Just found a lump in my breast

[nellytheoliphant]

Just submitted a form to see my gp.

Very worried. My grandmother had breast cancer quite young.

It is a very distinct lump just above my nipple.

What is my GP likely to do? How do I get through the next few days at work with this horrible anxiety?

Stressed that I have to wait for the GP to get back to me and am tempted to call them.

Any advice?

I did exactly that and they told me they have a lot of people who need to be seen today but in my case they appreciate it is stressful but they just don't have the appointments. Its going to be a very long wrekend

I think I would try again, OP. Does your GP practice have an online form you can submit for appointment requests? Those will be seen by a duty doctor. Describe all your symptoms, say you are extremely worried and need an urgent Breast clinic referral.

I have great sympathy for medical receptionists and they face a lot of pressure but this warrants escalating. It still doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, but you do have something which you don’t want getting worse over the weekend.

I think that’s unacceptable really. I had a breast lump last year - completed an e-consult in morning, saw GP lunchtime, 2ww referral done & had a call from hosp the following day with a breast clinic appt for 10 days later.

Waiting for the first appointment is the worst part, truly. Once you're in the system, the diagnostic programme will rev up very quickly -- if there's anything sinister, it will happen fast.

This was me. I didn’t cope. But it was just a cyst.

Oh I’m sorry op. Been there, I know how scary it is. Stay positive and most of all stay busy - or that’s what helped me anyway. Waiting for the appointment /s is shit. After various poking and prodding, I had a biopsy which still didn’t show conclusively one way or the other, so had it removed before they could say for certain (that it was benign). It was a long and stressful wait, so I get you. Hugs to you.

After I had my appointments I spoke to my sister about it. She said she found a lump with nipple symptoms a while ago on a weekend and she called 111 as she was freaking out. They gave her an urgent treatment centre appointment within a few hours and the dr there examined her and referred her to the breast clinic. If I had more symptoms than just a lump I think I would try 111 as I would also be stressed and upset waiting a week for the GP appointment

(edited to add hers was just a cyst and the nipple symptom turned out to be a coincidence)

Still havent heard back from GP and am number 27 in the queue. I've taken today off work whixh I feel incredibly guilty about.

It is awful, the waiting. I hope you get seen very soon.

Totally unacceptable. You need to make a complaint asap. Any lump etc should be seen as urgent.

I hope you got your appointment OP.

Nope. Trying again tomorrow. They had nothing today.

Outrageous. I’m so sorry OP. You sound a bit beaten down by this, is there anyone who could speak more firmly on your behalf?

You need to be more forceful. Go to the surgery in person. Cry if you have to. Say you will contact the media/MP...

It is worth double checking whether you can self refer to your local breast unit - I only mention it as my local hospital has just brought this in.

I hope you get an appointment soon.

I found a lump over the weekend, phoned my GP at 8am today and was seen at 10am. It's the way it should be - I'm so sorry you're having a horrible experience, that's just awful.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts OP. I'd had a few lumps over the years and each one is terrifying - but fortunately all cysts and all drained at the breast clinic on the day. The vast, vast majority of lumps are benign, so let's both hold onto that and hope we're in that majority 💐

So sorry you’re having to wait, OP.

FWIW, I had brown discharge from one nipple and it was nothing.

I can't believe this wait!
I would ring 111. I have done this in the past when no GP appointment was available and they made me an appointment with a GP who works for a service that backs up local GP services.

Just a bit fucked off. I'm going to call at 8am for their on the day appointments and when they say I already have an appointment booked i am going to say 'well as you've got an appointment to offer me today i would like that one instead'. Its because I submitted my form online. Its a joke.

Very best of luck today OP.

I hope you get on ok today. I had a lump near my nipple and had the two week referral to the breast clinic, thankfully it was just a cyst which they got rid of there and then, fingers crossed yours is similar but I feel for you it’s so worrying x