I’ve found a lump in my breast! Please can I have a handhold?

[CucumberSweet]

I found a lump in my breast a few weeks ago. This has happened to me before and I wanted to see if it would just go after my period, but it didn’t. I don’t check my breasts often because I have health anxiety and so it’s a huge trigger for me, so who knows how long the lump has been there!

Today I saw the doctor who has referred me to the breast clinic. The doctor didn’t give me any indication of what it might be or what it felt like. From reading other threads, often the GP seems to reassure patients that it feels like a cyst or something like that. The fact my doctor didn’t is worrying me more.

Im 35 years old with two daughters. Im so scared and not sure how I will cope, waiting for the next appointment. Or if, god forbid, it’s the worst case scenario.

Im really afraid!

Of course you are, it's natural to be terrified. You've found it though, and you've been referred - that's the important part.

NHS are incredible at the cancer stuff.

It is going to be a worrying time but you will get through it 💐

It’s usual for breast lumps to be referred and seen quickly, so don’t panic if this happens to you. Also, a lot of lumps are cysts or something else that is innocent.

However, if it is the worse, then the treatment for breast cancer is superb. The majority of them are curable, and you get good support all the way through.

I understand it’s scary and you’re probably all over the place. Hand holding from afar.

Holding your hand for reassurance. Now that you have been referred, things will move quickly. There will be at least one mammogram, and probably a needle biopsy. If there's nothing, you'll be told. If there is something of concern, you'll be told that too. Very, very kindly and gently. And then, the system will kick into action. My carcinoma was one of the better ones, so I had a lumpectomy and some lymph nodes removed to check for metasising. When the scars healed, I had radiotherapy. It involved weeks of planning and multiple appointments: more people saw my breasts in three months than I could have dreamed possible. You will get used to stripping for strangers. And then, you'll be followed up regularly. The doctors, nurses, surgeons, radiographers are so kind. Nothing was too much trouble. And there's good reason to be optimistic. As long as you're caught early, you should have a good outcome.

I wish you well, and hope that you have supportive family and friends to keep you going as you go through this. Sometimes you'll need to vent. There's a whole thread here devoted to breast cancer, and everyone will try to help. It's exceptionally kind. Good luck xx

Hand hold from me too OP. I've been through this a number of times now. Lump in armpit, lump in breast, pain in breast, no pain in breast. It's always been fine but the waiting find out is torture. My most recent one was scary as, like you, I expected it to go away after my period and it didn't. That too was absolutely fine.

Keep coming on here for a chat whenever you need to.

You've had the courage to go to the GP and get the ball rolling on the necessary investigation. Well done!

Sending a handhold - hoping you'll get result you want, and even if it turns out to be what you're dreading, trust your medical team and work with them. They should signpost you to support that's out there. Breast cancer support charities are well funded, and research into treatment is too - much more than many other cancers actually.

“More people saw my breasts in three months than I could have dreamed possible. You will get used to stripping for strangers.”

So true, so wear tops that are easy to remove ( and I used to go bra less and wear baggy jumpers and a coat).

Also, if your hospital operates a one stop shop, ie, consultant, mammogram, biopsy, consultant, there could be a lot of hanging around so take a book to read in between each stage.

Thanks all. We have family visiting us who are arriving today. We actually live overseas so they’ll be on holiday. They have had their own recent family trauma so I don’t want to confide in them about this. So I’m going to have to put on a brave face for the rest of the week. It’s going to be so tricky.

I don’t think the GP has ever reassured me when referring me to the breast clinic. 1 out of 5 of mine were cancer, the rest were fibroids.

@MinnieMountain sorry to hear that one of yours turned out to be cancer. I hope you’re well now. ❤️

Stage 1, 5 years ago. All fine now thanks. I hope I didn’t add to your worry. What I meant is that the chances are that it’s nothing.

I’m really glad it was caught early @MinnieMountain and that you’re doing well. I totally understand your point about the risks being low. I’m just so anxious about it all. I feel like it’ll be better when I know when my next appointment is. The waiting is awful 😢

I get how awful the wait is. I nearly didn't get referred as the nurse was insistent it was a cyst. I wasn't prepared to take that risk and thank goodness, as I did actually have cancer. Seamless treatment that I coped with very well. Please remember that 9 out 10 lumps are benign! Good luck!

Been there twice op, both times benign- first a fibroadenoma and went private and the dr said he felt it was ok at the time.
The second one the gp said nothing so I then convinced myself it was cancer and had two weeks of fear only to find at the breast clinic it was a cyst. Your family coming is a good thing and something to distract you. Hope you get the best outcome.

I totally hear you. Went myself recently with pain and general lumpiness I too have HA and don't check like I should. I drove myself mad over Christmas keep checking them and waiting to see if they changed. Doc was overly kind to me and I felt like she was being sympathetic as she knew something was wrong. But there was nothing other than fibrous tissue. The clinic was great. Swift, efficient and super kind staff. Most people they see have nothing sinister and you are tackling your anxiety by going. I just read A LOT of fluffy books and watched easy TV while o waited for the appointment day and read threads on here over and over about what to expect. All the hand holds you need are here

only 1/100 referrals will be cancer

Faarrrrr more likely to be something g else - good luck and be strong for your children - it'll be fine x

Another hand hold here - this has happened to me several times and I have been lucky. I do understand how nerve wracking the wait is.

Sending lots of positive thoughts OP 🌷

I’ve had 2 breast clinic referrals…honestly it’s more likely to be routine than not and I was always glad it was so straightforward to be seen! I’m very against any doctor reassuring someone it’s probably a cyst as this was what my mum was told and her cancer was only picked up by a routine mammogram.

@CucumberSweet , honestly, you are experiencing the very very worst phase of the process, when you don't know what is happening and every letter is frightening. Once you have a diagnosis, something or nothing, you're either free to carry on or there is a massively supportive network that folds around you to help. I was totally astonished by the depth of the kindness that was poured out, and you find yourself contributing. For the first time you find yourself saying to a stranger in a cancer ward, I love your dress, and meaning it. It is a horrible and terrifying experience for everyone, but it makes almost everyone who survives a much much nicer person.

I'll hold your hand OP. I'm due at the breast clinic Tuesday following my latest mammogram. I'm 45 with a significant increase in risk (hence having to have had mammograms from 40)

Don't Google, it is a very bad idea.

Hopefully it will be something and nothing for both of us.