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Original poster

Worry over breast clinic urgent referral.

57 replies

Exhaustedandworried · 17/05/2025 20:43

Looking for a handhold really as I don’t feel like I’m coping at all.

I’ve been experiencing some mild/moderate pain on and in my breast for a couple of weeks. I went to the doctors who has referred me on the 2 week urgent referral to the breast cancer unit.
The gp found a small lump whilst she was doing the examination.

I don’t feel that I’m coping at all. My appointment is Wednesday. I’m struggling to eat and massively catastrophising. I can’t seem to keep it in perspective. I am in a toxic marriage and I’m terrified I’m going to die and my children will end up left with their Dad. (I know the marriage is an issue within itself but not something I can deal with right now).

I accidentally saw something on Facebook this evening about Hodgkins lymphoma which I’ve terrified myself with this evening. I’m struggling to stop my heart racing.

I feel pathetic writing this as I know I’ve got everything well out of proportion.

The stupid thing is I had breast implant when I was 18 - low self esteem, not a very nice boyfriend who convinced me to do it. They’re well overdue for removal so logically it could quite easily be this.

I just don’t know how I’m going to cope until Wednesday. I’m sat here shaking from the worry of it all.

OP posts:
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Confusedmeanderings · 21/05/2025 22:14

Great news @Exhaustedandworried !

AirborneElephant · 21/05/2025 21:47

Fantastic news 💕. It is natural to be concerned, so you weren’t being silly. But if you feel your anxiety was out of control then it might be worth looking for some CBT or something to help control the catastrophising.

Theshallows1167 · 21/05/2025 21:31

I’m so pleased for you! I had a scare last year and it really put things into perspective. Life is short, make the most of it. Xx

Gustavo77 · 21/05/2025 21:02

That's wonderful news and please don't feel silly, there's absolutely no need. You've been through a very worrying time.

Enjoy a good night's sleep tonight. :)

Topjoe19 · 21/05/2025 20:54

Great so pleased for you that it's nothing concerning. And it's natural to worry, you can't help that. Have a nice treat.

sandrevolutionary · 21/05/2025 19:42

I'm glad you got positive news. Don't beat yourself up about worrying, I think it was understandable. Onwards and upwards.

Tessiebear2023 · 21/05/2025 19:27

Fantastic, great news 👍

You're not silly, it's natural to worry. I suspect your level of panic maybe linked to other stresses in your life right now, so do try to take some time out and maybe get some support if needed.

Original poster
Exhaustedandworried · 21/05/2025 19:01

Hi all, thanks for all your supportive messages. My appointment was this morning and they found absolutely nothing of concern. I feel mightily relieved but also a bit silly for what a state I got myself into. I hope everyone else waiting gets positive answers soon.

OP posts:
Theshallows1167 · 21/05/2025 15:55

I hope all was okay today xx

Tessiebear2023 · 18/05/2025 19:19

If you have no history of early breast cancer in your mother or grandmother, the lump is very unlikely to be cancer. It's far more likely to be a bit of scar tissue from the implant, a cyst, or a "breast mouse" (benign lump common in younger women).

You're under a lot of stress with your dad right now, which is probably causing you to panic more than you would have done normally. You need to try to find something to distract yourself, like watching a film or visiting a friend. Did you say how old you are, sorry if I missed it? If you are over 45 there could be a bit of hormone fluctuations from peri-menopause joining the "party" and causing your cortisol to go through the roof - not a pleasant experience.

I've had a breast mouse myself; I was so impressed with how quickly I was referred in a few days and screened at the hospital, it was all over in an hour - one thing the NHS actually does do very quickly, thankfully. At least you don't have a long wait.

Good luck, I'm sure you don't have anything to worry about.

bringonyourwreckingball · 18/05/2025 19:16

Statistically it most probably isn’t cancer but in case it is I was where you are now 2.5 years ago, it was cancer but whilst getting here has been no picnic I am fine and a long way from leaving my children motherless. Breast cancer caught early is very treatable.

feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 19:10

Exhaustedandworried · 18/05/2025 19:08

@feelingbleh i spoke to an initial call handler at 111 who then got someone from the mental health department to call me. They deemed it appropriate to arrange a telephone call with the out of hours gp who then prescribed the diazepam over the phone.
Just 2 days worth.

That makes more sense if you had an ooh gp appointment. Im glad you got sorted and it will hopefully help you get through until Wednesday

Original poster
Exhaustedandworried · 18/05/2025 19:08

@feelingbleh i spoke to an initial call handler at 111 who then got someone from the mental health department to call me. They deemed it appropriate to arrange a telephone call with the out of hours gp who then prescribed the diazepam over the phone.
Just 2 days worth.

OP posts:
feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 18:49

DarkLindt · 18/05/2025 18:40

What does it matter? @Exhaustedandworried just needs to get through until Wednesday.

Show quote history

Where did i say it mattered. I said i don't know how she got 111 to prescribe a controlled drug to her as its not something they do.

DarkLindt · 18/05/2025 18:40

feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 18:35

I dont know how you got 111 to prescribe a controlled drug especially one that's not on repeat

Show quote history

What does it matter? @Exhaustedandworried just needs to get through until Wednesday.

feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 18:35

Exhaustedandworried · 18/05/2025 17:36

Thanks for the replies. I rang 111 who I felt were very good and they’ve prescribed me a low dose of diazepam.
hopefully it will mean I get some sleep tonight.
At this point I absolutely can’t imagine it being anything other than bad news but I suppose a lot of people feel like that and it ends up being nothing.

I dont know how you got 111 to prescribe a controlled drug especially one that's not on repeat

user1471538283 · 18/05/2025 17:39

No one is resilient when they think it's cancer and I'm not surprised with everything else you are having panic attacks

I've been through this twice and each time it wasn't cancer. I cried with relief.

I do hope it turns out to be a cyst or your implant.

Original poster
Exhaustedandworried · 18/05/2025 17:36

Thanks for the replies. I rang 111 who I felt were very good and they’ve prescribed me a low dose of diazepam.
hopefully it will mean I get some sleep tonight.
At this point I absolutely can’t imagine it being anything other than bad news but I suppose a lot of people feel like that and it ends up being nothing.

OP posts:
feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 15:59

LizzieSiddal · 18/05/2025 11:18

Could you phone 101? They may prescribe you a couple of diazepam or similar just to calm you down. My sister has health anxiety and she has been given these in the past.

Show quote history

Firstly that's the police and 111 will not prescribe diazepam

feelingbleh · 18/05/2025 15:55

Yeah the wait sucks but the 2ww is just a better to be safe then sorry thing they don't actually expect to find anything serious it's just a standard tick box they follow. Iv had this issue twice both times it was a cyst. I bet if you looked at percentages of anything serious being found it would be ridiculously low

Cotswoldmama · 18/05/2025 15:36

2ww is standard for any breast limp, I e been referred 3 times now and had a few lumps in between. Theyve all been fine but always worth checking

Thumbelinahope · 18/05/2025 14:57

Exhaustedandworried · 18/05/2025 10:54

I know this sounds insane but I feel on the verge of a mental breakdown. I can’t stop shaking, I can’t eat I just can’t function.
so sorry you’re going through this too @Thumbelinahope
i’ve talked myself out of going to a&e today as I know they can’t do anything but the panic attacks are awful. I feel like I’m losing my mind. I don’t know why I can’t get a grip on it.

@ExhaustedandworriedI understand :( I've spent two weeks unable to function. I even called in sick to work because it's eating away at me. Last night I was poking and prodding. The lump is big and hard. When I went to the GP she said she will get me into the breast clinic as an urgent referral, which I assumed was 2 weeks, which it is, but it's a 4 week wait for me and I don't know why. It really is a dark and lonely road :( my arm pit feels swollen, but doesn't look swollen, but the left breast looks much fuller than the right.
I am praying for a good outcome for us. I'll be thinking of you.

I do have a story of a positive outcome. My partners cousin, a young lady in her 30s had a lump, plus the skin on her breast became puckered and pulled in forming a dent. She had to wait a long time to get the final outcome. It turned out it was a large cyst.

Verite1 · 18/05/2025 14:23

Don’t worry- urgent referral is standard. My GP referred me on the 2 week pathway even though he was almost positive it was nothing (and he was right)!

DarkLindt · 18/05/2025 14:20

NICE guidelines say anyone with a breast lump should be seen within 2 weeks. The urgent referral doesn’t mean the GP has felt anything sinister.

vincettenoir · 18/05/2025 11:50

GPs are very risk averse when it comes to breast cancer and they use the 2WR very liberally for those within a broad age range. I hope everything is ok, breast changes are relatively common and there’s lots of possible explanations. Good luck.

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