to want a 2nd opinion on a breast lump?

[MajorClanger123]

Went to one stop breast clinic a week ago about a breast lump and pain. Was examined and had ultrasound.

Sonographer couldn't see anything (couldn't even find lump - kept asking where it was and I tried to show him but tricky when lying down). I didn't realise but they don't scan entire breast - just areas & around where you can feel lump.

Doctor was lovely & reassuring, said all fine & breast tissue per scan all normal. I did ask "what could the lump be?", reply was 'maybe an enlarged milk duct'. I was so relieved that I skipped out of clinic happy.

Fast forward a few days.... still feeling the lump, still wondering what actually it is and still wondering why it wasn't seen on the ultrasound. I've rung the breast clinic and a very nice lady said she'll post all my reports to me (I thought I might stop stressing if I read that).

AIBU to want to know (a) what exactly the lump is and (b) to be feeling still slightly nervous about the lump? Should i just accept that all is fine (I', 38 by the way, have breastfed 3 kids heavily from the boob in question - it was like a dummy for my 3rd child ).

I saw a registrar initially, who did a full examination and couldn't feel anything. I then showed her how I feel the lump (deep in the tissue, with a bit of prodding / poking to be honest). She got me to lie back down to feel again. Didn't seem worried and said seeing as I was a captive audience, I would be scanned (i.e. not even sure she felt that was worth it). After the scan, when she told me all was fine, I did ask what could the lump be? She said maybe an enlarged milk duct.

I

I recently went for a lump check up. They found the lump again they only scanned that area for some reason I thought the US would scan the whole breast.
I guess they only do that if the mammogram shows it needs it.
They said it was fat and I said why was it painful . But they don't know and sent me on my way.
I got a one line letter describing the lump.
Fast forward a month I find another lump opposite breast. Ring clinic they say mammogram says you have lots of lumpy areas in both breasts.
I didn't know this till then but I am going back again .

Your experience sounds very similar to mine although I am slightly younger and felt better afterwards than you did. But I have had a little niggle of "what if" about the lump as I am not certain the sonographer viewed it properly on the camera - similar to how you describe.

That said, I did feel fully reassured as I left with my diagnosis of fibrocystic breasts - fatty lumpy breasts, charming The consultant seemed very competent and professional and very much left me with the impression that he knew all about breasts and there was nothing concerning him about mine even before I went for the scan and I did find relief in that.

I think you would probably benefit from going private and getting that extra reassurance, I've been private for a few things and the amount of time and care has been very good. I think it is wonderous that there can actually be a price on peace of mind! So worth it in a lot of ways if you can easily afford it.

I can understand why you are anxious, it sounds like you don't think the sonographer could find the area you are worried about? Did you not see a breast surgeon? Was it just a sonographer? I went private with my lump so saw a Consultant surgeon, worth every penny I must say. He really took his time scanning both my breasts (not just the one with the lump), thank god he was so thorough because he found a small cancer in the other breast! The lump I had felt was just a cyst.
I'm one year post mastectomy and doing great.

Pay the £800 if you have it and get them to thoroughly examine both breasts to put your mind at rest.

Thanks all for your messages. I was seen by a registrar doctor (who was part of the breast surgery team). Then by the sonographer (for ultrasound, no mammogram as too young / breasts too dense) then back to the registrar to discuss results. All in a specialist (& apparently award winning) breast clinic at my local hospital. Both breasts were examined but only the left was ultrasounded as that is the one with the lump.

Gosh missy so glad to hear you're now doing well after the discovery in the other breast. I'm pretty certain that I will go private, although I'm currently waiting to receive my notes from the clinic and I will do as the very kind breast surgeon who posted upthread suggested - to speak further to the clinic for a review of my results. I'm also investigating private health cover policies - although unlikely to now cover this breast issue as will have to declare that on the form, but anything else should be covered.

