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Original poster

Bumpy mass and breast pain (in one side only)?

117 replies

vipersnest1 · 29/06/2023 21:33

I've been experiencing breast / chest wall (I couldn't pinpoint which) pain and tenderness for about a month and put it down to a sore rib initially (I have fibromyalgia and do get a sore - different and lower - rib at times).
It was persistent so I made a GP appointment and saw one today. I pointed out the tender area and she seemed to be able to home on it right away.
Before I went, I could never really work out where the pain was coming from, but since having a feel after I got home, it's a hard bumpy mass in my upper breast rather than a single lump.
I've been referred to the breast clinic for a non-urgent symptomatic breast.
Does anyone have experience and / or a handhold?
I'm worried. I've never had problems with my breasts before (not even especially tender when pregnant), and am in my late fifties so it's the last thing I expected to happen.
(For clarity, I do have another thread running, but this was from when I was first concerned and couldn't feel anything specific myself.)
Any experience or advice would be welcome, as it seems I'm not on the 2WW pathway, but would like to know what's going on ASAP.

OP posts:
Original poster
vipersnest1 · 11/07/2023 22:45

@WorriedMillie, thank you again. I'm trying very hard to keep an open mind, and a friend suggested to me today that it might be my fibromyalgia playing up and making me more sensitive to pain, but usually it's not as long-lasting as this, more like a tender area (usually joints) that is very sore and then settles down in less than a week. I totally agree with you about having a check within a sensible timeframe. Given the time it's taken for the hospital to even ring me (and they haven't yet), plus the minimum time to get seen quoted to me by the GP, that's over two months, plus the time I waited to be sure it was my breast and not a rib, that's three months and far too long for someone to be worrying like I am.

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Original poster
vipersnest1 · 13/07/2023 20:41

So today is the two week deadline and not so much as a whisper from the hospital.
When I go to the NHS app, it says I have no referrals and no appointments....

OP posts:
Tired6789 · 13/07/2023 20:58

Is it worth checking with GP that referral has gone through to hospital?

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Original poster
vipersnest1 · 13/07/2023 21:27

@Tired6789, I know it has - there was an 'admin appointment' on the NHS app for the 13th which disappeared. Apparently it's generated by the GP referral, but my understanding from reading between the lines is that it was then removed once the hospital had processed the referral.
I called Monday, Wednesday and Friday last week (worried, obviously) and on Friday got told I would be called 'at the end of next week' i.e. this week, and I was also told by the GP that I saw last week that the clinic is running at least six weeks behind for my kind of referral.
Hence, why I've got a private appointment for next week. I will be on school holidays from next Friday. I've no clue how I'd cope being at home and not so occupied without knowing what's going on. It might sound dramatic, but no-one should have to live with this kind of worry for so long.
As an aside, the ironic thing is that the hospital was in the local paper in the summer of last year, saying they'd caught up with all of the outstanding outpatient's appointments (that were there due to Covid). Clearly not. I'm also waiting for some other appointments including, for example, spinal surgery outpatients - appointments have gone from 62 weeks to 74 weeks whilst I've been on the list.
That's all by the by:
All i can think of for now is when I will get some answers. It's horrible not knowing. I swing from 'maybe it's not still there' to 'yes, it definitely is'. There's something going on and I want to know what.

OP posts:
Tired6789 · 13/07/2023 21:44

Sorry it's been so stressful. I hope the appointment next week goes well and that your NHS one comes through soon!

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 13/07/2023 22:29

Thank you, @Tired6789.

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Original poster
vipersnest1 · 17/07/2023 21:15

I'm still here, still waiting to hear from the NHS, although thankfully I will be seen privately in two days.
Just as well, as I was nearly in tears at work today (thankfully alone). Thankfully alone, and I ended up taking an anti-anxiety medication I have for emergencies (I don't take it in normal circumstances.) I couldn't focus at all and could have happily kicked both copier / scanner machines close to me to pieces, as neither of them would work properly and just added to my stress levels.
I'm not doing well.

OP posts:
JayAlfredPrufrock · 17/07/2023 21:31

Oh bless. It certainly has dragged.

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 17/07/2023 22:17

Thank you, @JayAlfredPrufrock. I've also been getting some upper back pain which isn't usual for me. I've got a full day tomorrow and I'm not sure if it's a good or a bad thing.

