To be terrified I might have cancer?

[Happyland88]

I have 2 Breast lumps in the same area of my breast. I’m 29 years old (was 28 when I found both lumps.

The doctor examined and said she wasn’t concerned (didn’t feel like cancer to her). This was about 6 months ago and I’ve found it hard not to worry even though I was given some reassurance.

One of the lumps feels like it may have got bigger and now I’m terrified.

If I didn’t have my two girls (aged 1 & 4), I wouldn’t want to get out of bed. I’m too scared to make a dr’s appointment. I don’t want this to be cancer. I’ve read that cancer in young women is very aggressive. I want to be around to see my children grow old.

I’m on my own as my husband works away, I’m just so so scared.

Breast cancer is extremely rare in young women unless it runs in your family but it would be good to get a second opinion from another doctor when your husband is back. Do you have any other symptoms or do you feel well? No discharge, pain or general weightloss or lack of energy?

You need to face up to it. You'll probably have to wait two weeks for the scan anyway. Do you really want to wait a month? Will your dp be home for both appointments?
Just do it.

You need to see your dr again BUT did she say they WERE lumps? Sometimes lumps aren't 'lumps' at all- they are just breast glands and most women can feel lumpy type tissue if they prod and poke their breasts.

Did your dr show you how to examine your breasts- with the palm of your hand, not prodding with fingers?
Also, breast tissue changes with your monthly cycle, so any breast glands can grow in the 2nd half of your cycle and may feel as if they are 'bigger lumps'.

I'm not trying to minimise this but I wonder if your dr agree they WERE lumps, or if she thought it was normal breast tissue?

Being positive, cancer in someone your age who has 2 children is very rare indeed.

Go back and ask again.

The return taxi fare would be over £100. Money I don’t have.

What do you want from thus thread OP.

If you wait a couple of weeks to see your GP it will most likely be another 2 weeks before your seen at a breast clinic. That's another month gone by.

I know you're scared but if this is cancer you are going to feel so angry with yourself for not going to the GP sooner.

Make the appointment. I'm horrified your GP didn't send you for tests previously. Don't be fobbed off again.

It’s unlikely that you’ll get a hospital appointment before your husband is back, but if you do, you just rearrange it until he’s returned. The important thing is to get in the system and the only way to do that is to go to your gp. Do you have no one at the school gates that you’re even acquaintances with? I’m sure someone would have the four year old at least for the time it takes to see the gp and it’s easy to leave the one year old in the buggy. I know you are frightened but the not knowing is the worst. I had a recent scare - I was terrified of ovarian cancer - it turned out fine. But only because I got it checked out. If it had been something, then I would have put myself in the best position to get treatment. Worrying yourself silly doesn’t help anyone.

Get a grip OP - do it for your DC.

You won't get an hospital appointment for a couple of weeks anyway so worrying about transport and childcare is not needed.

You're seen.

So don't get it sorted OP, that's your call.

But your initial appointment needs to be at the gp's. Your dp will probably be back by the time you need to go to the hospital.

The GP thought they felt glandular. She showed me how to examine myself and when doing it correctly, with the palm of my hand, these feel like lumps. She said that herself.

Go get it checked OP, please

I wish I hadn't left my lump for so long (2 months) before getting an appointment. If I'd gone straight away it would have been a simple lumpectomy but because I waited (also for my husband to be free) I needed lymph nodes removed, 4 months of chemotherapy, 6 weeks of daily radiotherapy and am now on hormonal therapy tablets for the next 10 years. Because I waited. Don't be me.

They said it didn't feel like cancer. Ffs that is shocking and probably cost saving on the nhs

Take your dc to the GP appointment, it won't be fun but you need to do this. You've had 2 lumps for over a year and one has been growing. Do this for you OP, and your family.

If it is cancer- it is cancer whether you wait or not.. Your choice to get that diagnosis (or confirmation it's not) sooner and give yourself the best possible chance of survival, or to bury your head in the sand and possibly leave it too late. Waiting will not change the diagnosis but it might change the end outcome.

well if she said they were glandular but lumps that's a contradiction isn't it?

You need to go back and maybe see another GP at the same practice- is that an option?

As I and others have said, the risk is extremely low in a woman of your age, 2 lumps would be quite unusual anyway , but for peace of mind you need a mammogram or a referral to a breast clinic.

Don't wait weeks for your husband to get back, please make an appointment asap

Where are you OP?! If I’m anywhere close to you I’ll come and pick you and the girls up and drive you. I’ll watch the girls while you are in the doctors/hospital. I’m a nanny of 31 years and have excellent references!!

OP there is some good advice above. I understand how scary this must be for you.

You need to get seen urgently.

It is likely nothing, but if it isn't then every day is going to make a massive difference in terms of development of the illness (potentially even the difference between recovering or not). If it's been going on for weeks getting bigger it is really vital you are seen TODAY. Just in case.

Call 111 and get an OOH GP if needs be, they should be more local than the hospital.

You can't put a price on your life. Sorry to be blunt, but you can't (and you don't seem to be taking in any of the advice above - everyone only wants what's best for you!).

I feel very sorry for you David but can we not get the OP into a panic? I know she ought to go back and sooner rather than later, but I'm assuming the posters here who have had cancer were not 29 when diagnosed?

Wishing you well David

I'm currently waiting for a second breast biopsy for an area that I can't even feel
There is no way the gp can tell what is causing your lumps
I've had numerous mammograms, ultrasounds, a core biopsy and now I'm waiting for a vacuum assisted biopsy and they can't tell me it's not cancer, so I don't understand how your gp can be so certain
Go back, get it checked now

I'm another cancer survivor who fortunately got it diagnosed early. Thank God I didn't bury my head in the sand.

It's not likely to be anything sinister anyway but if it is the unlikely worst case scenario, you want to act quickly.

Please go. My friend was your age, fobbed off by the GP and didn't go back, she's no longer with us and her daughter has no mother. I'm sorry to be harsh but this can be the (albeit rare) reality - as PPs have said - you can't put a price on life

I had lumps, and was referred to the breast clinic straight away (nhs), if I remember correctly, they have a duty to examine you within.2 weeks. After that, if lumps come back, you can bypass GP and go to.breast clinic directly.

See another GP and demand to be checked properly.

I believe 9 out of 10 lumps are harmless (mostly cysts), but do get it checked.