Sorry, didn't mean it to sound 'snippy' at the "apparently award winning clinic" bit, it is indeed award winning. The staff were lovely, the clinic was lovely, I just didn't quite get the reassurance I required and I feel that is partly my fault for not asking / pressing them for more information at the time. Hence why I feel a pain in the backside going back to them and figure going private might be the preferable option.

I probably do have abit of health anxiety around it memorial' however my point in going private for a second opinion is partly fuelled by the fact that I don't want to keep going back to the NHS unit as I'm aware that the NHS is stretched to the limits. If I go private, I avoid clogging up the NHS with my health anxiety.

Sorry about your diagnosis wherethe but glad to hear you're making a good recovery.

Ooh my first deletion, wonderful.

Hi major.
I have only just found this thread, but have been looking for you. I have followed your previous posts, as I am currently going through the same. I went to the one stop clinic on Friday with a lump that is uncomfortable and feels like half a blueberry. The Dr that examined me said it is a benign fibroadenoma, but I needed the mammograms and ultrasound too, possibly a biopsy. Had both tests, and but not the biopsy, and nothing at all showed up. The radiologist that did the scan and looked at the mammograms said all is fine, it is most likely to be normal glandular tissue, and that if there was anything malignant it would have been seen. I came away initially relieved, and but still wondering what the lump is. A friend of the family who is medical says she is not surprised nothing showed on the scan as if it is a fibroadenoma they move out of the way, and when compressed can look like breast tissue. I am now waiting for the scans and mammograms to be looked at by the consultant radiologist to see if their findings agree. Not sure what to think about it all, and while I am reassured to a degree I want to know own exact what the lump is and would prefer it to be removed. I am 41 with 3 children, the youngest 19 months, and it was also mentioned about hormonal factors too. X

Oh blimey - perhaps swearing is not allowed on MN pat?! Shame as wherethe's post was really helpful and that has gone too

glue Thanks so much for your post. Although I am sorry to hear you're in the same situation, I have to confess it is (weirdly!) reassuring to hear of similar clinic results & similar worries afterwards.

I didn't have a mammogram (too young at 38 / breasts too dense), but apparently after the ultrasound, my breast tissue was graded as U1 (which registrar told me is the best grade and means all looks completely fine). U1 is 'normal, U2 / U3 benign / probably benign down to U5 = highly suspicious malignancy. But i'm just not sure he fully scanned the area (I wasn't paying loads of attention as quite nervous and lots of people in the room - it was only when he said all done that I thought I don't think he's done the whole breast).

I'm still waiting for my full report to come through the post - if I don't hear today i'll chase. Once I have that, I might find it explains things better and I've been told i'm welcome to telephone the clinic to discuss further. Then if still not happy, i'm booking a private appt.

I have also booked an appt with my GP for Monday to have my mirena coil removed - i'm convinced its all linked. I have never had breast pain before until the mirena was fitted 2 years ago. My periods stopped 6 months after the fitting, and no periods until last Oct / Nov when they seemed to start up again, albeit mildly. Coupled with sore breasts both sides & ongoing sharp pain specifically in the left breast (side with the lump). I know my GP will quiz why i'm having it removed, but I want to strip away any artificial hormones and see what happens. I have read on other MN threads how diagnosed (via biopsy) fibroadenomas have eventually disappeared after mirena removal, so i'm willing to try anything.

Seeing as this seems to be a fairly common problem (i.e. women leaving the clinic reassured then doubts start to creep in again) I will be sure to keep updating this thread. I am aware it might appear 'health anxiety' but I genuinely am only ever in the GP surgery with kids issues, never my own. Granted I might have become a little fixated with this breast issue, but when there is a hard lump in your body and you don't know for sure what it is, I feel its only sensible to be 100% thorough.

Funny you say about the mirena . I had mine removed to after reading many things about breast lumps being linked to it

Was that recently VLcos? Just wondered if any difference now? I think mine gives me periods of huge anxiety too (hence stressing over breast lump excessively) so I'd like it out.

