Would you trust GP regarding breast lump

[Notateacher2020]

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?

Sorry to say this but my cancer was smooth. It felt a bit like a pea. My GP referred me to be on the safe side, a decision which saved my life. Even the consultant didn’t think it was cancer but the ultrasound showed otherwise. It’s so much better to be safe than sorry.

Chances are isn’t anything. If it is, feel free to PM me if I can be of any use, even if just a chat/vent. X

@movinggoalposts thank you that is very kind.
I am so glad I have pushed for the referral now. I will update when I get a date for my appointment and go from there.

Good luck! Take a drink and a snack with you as you may be there for a while if you end up with a mammogram and an ultrasound. They always do both where we are.

I’m sure the clinic will see you, the GP must have told them you are concerned but she thinks it’s ok. In my experience of NHS clinics, they don’t mind seeing people who are “worried”, they always say they’d much rather check so they are certain it is not cancer.

Oh dear. Whatever the lump is, its got bigger over the last day or two. Literally, maybe half as big again. Still painless. Like the size of a 5p coin now and certainly more rounded than yesterday.

I'm due on tomorrow and google says a cyst can get bigger when your due on your period....so I'm really really pinning my hopes on that being it.

Grim :-(

Sorry just a little update/off-loading the worry
Will chase up referral tomorrow.

Extremely rapid growth like that is more of a good sign than not OP! Points to a cyst IMO!

@Troyhelena i do really hope so x

Agree -NICE guidelines state a referral. Your experienced and kind GP could be correct - but there is always chance for error, however slight. Don’t take that chance - get referred and an expert to check it.

@MrsDrudge- absolutely I'm onto it x

@Notateacher2020 Let us know how it goes, sending the best of wishes

For you Op

Lots of Mumsnetters thinking of you.

I'm prepared to be contradicted, I've never heard of a cancerous mass increasing by 50% in less than a week.

You've got the referral, you'll be seen in the next 2 weeks, calling them again will just take them away from their job. The GP will not try and imply that you shouldn't be seen, it is literally a process now. Gp referral, fitting you in according to the triaging plans.

They will have dozens of referrals every week, there is no reason for them to speed up, or slow down your process artificially.

The letter will probably be sent as per your original appt date, so you won't even have lost that couple of days.

Just wanted to update in case anything was silently following as i do. Good news. Very relieved to say it was just a clump of glandular tissue that consultant admitted does feel like a 'lump'. Scan confirmed. Amazing, efficient and compassionate service from the nhs today.
Thanks all for your support in pushing me to pursue a referral, was certainly the right decision. x

Ah thanks for updating - brilliant news! I'm very relieved on your behalf! Have a great weekend x

So pleased to hear your good news. You'll get a decent night's sleep tonight.

Nope, I wouldn't trust any GP with anything to be honest too many experiences within the family ...always double check, refer upwards or go private if you have any doubts.

Oh sorry, saw your latest post...glad all is well and the scan and confirmation have put your doubts to rest.

Great news. Very happy for you.

So glad to hear the good news x

Thanks all, very kind.
Utter relief

For people who think that breast cancer can’t just appear/get bigger overnight - that’s exactly what can happen with Inflammatory Breast cancer. It’s rare, accounting for 1% of all breast cancers but it is very aggressive and is more prevalent in your Women. It can start with pain and swelling plus skin thickening.

Good news.

I'm a GP and I refer EVERY breast lump unless it quickly goes away. Over the course of my career, there have been 2 or 3 lumps which I thought were 99.99% likely to be benign (not cancer) and which the breast surgeons also thought were not cancers on examination, but which turned out to be cancerous. It's not worth the risk.

I'm so glad to hear you received good news OP!
This is keeping me positive. I found a lump last night and my GP examined me and referred me straight away to have a scan. She was quick to reassure me she thinks it's a cyst and nothing sinister but wants to have it checked anyway. She was wonderful although I have to say that I'm quite sore now after her examination, has anyone else had this pain? Boob just feels a bit strange now, kind of full, heavy and sore