I found a lump. I’m so scared.

[TheHound86]

I found a lump completely accidentally tonight. I check my breasts every month but this is quite large. How can I have missed it? Can a lump just spring up out of the blue? I feel sick.

Umm, I don't know, but make a Doctors appointment for sure.

It’s most likely to be nothing to worry about. Most breast lumps aren’t serious. You do need it checking so ring the gp in Monday telling them you have a new breast lump and require an urgent face to face assessment. Pretty much all breast lumps will mean a two week wait referral to a breast clinic for checking. That’s entirely normal so don’t be surprised or frightened by that.

I’ve had this happen to me. I’m lucky (!) to have particularly lumpy breasts and I’ve got some lumps that come and go every month depending on where I am in my cycle.

Hopefully you can get seen early next week.

I was reading a thread on here yesterday that said a fast growing lump is most likely to be a cyst or something, so fingers crossed it’s nothing to worry about.

Good news is you should be seen within 2 weeks and it’s usually diagnosed on the day, so they won’t keep you hanging around.

I had a lump last year at the height of lockdown - was worried it wouldn’t be seen as appointments were all being cancelled etc. But I got a GP phone call, he referred me straight to hospital without needing to see me, and within a week I was seen and examined, told it was 100% a cyst and sent on my Merry way.

If you happen to get less positive news then at least you’ve spotted it and had it checked out ASAP. I know saying “try not to worry” won’t help. But honestly, it’s highly unlikely to be bad news, and if it is then you have all of MN here ready to hold your hand through it.

It does seem to move. I only felt it tonight. Purely by accident. But when I felt later in the shower I couldn’t find it which is strange because it felt quite large initially. I don’t know if the gp will just dismiss me if they can’t feel it but maybe they have more experience and will be able to find it more easily.

90% of lumps are not cancer. (looked that up when I found a lump)
of the 10% that are a lot are treatable.

If you can feel it, they will feel it. The first barrier will be getting past the receptionist. “New breast lump must be seen face to face” is what you need to push for. Don’t doubt yourself. This is really important to get checked.

Definitely get a GP appointment and get it checked.

You should always get these things checked. Best of luck xx

Our receptionists can certainly be hard to get past. I’ll be on the phone first thing Monday morning. The challenge will be not panicking too much over the weekend. I really hope it’s a cyst.

It’s most likely to be a cyst, or one of a few other non serious things. Calm but immovable is what you need to channel with a tricky receptionist! They should be trained enough to know “new breast lump” or “changing mole” are the sorts of things they absolutely need to find an appointment for.

Hopefully you’ve got some nice things to distract yourself over the weekend?

Most lumps aren't cancer. But of course it's scary. Good luck OP - bad luck you found it on a Friday but I'm sure you'll be fine