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.

Listen OP, I've had cystic breadt disease since I was 25. Lump after lump - sometimes huge ones, sometimes clusters, sometimes on top of each other.

Every time I got a new one I worried until the day of the appointment. Sometimes at an appointment they found 4/5 I couldn't feel. Even with my history, the GP says they need checking out. Mostly I've been able to self refer back but when there's been a two/three year gap I have to do the full shebang again.

Most breast lumps are harmless - painless fine needle aspiration and Bob's your uncle. BUT even with my history of benign cysts my GP says every one needs checking out.

Cd you get a cheap b&b near the hospital? Could your health visitor provide support too?

My grandmother was just like you. She delayed diagnosis because she was afraid it might be cancer.
It was. She died.
My mother was told that there would have been a very good chance of treatment and many more years of life if she had gone to doctor earlier.

Just imagine how you will feel having to explain this to your children

Use your credit card to pay for a taxi or go overdrawn
Or raid your children's savings

Is there a family member who can transfer you the £100 taxi fare via online banking? You can pay them back when your dh gets back from his event.

I work in the Breast surgery department.

You need to go back and be very firm with your GP that you want a referral to the rapid diagnostic clinic. Equally you could phone the breast care nurses at the hospital and explain that you have lumps and your GP will not refer you. They can’t see you without one but they can and sometimes do phone the GP and tell him/her to do a referral for you.

If I remember correctly the criteria for a referral is difffernt for someone under 30. This is purely because it’s much rarer at that age but lots of women do have normal lumps and bumps and the clinic would be swamped if they sent everyone along.

Breast cancer does have a certain feel to it (it’s like concrete under your skin) although not always.

You need to go back and be VERY firm that these lumps have grown, they haven’t gone away and you need a referral.

How far away is your GP that it will cost £100 for a taxi?

To be blunt, if you keep making excuses as to why you can't manage to go to GP then folks might get frustrated with your lack of insight to your situation.

This is much more important than your feeling that your feeling that you can't do this without your husband.

Get the kids and go.
Is there no public transport.
How well do you know your neighbours. You would be able to return the favour some day if one could either take you and mind your dc, or at least mind the kids.

Better to ask a favour rather than suffer two weeks of emotional torture.

You need to do this. It is more important than you feeling you can't do this alone.
Pull up the big girl knickers and sort it because worried though you are, it's not just about you. It's also about your kids and their future.

In your are group it is more likely it isn't cancer than it is.

Lumpiness is common in young women, especially in the part of the breasts near the armpits.

Your GP ought to have told you to return for review after your next period to be re-examined, even if they didn't think it was cancer.

New benign-feeling lumps that don't settle after a period ought to be referred.

Go back, tell them the lumps are still there & ask to be referred ASAP to the local breast clinic.

Fingers crossed for a good outcome

*age group not are group

Break this down into smaller bits so it's not so overwhelming.
Today, ring for appointment next week with gp, a different one if possible, the receptionist might tell you who is sympathetic.
Next week, go to gp. Take dc if you have to. Explain and get doctor to arrange tests, possibly within two weeks, you can tell them dates you can't do.
Hopefully by the time appointment comes your dh is back, he will be pleased you are dealing with it.
Even a positive diagnosis is better than your imagination of what is going on. It's probably nothing but you need to check, you will feel better after.

OP you need to get it looked at again. I've had a lump, which I was convinced was cancer as soon as I found it, but I made a GP appointment the following morning.

They looked at it and said 'it seems to be glandular, nothing to worry about and does it come and go with your period?' Obviously I had no idea as I had only found it the previous night. They told me to keep an eye on it, however if there were ANY CHANGES LIKE IT GETTING BIGGER TO GO STRAIGHT BACK. As it was within 2 weeks it disappeared. Then reappeared when my period was due. As it is I haven't seen Mr Lumpy for about 2 years now.

On the other side of things, my one school friend had her last chemo session on Thursday for breast cancer (age 35), another school friend is having a shit time with her breast reconstruction, she had hers removed at age 28, and another school friend got the all clear 3 years ago, after loosing both breasts and the cancer spreading. She was 31 when she discovered her lump.

Your priorities need to be those two little babies. They need their mum. So you need to be pushing the boat out any way you can to make and attend these appointments. Even if it's knocking on next doors door, explaining the situation and saying I need your help.

OP I have worked in oncology and I don't wish to scare you but you simply have to go and get them checked properly. Please do it for your daughters sake. If it is worse case scenario you will better your chances the earlier you start treatment. Even a couple of weeks delay can make a difference. Where do you live roughly?

llanali fingers crossed it's nothing.

My GP is a half hour walk. It’s the breast clinic that will take me the best part of 2 hours each way.

I had a GP appointment last week about another condition I have. I was going to ask then but I bottled it. I convinced myself I was being irrational and there was nothing to worry about.

When I had my appointment through for the breast clinic it had a number to ring if you needed transport

And when this episode is done and dusted op, learn to drive if you are £50 each way to your nearest hospital by cab.

I am a military wife and the group of friends I made turned out to be rather bitchy so I’m in the process of trying to make a better group of friends. I don’t want to confide in the other group about this. And my family are all hundreds of miles away.

Post a note through your gp's door.

OP so you have absolutely no friends or family nearby, not 1 person that would drive you to the doctor (not the hospital because you wouldn't go there til you had a referral anyway) and watch your kids for 20 or 30 minutes whilst you were in there?? Really honestly not one single person?? Come on OP. Unfortunately you wont get a massive amount of sympathy if you're not willing to help yourself

Sorry OP but I agree with this.

So what is 4 hours in the grand scheme of things?

Screw up your courage and ring this morning if your surgery is open on Saturdays.

I wish I was brave, I’ve never been brave
OP you dont have to be brave to deal with this. You just need to break it down into small acheivable tasks. The first step is to make another appointment with the GP. You can do that today/Monday. You can take the LO's with you. The rest will be a small series of steps which you can do. Bravery not required. You are allowed to be scared. But you cannot ignore it.

If I were your mum and mybdc are grown up, I'd be up to you like a shot and v cross you had suffered like this on your own. Tell your mum. Hopefully she's normal unlike some one hears about on Mnet.

OP so you have absolutely no friends or family nearby, not 1 person that would drive you to the doctor (not the hospital because you wouldn't go there til you had a referral anyway) and watch your kids for 20 or 30 minutes whilst you were in there?? Really honestly not one single person?? Come on OP. Unfortunately you wont get a massive amount of sympathy if you're not willing to help yourself

As I said, I’m a military wife. I’ve also just moved house so don’t know my neighbours.

I honestly give up with this thread, I wish you luck OP but your excuses are annoying to be honest.