Sudden large breast lump. Any reassurance?

[Residentdove2020]

Looking for similar stories. I'm 47 & have had a sudden hard breast 'mass' come up within a week Have never had a breast lump before & been slightly startled at the size & speed it arrived.

GP has measured it at 8cm & I'm on the (THREE!) week wait referral to Breast Clinic. Obviously trying not to panic, but I have lots of autoimmune stuff going on & health is very very poor anyway.

Good chance it’s a cyst. Very painful and can be drained.

You’ve done the right thing going to the gp so it’s good you will get seen quickly and reassured that it’s ok, or given tests if they need to check it out a bit further.

Three weeks isn’t that long a wait. I know it feels like months though!

I get these all the time. I’m in my 40s. I’ve had them checked at the hospital a few times, always benign. Last time I went the consultant said I was just prone to them, but should keep getting them checked out. Mine are never painful and always eventually disappear of their own accord. Hopefully yours will be fine.

I have had and still get various benign lumps in my breasts that I don't even bother getting checked anymore. I probably should, but I just think if they are smooth and painful (linked with hormones) then I don't bother now.

Mm, thing is no pain at all. And so hard, so if it's a cyst that's a lot of fluid. So quickly. GP said might be a fibroadenoma?

Thanks for answering, it helps to 'talk'. We've just lost someone to cancer, so I don't want to worry anyone unnecessarily.

I had a lump appear suddenly a few years ago. It turned out to be some form of fatty deposit, I can’t remember the technical term. I’d started a new exercise class so I think that had caused it. It was hard and painless and gradually went down. The waiting is hard, but most lumps turn out to be benign. Good luck.

Wowser. All breast lumps are fast tracked so don't let the speed unduly worry you. Faster you get seen the quicker you know what it is. Chances are high it's nothing to worry about but it's a horrible wait. Fingers crossed all is well!

Thanks CharBart. I'm glad to hear that.

Thanks Beamur. Have to laugh at the 'speed' comment. Had to wait a week for a F2F GP appointment, then 5 days for a call for a 3 week hospital wait. Feels like forever. Especially when I'm not well enough to get on with normal life & try & forget about it

I had this two weeks ago, but mine was very red and hot and painful - almost like mastitis, except that it was around the nipple (not in a "segment"), and I stopped breastfeeding over 5 years ago! Obviously, I got myself into a state, convinced that it was inflammatory breast cancer. I didn't have a temperature but went to the GP immediately, half expecting to be told off for wasting their time. To my surprise, the GP took it seriously - agreed that there was a lump, and referred me to the breast clinic - I got an appointment 2 weeks afterwards. She also prescribed antibiotics but said not to take them unless I developed a temperature or other sign of infection.

In the 12 days since I saw the GP, the redness and pain has gone away, and now I can't feel the lump any more, despite it being clearly palpable to me and the GP . But I'm still going to the breast clinic next week, just hoping to be told that it was an infected cyst or suchlike.

I was referred to the breast clinic nearly 10 years ago, and diagnosed with a benign lactating adenoma. The people there were brilliant and said that the vast majority of women referred to them (something huge, like over 95%) do not have anything worrying - breast lumps are really common. So fingers crossed that yours is also just a cyst or benign lump .

Dd has a lot of autoimmune stuff and is prone to Big cysts, size of a large egg. Hers tend to be really tender if press on them. They’re rock solid as well. Hopefully yours is just a cyst too.

Thanks mackerella. You must be so relieved that's gone down. Sounds nasty. I think you're very sensible to keep your appointment. Best of luck too!

Sorry, that was meant to be reassuring for you, rather than all about me .

Also: where are you, OP? If you're in England, they should see you within 2 weeks, not 3, so I'd push to be seen sooner if possible. Not sure what the case is in Scotland, Wales or NI, though.

Sorry to hear your DD has autoimmune shiteness going on too JacobReesMogadishu. Yep, mine is rock hard too. Interesting you say that, thanks for replying.

I remember being told at the breast clinic once that the vast vast majority of their patients did not have cancerous lumps. A private consultant once told me that nothing changes quickly in the breast. I had paid to see her quickly but she said that a few more weeks wouldn't make much difference if it had have been cancer.

Hey mackerella you were being reassuring just replying! Feels less lonely

This happened to me when I was 47 as well.

The lump was so big ithought HOW have i not noticed this before.

I had a cyst drained and i saw about 30 mls of yellow liquid in the syringe they used to drain it.

In the South East, but not London. They apologised & said it was currently a three week wait

Thanks LabiaMinoraPissusFlapus (how great is that name )

Let's hope your consultant is right.

Oh wow BeChuille That's a lot. Did you ever find out what the fluid was & why it happened? I'm very curious about 'the unexplained' in the body as there must be a reason!

Hope its nothing serious, @Residentdove2020. I'm currently waiting for results of another biopsy I had this week so I can understand how you feel waiting. 🤞

I have a lump, had a mamgramme, told it,s probably hormonal. it,s still a bit uncomfortable but nothing seriouse. Hopefully yours will be fine.

I had similar when I was 20, (now had lumpy for 10 years) I foundine when I was in the shower and felt a lump thought it was in my loofah but it wasn't.

I went to the hospital I think it was about 2 or 3 weeks wait from GP referral. My doctor was concerned as it was (still is a sizable lump) about the size of a walnut (but hard to describe tbh!) they did a ultrasound and a biopsy and it turned out to be a fibroadenoma (fatty fibrey lump basically, which is totally non cancerous and not dangerous atall).

I was given the option of surgery to remove it or I could leave it as it won't cause harm or issues with breastfeeding for instance, but as it doesn't cause any harm I haven't had surgery.

I know it's easier said than done but don't panic or stress yourself.

I’ve just had yet another cyst drained. It’s been 6 weeks since it was last drained and this time they took 100ml out of it.

Cysts can appear very fast and can be huge. You’re doing the right thing getting it checked

100mls! Wow. That cyst must have been huge.

The doctor was a pro. She stuck the needle in to exactly the right spot and it was over in 20 seconds.

I was told it was very common at my age when hormones are changing. Haven't had another one since. 50 now.

june2007 thank you

Rundle90 thank you for sharing. Surgery would not be my option too if I get the choice. Will take your advice & try not to stress.

Sorry to hear you have a cyst bothering you Elphame. Going to hope it's a cyst too & easily sorted. Best of luck yours stops refilling.