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

[velvetblanket]

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.

Hope it went OK today Velvet and you got a referral. Its totally normal to be terrified at this stage but hope you get all clear, 90% do, obviously hard and not moveable can be cancer but can be benign esp as new. And its good its small so even in worst case scenario should normally be a quick treatment, almost 100% success rate and you should still look the same.

If you go to one stop shop for breast cancer, that's the cancer tests it is worth imo being brave and asking them at the end if they think its cancer or not and how certain, I was told 100% certain it was cancer, they have a very good idea. Its terrifying to hear that as your mind goes straight to your death but hopefully you will ask and be told its all clear and your mind will be at ease and small lumps like yours have almost 100% success rate. If not all clear personally I would rather know and then get on with treating it asap. Once you are treating it its still very much an emotional rollercoaster but at least you feel you are fighting back. The most important thing is to get checked though and not to let fear stop you getting checked as the earlier cancer it caught the much better your chances and much less treatment. I wish I had known and then I would have paid for private checks in my 40s.

The waiting is the worst bit. Once something is happening, you’ll feel more in control.
I wouldn’t necessarily ask if they think it’s cancer when you have your tests- the consultant and the guy who did my needle biopsy disagreed.

Thanks to those who were asking how I got on.
So I got my face to face GP appointment Monday lunchtime.
In the hour leading up to it I was examining myself again and couldn’t find the lump which was strange considering it was a hard lump.
I decided it was still sensible to attend as had had some breast pain which was unusual for me.
The GP couldn’t find anything after a thorough physical examination. She checked my lymph nodes and couldn’t find anything untoward. I had been having for months the strangest feeeling of light pressure feeling down the sides of my neck and collar bones where I think my nodes are but none of them are swollen.
GP felt that she didn’t have concerns but could refer me to the breast clinic if I wanted to check due to the pain etc. I said yes as think it’s best to get checked?
What would others done in that situation? As I mentioned I haven’t got a grip on what’s reasonable anymore due to being anxious about most things.
At the end of the appointment I asked if I could go into anti anxiety meds when this period of acute anxiety is over, this is hoping things turn out ok.
Reason I don’t want to take them right now is Last year when was DD was very unwell I became mentally unwell over the stress of it and had my first foray into anti anxiety meds. Whilst the doctor at the time told me when starting these meds things would get worse before they got better, I underestimated the affects it could have on me and had to stop within a week of starting as a bad situation was made worse even with a side course of diazepam.
Anyway the GP has calmed me somewhat and I’m nowhere like I was on weekend. Hoping I can stretch this optimism to last the next few weeks until the appointment, which GP thought would take approx 4 weeks.

Hi Op, I'm sorry you're having to wait again to be checked over thoroughly but glad you're feeling a but more reassured.
Will the referral include a mammogram?
i had a lump a few years ago, my GP referred me to the local breast unit where they confirmed it was a lump via a mammogram but probably not malignant. In fact they treated it then and there; the doctor inserted a large syringe (ouch) and drew out quite a lot of fluid, confirming it was an oily cyst.
i hope you can take someone with you for your appointment, my then teenage DS volunteered to accompany me when DH couldn't. He was amazing, very supportive despite his discomfort at hearing far too much about breasts and their problems.

I didn't even ask what it included but just assumed it would be a mammogram?

velvet you are right to go anyway and get the check up. I attended my GP with possible post menopausal bleeding (not quite at menopause) and the GP said could have an ultrasound just to be on the safe side so I agreed. I'm currently waiting for my appt letter and likely to be seen in four weeks too. Want to get it checked out. Well done for chasing it up. 🌷

If you're 40 it's likely to be a mammogram, examination, ultrasound and possible biopsy if they find something.

Thanks @BeanAnTae . Good luck with your investigation too .

I tend to think it's a swollen lymph node and that it will go by the time my current cycle is over. They don't always happen either, it's very random. I went last time I found one as my partner panicked more than me and insisted. I'd had them before but only in my armpit. Felt like a right idiot when she said what it was. Should have thought of that and just waited. Ah well better safe than sorry. 🙂

I do have health anxiety but I made a mantra and repeated it to myself over and over and focused on this instead of catastrophising, it worked for me. "It's probably nothing, if it is something, it's probably not cancer, if it is cancer, it's very treatable."

Ooooo I like it! I'm open to trying pretty much anything. I hope some chemical change in my brain when the anxiety meds start will be the winner.

You've done the right thing asking for a referral. My mantra has always been anything that is unusual for you should be checked. You've got nothing to lose by having investigations. Good luck with it all!

Book a doctors appointment?

Thanks for asking.
I had a mammogram and ultrasound with the consultant and was given the all clear there and then. Sounds flippant but I can't even remember what they said the 'lump' was now other than it wasn't anything sinister.