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Original poster

What do people who have a grip on anxiety think when they find a breast lump.

66 replies

velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 15:48

So I have found a hard pea size lump towards the top towards the side of my right breast last night. My periods are irregular so can’t attribute it to my cycle or not if you see what I mean. I only check my boobs intermittently. I’m 40yrs old.
Plan is to contact GP Monday.

My question is to those who haven’t got anxiety or health anxiety, what would your rationale train of thought be of this was you. I’m catastrophisising on this and this tends to a trend. I had a health scare 8 months ago (bleeding from bottom) and convinced myself it was bowel cancer. It turned out to be a lot less serious in the end thank goodness.
I just don’t have a grip on things anymore so would like some advice on what others who do have a grip would think.

OP posts:
Trialsandtribulationsoflife · 21/05/2022 16:43

I don’t think there is a single woman who wouldn’t jump to the worst case scenario in this situation. Thankfully there are many women who find that their lumps are innocent and no cause for concern but you must speak to a Dr and be examined ASAP.
Flowers

Penguintears · 21/05/2022 16:51

90% of lumps are benign. Even if it is cancer the treatments now are very good and survival rate is very high. You will be well taken care of (breast cancer surviver and fellow health anxious person here).

BeanAnTae · 21/05/2022 16:59

I've been there Velvet and had a mammogram and then an ultrasound and it was a benign cyst. That was last November - now I'm on the pathway for Post Menopausal bleeding. Who'd be a woman, huh?

As the previous poster said, 90% of lumps are benign. The wait isn't pleasant and it does hang over you - it was stressful I found. But you are doing the right thing to get it checked out. I read articles about American women who get lots of mammograms and checks and one woman said

'Be as scared as you like but gather your strength and take a run at the problem'.

So go to your GP on Monday and try to distract yourself as much as you can until your hospital appointment. You can usually take a friend or partner with you on the day.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

General health Women's health
ABIIOR · 21/05/2022 17:00

I don't have health anxiety in general but I would be extremely anxious in this situation and my mind would definitely be turning over worst case scenarios. As pp said, the majority of lumps turn out to be benign, but I think it's very natural to fear the worst. Good luck with your GP on Mon.

Original poster
velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 17:38

Thanks all. Seems from response it's not irrational to be shit scared.
I had a little cry in softplay (off all placesConfused )earlier, imagining I might not see my LO grow up. That's where my mind takes me. I'm concerned that I may have left it a little late in discovering it.

Anyone who has been referred to breast clinic recently know if covid has affected the 2 week pathway waiting time.

OP posts:
thevanilla · 21/05/2022 17:41

I’ve been there and although I’m not generally an anxious person, I found it pretty worrying. It was (as the vast majority of lumps are) nothing sinister but I don’t think it’s unusual to feel freaked out by finding a breast lump 💐

BooseysMom · 21/05/2022 17:46

velvetblanket
Thinking of you & sending positive vibes your way

Original poster
velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 17:59

BooseysMom · 21/05/2022 17:46

velvetblanket
Thinking of you & sending positive vibes your way

Thanks Smile

OP posts:
Whooshaagh · 21/05/2022 18:06

I'm 64 OP and have had 'lumpy boobs' since I was 36.
The first time I was a bit worried. Now with any new lumps I just get myself to clinic to be told its another cyst.
Obviously get yourself referred and I hope it's nothing serious.

TonTonMacoute · 21/05/2022 18:57

I would think 'I must get to see my GP as quickly as possible'. I would also remember that my DM had exactly the same thing and that it was nothing serious at all.

I would be worried though, but the sooner you get it checked the better the outcome even if it is something bad.

Hope you get sorted soon OP

Billandben444 · 21/05/2022 19:00

I found a lump recently and was put on the 2-week pathway - saw the consultant within 8 days and had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the same day. Went back 2 weeks later (bank holidays in the middle) to be told mine is cancerous. Had MRI on Wednesday and seeing consultant again on Monday to see what happens next. 2-week pathway worked for me. I'm not an anxious person generally and am going to take it step by step - as I feel OK at the moment it's hard to believe I'm really not well. I hope your journey is as quick as mine but that you get a better result 💐

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/05/2022 19:04

Hi OP, I think everybody jumps to the same conclusion. I had several of these lumps that turned out to be fibroadenoma. When I did find a lump a couple of years ago, I knew straight away it was cancer. It was caught early, I've been treated and I'm here to tell the tale. Please remember that 9/10 breast lumps are benign. So docs will put you on the two week pathway and hopefully it'll be absolutely nothing sinister. My advice is try not to dwell on it, it's pointless. Weirdly, I had horrific health anxiety before I was diagnosed yet somehow when I was, it didn't feel like the end of the world. Hopefully you can come back in a few weeks with good news FlowersFlowers

Hbh17 · 21/05/2022 19:04

I'd think "This is probably nothing, & a bit annoying and tedious, but it might be worth getting it checked out. Then if it turns out that I do need any treatment I have at least got the ball rolling". Then I'd set a reminder in my phone to contact GP on Monday, & carry on with whatever I'm doing.

