Terrified - found breast lump

[Tulipvase8]

Hi
I went to the GP this afternoon as I’d noticed my breast had grown in size. I couldn’t feel a lump but I went due to the change in size. I presumed the gp was going to say it was hormonal.
Unfortunately she found a 5cm lump. It was moveable, firm and sore (although I don’t know if it’s just sore due to the prodding).
I am besides myself with worry. She told me “if I was really concerned I would tell you and I’m not overly worried” but she has referred me to the breast clinic under “urgent”. She did also say “the clinic might even ask why you have been referred but as your Gp I just want to be on the safe side”.
I have two little boys and I feel sick to the stomach with worry. I’m terrified that if it’s something bad, now that it’s 5cm it’s going to be too late. Please help me.
I cant stop crying.

90 percent of breast lumps seen at a breast clinic are benign and when I went the Dr said the GPs send everyone in just so they can be sure they haven't missed something.

I understand your distress - I was similar but you are in good hands at the clinic.

Sorry to hear this. The GP has done the right thing with the urgent referral. Most lumps are not cancer.

try to keep as busy as possible and do not google.

If it is cancer, there is so much research and so much that can be done. Mine was picked up by mammogram 2 years ago and dealt with very quickly by our wonderful nhs. FWIW mine was 4.5cm and I’m currently clear. Xx

Glad to hear you're doing well @dancingwhilstfacingthemusic❤️

@Tulipvase8I was beside myself with worry but I've since been to the clinic twice. Once the GP found a different lump than the one I went in with. I had fibrocystic breasts so cysts formed. Common in 30s and 40s.

I know it's not easy and a shock but you will get through it.

I know it’s easy to say, but try not to worry about it. There’s no point in getting worked up to worst case scenario when best case scenario is still the most likely outcome. The vast, vast majority of referrals turn out to be nothing at all. And doctors do not tell patients that they’re not overly worried unless they genuinely are not really worried. The fact that it’s marked as urgent doesn’t mean anything.

She sounds like she’s a good gp and just wants you to be able to carry on with life, safe in the knowledge that everything has been poked and prodded and there’s nothing nasty lurking.

Does anyone know if cysts can be 5cm?

Hey lovely, didn’t want to read and run. I found a similar sized lump in my boob and went to GP on 28th Jan. GP wasn’t worried but referred me to the breast clinic just to check. Every bit of correspondence about the referral had URGENT 2 WEEK CANCER REFERRAL or something similar plastered all over it which obvs makes you worry. Had my appointment today with breast clinc, had an ultrasound and was told it was just dense breast tissue and a swollen gland most likely linked to periods. Just wanted to share this with you to try and ease your mind a bit xx

@Tulipvase8 https://www.breastcancer.org/benign-breast-conditions/cysts yep all sizes! i have been to breast clinic 3 times and each time a cyst so i well expect to be referred again in future ( although i'm now of the age for regular mammograms at least) . you may have a fine needle biopsy at clinic but dont be alarmed.

The fact that it’s moveable and a bit sore would
point to it being a cyst or a fibroadenoma. You have done the very best thing in seeing the GP who has referred you to the breast clinic (as they do with everyone). The breast clinic will look after you and you will be okay

Hi Op I can feel your pain I have been going through the same as mine was found through an incidental MRI scan do something else 4.5cm lump.

I had a mammogram, ultrasound and then core biopsy , biopsy came back it wasn’t cancer however they have classed it as a B3 lesion which means it needs to come out and they biopsy the whole thing , I’m in Monday for surgery , I’m still scared to bits as it could still be worst case scenario (results from biopsy of the whole thing take 5 weeks ) but what can I do , I’ve just gotta go with it .

Just go with it and take each update as you can , the initial shock is the scariest but as others have said most are benign ….. but it’s a process finding out .

I wish you the best and you find out that all is well soon 🩷

This exact thing happened to me about 4 weeks ago. One breast had become painful and swollen. I went to the GP, and she found two lumps in both breasts. She gave me the same message, I’m not worried, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t refer for a scan. This was on a Thursday. I was referred to the breast clinic on a two week wait - the appointment came through for the Tuesday. They scanned all 4 lumps and gave me the results 30 minutes later that all was fine, just glandular tissue.

I think the fact that it’s moveable is probably a good sign. I had the same a few years back and it was breast mouse (so called because it’s moveable). I still have it now. It’s hard not to worry but as PP say breast lumps are usually benign. Good luck OP, hope you’re ok

My left arm feels numb and tingly now is this my mind playing horrible tricks on me or a terrible sign that something is wrong 😭😭

There's honestly no point in worrying at this stage. Only a tiny percentage of lumps are anything at all and out of the tiny percentage that are cancer, the majority are treatable. It's highly, highly likely to be nothing at all. I had one a few years ago and got referred under the two week pathway. It was nothing as I expected it to be.

Honestly, you'll waste so much time panicking and worrying and it's really not worth the stress. Just take each day as it comes.

@Tulipvase8 when I had a further lump scare the nurse said to try not to fiddle with it or I would irritate it further (& all was ok with it).

Mine was about 6cm x 5cm 😖😖 Drained and all fine.

This also happened to me!! (Cyst)

This makes me feel better

How long did it take for you to notice something was there?

thank you. Was your breast painful? Since the gp examined me my breast has been really sore

Thanks so much. I hope your surgery tomorrow goes well x

Yes it was. It was a really odd pain to describe. It wasn’t painful in the sense that it was causing me extreme discomfort, but my breast felt “foreign”. It felt like it didn’t belong to me, it started as a tingly feeling, and then a dull ache. But after the examination by the doctor, it felt more noticeably uncomfortable, which I guess was down to the manipulation of the breast during the checks.

This sounds familiar. I’d describe it for me as feeling a bit like burning sensation

Yes I think that’s a fair description for what I felt. It just felt so foreign. I truly am hoping it’s the best outcome for you, OP. It’s such a worrying time but thankfully the two week clinics are exceptionally quick at seeing you and giving results xx

I found a 5cm x 2cm lump last year - 5 days before I was due to leave for a bucket list holiday. GP said that the risk factors were it being fixed, painless and rough feeling. Mine was only one of those. I went on holiday while the 2 week wait referral happened. When I got to the breast clinic the lump had vanished. Not found on examination, ultrasound or mammogram. No idea what happened.

As someone else said, something like 90% of lumps turn out to be nothing sinister.

Good luck.

This happened to me and I had to have the lump removed. It turned out to be a benign phyllodes tumour with no further treatment. Wishing you all the very best for your op.