to be panicking about the (possible) breast lump I'm being referred for...?

[emeraldgirl1]

... particularly as I'm also being referred to a separate specialist for a swollen gland in my neck that I've had for the past 6 months? Now I'm panicking that they're connected somehow and even though the breast lump - I say possible breast lump because the GP isn't sure if it's technically in the breast tissue or in the underarm - has only been there a few weeks, the gland in my neck has been up for a long time.

I'm a hypochondriac at the best of times... Now of course my mind is whirling around all the possibilities, most of which I'm taking direct from House and ER, none of which are good. I'm too scared even to Google anything about it!!! HIghly unusual for a health nut like me.

I got referred for a lump about seven years ago. It is terrifying and there is no escaping that, but you just have to try to stay calm and remember that your chances of it being serious are slim, and even it is serious, with early intervention, your chances of it being able to be dealt with are excellent.

And definitely stay away from google...

Don't google! No point, won't change anything and it will just make you imagine all sorts of the worst stuff.

Don't worry, and now that your GP is on the case ...well, what Santa said :o Don't worry xx

Exactly the same thing happened to me.

It turned out that both of the lumps were in deed glands.

I had them for about six to eight months.

I had a throat infection, I was completely unaware of no soreness or anything.

Found out when a swab was done.

I know how scary it is, but the chances are it will be nothing serious.

My hypochondriac (but lovely) work colleague had this exact thing and it turned out that she had breast tissue growing into her underarm and this was causing issues with her glands.

If the gland in your neck was up due to something nasty i.e cancer, I think you would have been aware of it by now. You say it has been up a long time? I think that it would have given off other symptoms by now.

I would be worried too, so YADNBU. We are all here for virtual hand-holding though. Do you know when your referral might come through?

Try not to worry - I know, easier said than done! And I do this too!

But lots of infections can cause glands to swell and the swelling/lump on your underarm/breast area may well be swollen glandular tissue associated with the neck swelling.

You may have a symptomless viral infection (I'm thinking things like cytomegalovirus but I'm no expert). You may have had a virus ages ago and it's still lurking and causing swollen glands but no other symptoms.

DO NOT google - you will just build scenarios in your head. I know this because I've been there with suspicious skin moles more than once.

You are in the system and it will all be investigated - odds are in your favour of it being nothing serious so hold that thought.

Best wishes X

HI and thanks so much everyone for your lovely comments and advice!!
I agree that Google is the devil's work in these circumstances...

annapolly, glad to hear you're OK, I've been kind of assuming I must have an infection that I don't know about, or HAVE had one and the gland is just taking forever to go away.

cupcakesandbunting (btw you have the BEST user name!) - that does sound interesting re your colleague, something to think about for sure, and a less scary thing to think about, which helps!!

and WhatwillSantabring, you're right, I know - it must just be an October thing, but at the moment, terrible tales of young-age breast cancer (I'm 34) seem to be everywhere... And that's of course not even taking into account my paranoia about the neck gland.

Oh, how I wish I was one of those people who take these things in their stride! I'm only a wimp about this kind of stuff though, honest!

Mowoil - thank you, and you're right, it does at least feel good to be in the system. It feels like the grown-up thing, at least, rather than sitting at home worrying and not doing anything!

Whereabouts on the breast is it?

I had this when in my early 20s (was freaking out all over the place, visions of masectomies at 22 etc. etc.).
First of all, as a precautionary measure they refer everyone who goes to their GP reporting a lump. In my case, the lump was at the bottom of the breast (an area with lots of glands anyway) and the doctor thinks that it was thickening of the tissue because I drank too much coffee
I had an ultrasound which confirmed that it was nothing serious.

It's still there, but meh, I'm fine.

Also remember that out of every one hundred women referred for breast lumps, only one is cancerous.

I find statistics are more reassuring in cases like this :)

I was referred for a breast lump 3 months ago. I know how you feel. The only way I coped with the waiting period was to completely block it out of my mind. I was terrified. The lump turned out to be a fluid filled cyst.

My XH was referred for a large painless swelling in his neck which turned out to be a dental abscess which was surprising because it wasn't particularly close to his mouth.

When is your appointment? Don't be alarmed by the speed at which you are referred. All lumpy things are given priority even though most turn out to be benign.

Thanks littlecritter, don't know yet when my appointment will be but I agree with you that the best way is to pretend nothing is happening until it actually does...

AbsofCroissant, glad you're OK and yes I can imagine how your mind was whirring over mastectomies etc!! I'm the same! The lump is in the kind of top left-hand corner, if that makes sense - of course this makes me even more stressed because I saw Dr Chris Steele on This MOrning y'day saying the majority of cancers are in that area of the breast - at least I think that's what he was saying.

And yes, cupcakes, I agree totally that statistics are reassuring in these cases. Thank you!!!