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Original poster

Would you trust GP regarding breast lump

125 replies

Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 18:14

Hi all,

In summary- smooth flat/slightly rounded disk sort of thing in breast. Perfect circle. Like a squashed very small grape! Not omg noticeable but I've felt it so its there.....
Went to GP this week, one whom I feel has lots of experience and I usually trust whole heartedly with other things. Mental health for example.

She felt lump and said it's too smooth to be cancer. She has felt cancer and it doesn't feel like that. She said it feels like normal tissue or glandular. She told me to forget about it.

Would you? Without a scan? I really want to trust her but have a little voice in my head, what if.
Suffer with a little anxiety in general so that doesn't help things.

What are your thoughts?

OP posts:
notanatural2018 · 09/04/2021 18:57

No don't trust it. My Dad was told his rare cancer was a skin infection numerous times. I got a DVT after childbirth, Dr said "no it's not, I've had two but as you're so worried, I'll get the blood test".... It was a DVT. Diagnostic tests are there for a reason!

duvetdreaming · 09/04/2021 18:58

I'd trust the GP more then I'd trust unknowns on Mumsnet.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 18:59

I am so glad I asked mumsnet!!

OP posts:

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Babysharkdoodoodood · 09/04/2021 19:03

Mine (4) presented as flat and smooth. So flat and smooth that they were only picked up by a mammogram, that I went to when offered as part of a trial.
Sitting here with one boob now :/

Push for the 2 week pathway.

Shorthairlady · 09/04/2021 19:04

Don't be fobbed off. If someone you knew told you they had a lump and was dismissed by their GP you would tell them to pursue it further.

FindingMeno · 09/04/2021 19:06

The lump I found was considered very likely a cyst but on referral it became ?Cancer.
It turned out to be neither but firm diagnosis was as a result of the referral.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 19:07

Gosh @Babysharkdoodoodood.....thank goodness you were offered the trial. Hope you are doing well now x

This thread has definitely made my mind up. Peeved to wait until Weds for the doctor chat but i know what I'm saying when it comes. GP is a lovely lady, I'm hopeful she will refer me without a fuss.

OP posts:
Defaultuser · 09/04/2021 19:11

Just to add to previous comments my breast cancer lump apparently didn't feel like cancer, even to the nurse at the breast clinic who first examined me. The odds are it's fine but I would definitely get checked out.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 19:15

Thanks for sharing @Defaultuser. Hope you are doing well now x
I feel a bit more worried than I did before my thread but maybe i needed a kick up the bottom to take action.

OP posts:
Martinisarebetterdirty · 09/04/2021 19:24

Push and don’t trust. My very experienced GP said mine was nothing but I had private healthcare so she referred me. My surgeon said nothing to worry about but we will biopsy to be on the safe side. No family history and I was in my 20s but I had breast cancer. You can’t tell from feeling - the doctor doing the biopsy said the ultrasound just looked like a cyst it was only in the lab that it was diagnosed. Push for a referral and good luck.

Defaultuser · 09/04/2021 19:26

Thank you @Notateacher2020 I have just finished treatment and I am doing well now. I understand the worry but as has been said I think it's far more likely to be nothing. Best of luck.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 19:31

Thank you @Martinisarebetterdirty
I will definitely push.

I wonder if a GP can refuse to refer...

OP posts:
Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 19:32

@Defaultuser i am glad to hear it.
Thanks for your advice

OP posts:
CazY777 · 09/04/2021 19:35

I don't want to worry you, but my gp told me she was 99% sure that my lump wasn't cancer. Thankfully she referred me to the breast clinic to check and it turned out it was cancer. They cannot tell for certain by feeling it, you need to have the scans and then a biopsy if it looks like it could be cancer. So push for that referral. The odds are in your favour that it's nothing bad, but if it is it's much better to catch it earlier. I'm 2.5 years post treatment and all ok so far.

Yolanda524 · 09/04/2021 19:39

Please don’t accept this. Through terrible experience I would only accept a biopsy result. My beautiful, lovely sister was told she had a non cancerous cyst after an ultrasound had been dead for 7 years now and everyday I wish to god I had encouraged her to get a biopsy done.

Iwouldbecomplex · 09/04/2021 19:49

Nope absolutely not. I would firstly get a second opinion and maybe a third from another gp. If they didn't refer me on nhs for my peace of mind I would pay private for tests because I wouldn't stop worrying about it tbh

DaisyDreaming · 09/04/2021 19:53

She’s probably right but no I would want a referral to the breast clinic, especially after knowing someone who saw a GP 3 times before they referred her and it turned out to be cancer. Luckily despite the delays she’s been in remission for 10 years now but if she hadn’t gone back and that third time seen someone different then things could of been very different

OnthebanksoftheLac · 09/04/2021 19:55

My DSiL went to the GP with a breast lump and was dismissed with no further investigations. Sadly hers was breast cancer. Do push OP, it's unlikely to be anything sinister but it does need to be investigated.

LizzieSiddal · 09/04/2021 19:56

It sounds like you have a cyst to me, I’ve had 3 and they were all smooth lumps. However each time the dr refereed me to the breast clinic. And each time they drained the cyst for me or they can get very painful. So if I were you, I’d tell the Dr, that you do want a second opinion to rule out cancer and also you’re worried it’s a cyst which may need draining. She should then refer you.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 20:17

Thank you all for replying to me. Your stories have worried me enough to fight for a referral. Failing that I have decided that I will go private, somehow.

OP posts:
MrsClatterbuck · 09/04/2021 20:26

Years ago I found a lump on a Friday evening. It was a tense weekend until I phoned the doctor on the Monday morning. I got an appointment that morning. Not my usual doctor but she examined it and told she couldn't feel any ragged edges and thought it wasn't serious but was going to refer me anyway. At the breast clinic it was discovered it was a cyst. I have been referred several times. Twice for a thickening which I have never been able to feel and for breast pain.

MrsClatterbuck · 09/04/2021 20:28

Here in NI one of the cancer charities also do breast clinics. Maybe worth checking it out.

Original poster
Notateacher2020 · 09/04/2021 20:33

@MrsClatterbuck thanks for that. I've had a quick google (am in England) and can't see any charities that do that sort of thing. Was worth a try!

OP posts:
iMatter · 09/04/2021 20:54

Get a second opinion

I went to see GP (female fwiw) when I found a lump almost 5 years ago.

She said it was nothing but she was obliged to refer me even though she thought it was a waste of time.

Had a biopsy, early stage breast cancer, lumpectomy etc and was told by my consultant that I was lucky because I acted on it so early 🙄

I hope your lump is nothing to worry about but please do fight for a referral.

ilovetea14 · 09/04/2021 21:21

This happened to my cousin she had a lump in her breast she was 26 and told she's too young to have breast cancer.
She went back again told same thing third time she was sent to get it checked out she had breast cancer she died 5 years later leaving two young children behind. I'm not saying this to scare you but if your not happy I would push to get it checked out.