To go to the GP about breast when there might be nothing wrong?

[SmileThroughIt]

I suffer anxiety so have a tendency to put everything down to that and avoid doctors.

For around a year I've had a swollen area in my breast sometimes it hurts a lot sometimes not at all! It's deep inside my breast. Lately I've been very aware of it when braless it doesn't hurt and it's hard to pinpoint it's like that area of my breast is lumpy compared to the other and may just be breast tissue. A few days ago I had some yellow discharge from that breast, it's stopped now. I don't know if the gp will say 'er that's just your breast tissue' if I can't even pin point it well, it just feels different

I hope there's nothing wrong, but there might be. Go to the doctor. Explain it as best you can. A friend of mine had a weird feeling and discharge which required surgery. It wasn't cancer, but a duct issue. Go to the doctor.

I think the general rule with something that could be serious is you dont have the skills/knowledge to rule it out so you take it to someone who does. They'd rather see 100 people with harmless breast lumps than have 1 person sit at home with breast cancer & miss treatment.

Please see a doctor about this. It is not likely to be cancer if it's painful, but nhs guidelines say anything different in your breast should be brought to the attention of your gp: www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Breast-lump/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx

They see a lot of breast stuff and most of it is benign, but if your gp will not say 'er that's just your breast tissue' if you present with discharge and lumps.

Grr I meant 'but your gp will not say' (don't know where the extra if came from).

Go to doctor every time
I've been breast clinic with lumps 3 times and each time needed a biosy
Friend been 5 times and said to surgeon that a bit embarrassed seeing him so much. He said if 90% of breasts at breast clinic were normal and that if not, then service not seeing enough lumps!

You should definitely see your GP. Don't try to self diagnose...just go and see the doctor!

...and told her just to go back with every new lump

Definitely go to the docs. It could well be a duct issue as that would likely be painful. I had some very slight discharge and went to the GP didn't feel like I was wasting their time at all. He even told me I had 'good symmetry' which made my day! Turns out I'm probably peri-menopausal as discharge can be a symptom of that.

Please go! Not worth the risk. Most likely all is well and hopefully it is but definitely worth checking out. X

OP. Go to the GP urgently. Make the appointment NOW.

Pressed send too soon.....

My maternal GM found a lump but didn't go to the doctor because she was afraid it was cancer. It was and she died of it but if she had sought help she may have lived many more years. She died aged 52.

I found a lump in my breast when I was 17. Went to doctor straight away, admitted for tests, found it was benign.

Did I waste my GP and hospital's time and resources?

I will make an appointment, thank you for the push

You're not wasting the doctors time, you should definitely get it checked out. And even though it'll probably come back normal, you still won't have been wasting anyone's time.

Absolutely go to the doctor's as soon as possible. Even if there is nothing wrong, the whole point of seeing the doctor is to find out either way - that is precisely what the doctor is there for. If you go to the doctor with a breast lump that turns out to be a harmless cyst or hormonal changes, you haven't wasted anyone's time. The doctor isn't only there to tell when there's something wrong; they are also there to tell you when there's nothing wrong. You're in discomfort and you don't need to be - even if it's just a little bit of infected tissue, a cyst or a blocked duct it can be diagnosed and sorted out and you won't have to worry any more.

Any changes, discomfort, lumpiness or discharge from a breast should always, always be checked out. Make the appointment now.

I did this. Thought it was nothing and it turned out to be cysts. Please go to the Doctor. They honestly wont mind!

You absolutely should see the GP about this, I have frequent lumps in my breasts and my GP (and the hospital) have always seen me swiftly and I have never been told I am wasting time. Good luck OP, I hope things are OK for you too.

When it comes to potential cancer symptoms, you always go to the doctor. Every single time. And if they won't investigate, you keep going back until you do. Early diagnosis is key. My mother may still be with us if she had pushed harder.

That being said, the likelihood is it's something completely benign but you literally can't be too careful.

I would go. GP can't say either, you will need to be referred to breast clinic. Take no chances, you are not wasting anyone's time!

Please never let a GP send you away because it 'feels normal'. They can't tell by feeling, only get an idea, you must be referred. This happened to a friend, 3 years later it was a cancer diagnosis on the same lump!

The whole point of going to a medical professional is because they will be able to tell you whether there is something wrong or not!