poster
Notimeforaname · 18/03/2021 16:31

My GP also passed a snotty remark about being in both the private and public systems.

Had she had any people skills at all,I would have been able to explain to her why I had been to both.

I had been reassured by my family friend and a lady who worked at the private hospital,that it was ok to hang onto any previous appointments I had made,public or private.

I was worried at the start that it would look bad..like I had a finger in every pie...but was assured it was ok. Blush

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 18/03/2021 16:24

Also lighteincastlewindow I'm sorry you've had to go through so much - as a child and adult.

I'm glad to hear you were treated successfully. How are you now ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Notimeforaname · 18/03/2021 16:21

Hi lighteincastlewindow I dont have health insurance but did/do have the money to pay for all tests that day at the private hospital. The Doctor insisted he send me back to public even though I could have paid.

I have had my bloods done last week and my own GP sent me a text today to say the results were Satisfactory. And to let her know when I've had my appointment for my xray and ultrasound. Still waiting to hear for those.

I spoke to my own gp for the first time in 2 years,yesterday evening(it was a stand in GP who found the lump and referred me originally)
I called my gp surgery yesterday afternoon and spoke to receptionist, I told her I had a lot of pain and discomfort in both my armpits now and I have felt another small pea sized lump in the other armpit ....and that I am not sleeping or eating and what should I do ,should I keep trying to contact the hospital or should I wait ? (My family friend who is a GP told me to keep pushing and asking for advice) receptionist said dr would call me back.

Well...she did,she called at 6.45pm yesterday...I went through the whole thing with her, I got a bit upset on the phone saying I was trying to avoid this by going private and now what should I do...?

She said ....''You seem to be getting very excited there Notimeforaname, getting way ahead of yourself, sure what do you expect to be done the night before Patrick's day..a bank holiday.?? You need take a paracetamol or something like that and just wait''.... I felt so dumb. Like a fucking moron

OP posts:
lighteincastlewindow · 16/03/2021 23:30

Hi OP, do you have health insurance? You are now in the Irish limbo land between private consultant who works in public care and if you can at all get the tests done privately. If they show something or nothing, you will know what you are dealing with. The system is quite unbelievable, but if something shows then waiting time becomes the problem of the consultant. I wish you well. I had 2 tumours removed (also had childhood cancer, so not unexpected) but on the public waiting list I was given an appointment in 2.5 years time even with history of cancer and had to go private, seen, diagnosed and operated on within a 5 month period.

Original poster
Notimeforaname · 11/03/2021 18:19

Thanks a million M0rT Smile

OP posts:
M0rT · 11/03/2021 17:26

@Notimeforaname sorry to hear about all the confusion with your x-ray. I think he probably just forgot to get you in the system.
In a weird way hopefully it's good news though, I was once sent for a second x-ray in the afternoon having had the first that morning as they were worried. So these appointments do appear when they think something is up.
Once he gets your x-ray request in you can see if your family can get you bumped up the list.
Hang in there, the waiting is the worst bit!

Original poster
Notimeforaname · 11/03/2021 17:00

Oh that's really positive Babamamananarama !
With an attitude like yours, I have no doubt you will barrel through these chemo rounds. 💕
As I saw with my best friend..it was always her positivity and unbreakable spirit that helped carry her through the difficult days. She's back to full health now and even more positive about life than she ever was before😊
I would love to keep up with your progress, wishing you the best of luck!!💕

OP posts:
Babamamananarama · 11/03/2021 16:25

I’m ok OP. Had a really scary hospital admission as an emergency and stayed in for a round of chemo. Back at home now and feeling much much better than I have in weeks. 5 more rounds of chemo to go but I’m feeling overall quite positive about the success rate they’ve given me.

But it could have been very different as I was really poorly by the time the X-ray caught it, which is why your thread has alarmed me.

Original poster
Notimeforaname · 11/03/2021 14:56

Babamamananarama I was quietly wondering this to myself,thank you.

I have family in the hospital who are trying to find out some infor for me by the end of the day.

I'm so sorry you've had this diagnosis..how are you at the moment? I will be thinking of you from here on out Flowers

Thank you dontgobaconmyheart for taking the time to share your experience and reassurance. It means a lot.Smile 💕

OP posts:
Babamamananarama · 11/03/2021 14:02

Notimeforaname I really really want you to have an X-ray. Can you ring back and push hard for an X-ray ASAP??

I have skin in the game here as I've just had a diagnosis of lymphoma which was discovered on X-ray and I was very lucky that my husband pushed my Gp hard to brought it forward a week.

Lymphoma is really tricky to spot and often gets missed. I just want that possibility ruled out for you.

dontgobaconmyheart · 11/03/2021 13:15

I recently had similar OP, the pain was actually quite significant. Called my GP after a few days, went in to be physically examined. GP referred me immediately to the breast clinic as a precaution who saw me within two weeks. They were very clear that pain is rare with breast cancer as an initial symptom and that it was likely a cyst or similar, prescribed antibiotics for a week while I waited for my appointment.

At the appointment I had another examination and breast ultrasound (apparently it is a mammogram if you are older) and diagnosed with several complex cysts in the breasts that were currently not inflamed, so the antibiotics presumably helped. I was advised to consider coming off the pill as the extra oestrogen can cause the cysts to fill and become sore around the menstrual cycle and told to see my GP again if the problem returned severely to discuss but it was likely a 'hormonal blip' so said the breast consultant.

Couple of months later the lumps and soreness have all but gone anyway.

I was never overly concerned as it was made so clear to me that the fact there was pain indicated cancer was unlikely. Tests were a welcome precaution and ruled it out swiftly. Hopefully you can experience the same Flowers

Original poster
Notimeforaname · 11/03/2021 12:29

Hi all.
Went to public hospital yesterday for bloods and xrays.
Did the bloods but xray couldn't find me on the system.
I went to receptionist in breast care to explain I had seen their consultant in a private hospital 2 days prior and he'd sent me here. She said he would be in shortly so I waited.

She did speak to him and he said that he never told me I would be having the chest xray the same day as my bloods Confused(I swear he told me I could do them both same day)
She said he actually had my file in his hand and was reviewing it to decide what needed to be done. (I thought it was clear..have the bloods and chest xray first whilst waiting to be bumped up for ultrasound on lump) so I left feeling a bit confused again. They just said to wait for a call from somebody.

When I was at the xray desk they said I was in the system for an ultrasound but there was no date next to it yet.
So it's just waiting again now.

Im now starting to feel like I should have pushed in the private hospital and just insisted they do the ultrasound and biopsy. But then again doctor's advice is best. Ah..I just thought I could pay the worry away,this one time...but it seems we've to just wait around.

I am in no way ungrateful though!!
I understand there are people in much worse situations and indeed people who are very sick being left to wait horrendous lengths of time to be seen or helped.

I suppose it helped when I had actual dates in place for next appointments etc but hey ho nothing to do now except try to remain as positive as possible...you lovely people have definitely been running that department for me the last few weeks!SmileWink So thanks again for all your supportive words and advice 💕

OP posts: