Private healthcare or NHS route for lump

[NoTimeToBeUnwell]

I think I've found a lump in my breast.

I'm wondering if I need a scan of some sort to check it out do you think I should stick NHS or go private?

I've heard some patients who went private struggled to get back in on the NHS quickly.

Could I just have a scan privately and then go back to NHS with results?

The breast cancer process for nhs is surprisingly fast. If that's what they suspect you should be seen quickly.
Fwiw the vast majority of breast lumps are benign. Hopefully yours is too.

I would only recommend private if you already have cover.

The NHS is brilliant for breast cancer.
Go see your GP. Ask their advice and waiting times. Tell them you have private cover and I f they think it will take too long for your circumstances , they’ll tell you so

I had my lumps checked out privately a few weeks ago. We already had cover. From discovering the lump to consultation was two days. Saved an awful lot of worry. Now I have a new lump, and I'm pretty sure this is a cyst as the last was, so happy to wait two weeks on NHS. I just called the GP for a direct referral - no problems. Good luck OP

NHS is good for this. You’ll be referred to the breadt clinic on a 2 week wait (don’t worry, this is what they do for all lumps). They usually do all the tests needed for diagnosis on the day. Almost all of them turn out not to be serious.

See your gp and they’ll refer you. Tell the receptionist the reason and they should fit you in as an “emergency” although again, don’t let that scare you too much. It’s inportant to have it checked quickly.

Thank you for your responses.im going to call the GP for an appointment and see what they say.

What do cysts feel like?

Mines do painful I've heard that could be a good sign.. but I'm also missing a gene so im moderate risk.

So I would get results after the scan? That would be great not having to wait

Private care is just a less joined-up version of an NHS pathway anyway, except with shoddy aftercare based on your consultant emailing the nurse or HCP treatment options without ever actually seeing the patient firsthand. Oh, and you have the pleasure of dropping a big wodge of cash for the privilege. That's been my experience of private care anyway.

Stick with the NHS.

I'm only NHS admin but in my experience some specialties work a lot better than others privately. Oncology really isn't one of them, the NHS is pretty strict about timings between referrals, diagnosis and treatment and (obviously worst case scenario here, most lumps are not cancer) oncology takes a multidisciplinary approach which is hard to do privately.

Now for one off surgery type stuff like hip replacements or something where you just need to see a specialist every couple of months and get blood tests and a prescription private can be better.

Say to the receptionist that you have found a new breast lump and you’re at an increased risk so you’d like to see a gp/have a phone consultation today. Mine fitted me in the next day when this happened to me.

What do you mean by “I’m missing a gene”?

My GP told me that in my area the time and level of care is the same, but private is in more comfortable surroundings and your convenience. I choose private as it could all happen in the evening or my lunch hours.

NHS does sound better.

@purpledaisies Its only a moderate increase. It's a long story but I have a deletion of CHEK2 gene.

Luckily if you call at 8am I should get a GP app this morning

Stick to NHS unless there's a huge long wait for anything along the way if it does turn out to be something to worry about

My friend gets lots of breast cysts and finds them very painful - I hope this is the same you're feeling and it's just a cyst, she usually has an ultrasound and they often drain the cyst making the pain stop

Good luck

@purpledaises with that gene change zinc need to have yearly mammograms from 40.
But I'm only 34 do I'm hoping it's a cyst or something but I've no idea what that should feel like.

@flumpybear thank you that sounds promising

It’s almost certainly a cyst but you’re doing the right thing by getting it checked. The official guidelines say anyone with a new lump over the age of 30 should be referred on a 2 week wait so the surgery need to accommodate that. They’ll be used to it so should have a protocol for getting you seen quickly to be referred.

You'll probably be sent to the hospital breast clinic for a scan and needle biopsy

Do you mean a CHEK2 mutation? This can cause a bit extra increase, quick look on net says 2 fold which is not masses so try not to let thst information worry you too much - it's not like a 20 fold increase in likelihood

Are you able to ask your GP for some support with regular testing for cancer markers, mammogram etc? Maybe worth an ask so you can keep ahead if problems IF they do occur?!

Let us know how you get on, good luck

My breast lumpmwas a benign cyst.

The NHS breast clinic was excellen. I was referred on the 2 week rule, and on appointment day, it was a really smooth progression from consultation/physical exam, ultrasound/mammogram, at which time they were able to confirm benign cyst which shouid settle in a couple of weeks (which it did).

Had they not been sure, then the next stop would have been biopsy and a further consultation about what might be going on, plus making appointment to get results.

There's a brilliant support thread in 'general health' for those being tested for cancer or living with cancer. I lurked there during my scare.

OP, my cyst was big (over 1cm), and long. It was sore more than painful - because it was putting pressure on the tissue around it. It was also very smooth. This one is similar although not as big. Apparently, cysts can be common with hormonal fluctuations. The consultant said mine may have been exacerbated by recent stressful life events.

Private care is just a less joined-up version of an NHS pathway anyway, except with shoddy aftercare based on your consultant emailing the nurse or HCP treatment options without ever actually seeing the patient firsthand. Oh, and you have the pleasure of dropping a big wodge of cash for the privilege. That's been my experience of private care anyway.

My experience is totally different. Everything dealt with by the consultant of your choice, dealt with quickly, results the same or next day, plenty of time to discuss treatment options instant access to the consultant and secretary with their emails. Far more efficient than any NHS treatment I’ve ever had.

Nhs - brill for breast cancer and you you’ll get a fast tracked appointment (had bc seven years ago this summer)

Hope it’s nothing sinister and you’re okay. Discovering the lump and waiting for the first appointments is horrible.

@flumpybear

Yes I have CHEK 2 1100 delC I think it is.

The genetically told me when I turn 40 just go for yearly mammograms and that was it.
I've been checking since I found out. She said moderate risk. I've seen that 2 fold thing but didn't understand the actual probability of it all.
I didn't get anything else because it was all for my son the reason we had tests.

Thank you

What happens on a needle biopsy?

I have loads of head and neck pain which is another issue I'm going through I think pulled muscle or trapped nerve .I have nuerology later. This wouldn't be related at all would it?