I have had a similar experience! And it make me wonder if you should look at some training for the sonographers. Maybe it's not general but every ante natal scan I went for was very calm, the sonographer would explain what they were doing - making measurements, looking at head, toes etc.

I suppose there is less to see in a breast exam but my sonographer rolled her eyes at the other nurses in the room when I came in. 'Another one with breast pain! Why does he keep sending me patients with breast pain? Pain isn't breast cancer!' hahaha. Then told me where to lie, did a quick swoosh with scanner and said 'breast pain is hormonal you need to have evening primrose oil.'

Then I mentioned how my mum had died a few months before of breast cancer that began with pain. She must have realised how concerned I was so she had another look.

Bedside manner left a lot to be desired. My pain seemed to ease for a bit then came back (I did take the evening primrose oil!) I got very worried and returned to lovely GP who referred me back to breast clinic where I was scanned and cleared again. Finally got to a physiotherapist and found it was muscular all along.

Fwiw all the clinicians (apart from sonographer) were really attentive and respectful when I returned. And reassured me that it was right to get checked if I was worried. They also offered genetic counseling at the clinic. Like you I felt like they might think I was an over-anxious malingerer but I never got that impression. Especially as I think I do have a some health anxiety.

Sorry not 'you' obviously 'them' as in nhs

Major clanger123 I had it taken out in December after 2 years after I found a lump. Which turned out to be fat.
Since then my hormones have been a bit crazy, been a bit tired and another lump has appeared which I have to go back for .
Gp said I was being over dramatic having it out and hoped I didn't come back pregnant !!!

I am 38 I had a mammogram did you say they said you were to young for one ?

drivingmisspotty really sorry to hear of your awful sonographer experience. All I can think was that she was trying to make light of the situation (perhaps to make you worry less) but in a really crass way and it clearly backfired because, given your recent loss, she was completely inappropriate and insensitive

I have to say my sonographer, who was a man, was lovely. He is based in the breast clinic so I guess a specialist in that area. Glad that, ultimately, your issue was muscular pain.

VLcos thats interesting re: mirena - am totally expecting my GP to be surprised about my having it removed and questioning why. I'd try anything to get rid of the lump and that is what I will tell him!

Still waiting for my notes - 10 days after clinic appt. Once I have those, I will decide whether to call up the breast clinic for a follow up, or go private for a completely separate opinion.

VLcos I think they said it was a combination of

Have you had a copy of your notes yet @MajorClanger123 ? Hope you are ok.

Hi dubious No still not received notes! I did phone breast clinic on Tuesday though and she apologised and was sending them out to me ASAP so hopefully any day now.

I also saw my GP this week as I went to have my mirena coil removed. He commented on the breast clinic appointment - said he'd received the report and hoped I was feeling reassured. I said 'kind of' although was feeling wobbly as still not clear what lump was. He looked at my notes and said they did a targeted ultrasound and all was fine, so we left it at that until i've read the notes.

To be honest I've calmed down a lot &, whilst i'm still feeling the lump / lumpy bit every few days, there are some days when I can barely find it.

I am tempted to wait a few months and then go private if lump still palpable. I veer between feeling I'm being completely neurotic to thinking no harm in getting it checked out by a second clinic and I'd kick myself if it was anything malignant and I'd left it too late

Glad you're feeling calmer. All sounds positive from your GP's comment but I still know how you feel. Obviously if your lump is sinister and has been missed then it won't disappear, so your plan of watch and wait seems reasonable to me. Although it sounds as if you have absolutely nothing to worry about!

Thanks dubious

Ladies, can anyone recommend a one-stop breast clinic near Cambridge? My mum is visiting from India and experiencing symptoms. She can't have any tests on the NHS. I am torn between sending her back home for the tests (I can't go back with her at this time, really bad time at the job to be going) and being with her when the results are handed out. I want to take her to a clinic here but you ladies are telling me that prices vary. So, do you know anywhere I can take her to that is reasonably priced?

And wanted to say without mumsnet I would be doomed. You have held my hand on so many occasions. Cannot thank you enough.