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/05/2022 19:07

velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 17:38

Thanks all. Seems from response it's not irrational to be shit scared.
I had a little cry in softplay (off all placesConfused )earlier, imagining I might not see my LO grow up. That's where my mind takes me. I'm concerned that I may have left it a little late in discovering it.

Anyone who has been referred to breast clinic recently know if covid has affected the 2 week pathway waiting time.

I was diagnosed 3 days before the first lockdown and had surgery on lockdown day. None of it impacted on my treatment at all and that was when we knew very little about Covid. I have had several friends diagnosed since and all has gone as it should. There have been no delays.

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/05/2022 19:11

Billandben444 · 21/05/2022 19:00

I found a lump recently and was put on the 2-week pathway - saw the consultant within 8 days and had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the same day. Went back 2 weeks later (bank holidays in the middle) to be told mine is cancerous. Had MRI on Wednesday and seeing consultant again on Monday to see what happens next. 2-week pathway worked for me. I'm not an anxious person generally and am going to take it step by step - as I feel OK at the moment it's hard to believe I'm really not well. I hope your journey is as quick as mine but that you get a better result 💐

Wishing you a speedy recovery. If you need to have chemo I can highly recommend using a cooling cap. Keeping my hair made the whole thing a lot more manageable psychologically and it avoided lots of questions that I really didn't want to answer at the time as I didn't look ill as it were. I hope you get through ok Flowers

Original poster
velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 19:13

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/05/2022 19:04

Hi OP, I think everybody jumps to the same conclusion. I had several of these lumps that turned out to be fibroadenoma. When I did find a lump a couple of years ago, I knew straight away it was cancer. It was caught early, I've been treated and I'm here to tell the tale. Please remember that 9/10 breast lumps are benign. So docs will put you on the two week pathway and hopefully it'll be absolutely nothing sinister. My advice is try not to dwell on it, it's pointless. Weirdly, I had horrific health anxiety before I was diagnosed yet somehow when I was, it didn't feel like the end of the world. Hopefully you can come back in a few weeks with good news FlowersFlowers

What was so different that time for
The other lumps that you knew it was cancer?

OP posts:
Original poster
velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 19:15

Billandben444 · 21/05/2022 19:00

I found a lump recently and was put on the 2-week pathway - saw the consultant within 8 days and had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the same day. Went back 2 weeks later (bank holidays in the middle) to be told mine is cancerous. Had MRI on Wednesday and seeing consultant again on Monday to see what happens next. 2-week pathway worked for me. I'm not an anxious person generally and am going to take it step by step - as I feel OK at the moment it's hard to believe I'm really not well. I hope your journey is as quick as mine but that you get a better result 💐

Thank you for sharing and just all the best wishes for speedy positive resolution for you. Flowers

OP posts:
ChiefWiggumsBoy · 21/05/2022 19:17

This is totally normal thing to be anxious and upset about. I would be feeling the same as you.

Flowers
Original poster
velvetblanket · 21/05/2022 19:18

Hbh17 · 21/05/2022 19:04

I'd think "This is probably nothing, & a bit annoying and tedious, but it might be worth getting it checked out. Then if it turns out that I do need any treatment I have at least got the ball rolling". Then I'd set a reminder in my phone to contact GP on Monday, & carry on with whatever I'm doing.

Wish I had this mindset. Healthy way of dealing with it.

OP posts:
Ferngreen · 21/05/2022 19:19

I recently had breast cancer- op and radiotherapy. I couldn't feel a lump, the surgeon couldn't feel a lump, the oncologist couldn't feel a lump. Not all bc starts with a lump.

thesandwich · 21/05/2022 19:22

It’s really tough waiting. If you need someone to talk to, look at the Macmillan or breast cancer now websites for helplines. And stay away from Google.

LadyHelenaJustina · 21/05/2022 19:23

I’ve had two. My thought process was (1) what percentage of lumps are cancerous? (2) Of those that are cancerous, how many of those are not treatable? I found the statistics comforting.

Then I tried to distract myself with other stuff until I could see a doctor.

Mine were both benign. I hope yours is too.

TheFormidableMrsC · 21/05/2022 19:29

@velvetblanket It was very hard, nobbly and tethered as I couldn't move it at all. It was under my nipple. I didn't find it with my regular checks, I found it because I leaned awkwardly to pick something up and it almost scratched me from the inside. It hurt a lot, was really painful. I knew straight away. I also subsequently found an enlarged gland in my collarbone when I was gurning trying to deal with chin hairs. I hadn't noticed it before.

ballsdeep · 21/05/2022 19:33

Ferngreen · 21/05/2022 19:19

I recently had breast cancer- op and radiotherapy. I couldn't feel a lump, the surgeon couldn't feel a lump, the oncologist couldn't feel a lump. Not all bc starts with a lump.

I hope you are on the road to recovery. How dod you know?

dottieautie · 21/05/2022 19:36

I have a lot of life altering health problems and I have to take the ‘it’s out of my control’ line or I would worry 24/7. You report what you find to the dr and then it’s out of your hands. Any battling whatever the lump is, is in the hands of the medical professionals, you are the battle ground and as such passive in it all. You enjoy life where you can and trust that the medics know what they’re doing and are doing it to the best of their ability. Someone once said to me sing que sera a lot and you know what? That works too.