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Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 21:15

I may well just be speaking to myself now, but today was busy. It wasn't entirely without worry though, and the town where the school is has a sinkhole, so I'm having to drive some pretty rough roads on the way home. I wasn't even thinking about it, because I was concentrating on driving and following my sat nap, but was definitely aware of it hurting due to the bumpy roads.
I've also realised what the pain feels like - letdown. Obviously that is very far from what is going on at the moment.
For the moment, I'm feeling more resigned than anything else, but that could all change in the next five minutes.

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OceanicBoundlessness · 18/07/2023 21:19

I get a letdown feeling particularly after coffee. I've had several harmless cysts drained.
I've asked about the letdown feeling and the drs at the clinic have zero curiosity.

grass321 · 18/07/2023 21:55

Good luck for tomorrow (hope I have the right day)

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 22:04

OceanicBoundlessness · 18/07/2023 21:19

I get a letdown feeling particularly after coffee. I've had several harmless cysts drained.
I've asked about the letdown feeling and the drs at the clinic have zero curiosity.

That's not the case for me. And, as I've said several times, this pain is very much out of the ordinary for me. Letdown is as near as I can get to something that describes it. I could also say that it t feels warm and that there's something inside that feels tight, never mind the fact that it feels totally different to the other side.
I'm sorry if you feel like HCPs have ignored your fears.

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Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 22:05

Thank you, @grass321. Yes, you have the day right!
Now just to get through work before I go....

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OceanicBoundlessness · 18/07/2023 22:07

Yes I meant along with the presence of a lump. It sounds like the feeling doesn't come and go for you though?

LaffTaff · 18/07/2023 22:44

Been thinking of you @vipersnest1. I came on just to wish you the very best of luck for tomorrow - sending you great big positive vibes for a good outcome.

I'm so sorry you've had all this worry, and anxious waiting 💛

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 22:46

@OceanicBoundlessness, it's not there all of the time. At times it feels like I've got my pectoral muscle tensed, so a sense of pressure. At others it's a warm feeling.
I always have a tender area there, as well as in my armpit.
I can't even lean forwards without pain at times, and as I've said, the 'juggling about' (a horrible phrase, but it covers it), induced pain on my way home earlier today.

OP posts:
Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 23:10

Thank you, @LaffTaff.

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Elle200 · 18/07/2023 23:10

Just read your thread viper, and can appreciate your worry. I've had breast cancer twice now, two different kinds, and neither caused any pain like you are experiencing. I only had a slight tenderness when the first tumour grew very quickly. I've now had bilateral mastectomies and chose to remain flat, no more worry for me.

I hope you get on well tomorrow and have a good outcome, I'm going to keep everything crossed for you

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 18/07/2023 23:11

Thanks, @Elle200. I'm sorry you had to go through that.

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Moonberri · 18/07/2023 23:18

Is the appointment tomorrow? Hope all goes well for you.

Elle200 · 18/07/2023 23:21

My cancers were twenty years apart. Both times I was treated really quickly, I'm in Scotland so maybe that makes a difference.

You've certainly been given the runaround, it's no wonder you're anxious. I'm glad you're able to fund some investigation yourself, although you shouldn't have to.

Please post as soon as you're able to and let us know the results, I'm sure I'm not alone in saying we're here for you 😊

42wordsfordrizzle · 19/07/2023 01:33

Good luck tomorrow. It's amazing how brests can grow cysts and lumpy bits and have nothing wrong with them. As a pp said, they can be bastards.

Original poster
vipersnest1 · 19/07/2023 16:53

I can confirm PPs posts that breasts can be bastards!
I had a mammogram both sides and an ultrasound on the painful one. I have very dense breasts (hence why they feel lumpy - the lady who did the mammogram commented and said I must have a high pain threshold as I was able to tolerate the pressure that she needed to use to get the views she needed, despite them being so dense). The consultant said the pain is a combination of normal breast pain and tender ribs which he thought was due to my fibromyalgia.
Thank you to everyone who held my hand during this long saga. I'm not quite sure where to put myself just now, so will sign off for the time being.

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Moonberri · 19/07/2023 17:01

So was it all clear?!