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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to be a bit worried?

103 replies

EmilyRosiEl · 27/10/2018 20:49

I went to the GP yesterday and he is referring me on a two-week referral to a breast clinic for redness, texture change and bite-like marks on/in my bust. I also have a painful chest.

I wasn't sure what it could be so googled and found 'Inflammatory breast cancer' a few weeks ago (when the symptoms started)', which is a rare, fast spreading condition that can affect younger women and is diagnosed at a late stage (3/4). I'm 30 and don't even have my own family but was planning to.

AIBU to feel a bit scared?

OP posts:
MrTrebus · 27/10/2018 20:53

YANBU but hang in there OP don't Google and just let them do the checks and be positive Flowers

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 27/10/2018 20:54

No it's natural to be scared but please try not to google, many of us here have been referred on the two week pathway for potential problems with our breasts ( I have twice ) and so many times it's all turned out to be fine, everything crossed for you.

John4703 · 27/10/2018 21:02

My wife went to her GP with a breast lump. The GP thought it might be cancer, she was at the hospital in 4 days. OP if your GP has made a routine referral stop panicking.

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 27/10/2018 21:07

It's not a routine referral John, it's under the two week rule.

Tiredtomybones · 27/10/2018 21:11

Please stop googling. It will do nothing but scare you. Your appointment will soon arrive and the experts will tell you what is what. Flowers for you. I've been there and it's shit as your mind races about what might be.

GemmeFatale · 27/10/2018 21:16

OP. I won’t tell you it’s definitely not cancer because I don’t know. But if it is you’re in good hands. And it’s very likely it’s not. When you go to the clinic you’ll find everyone there is scared they have breast cancer because they all have symptoms that might be. And 90% of them won’t have cancer. Please try not to panic.

Original poster
EmilyRosiEl · 28/10/2018 01:24

Thanks MrTrebus, Tiredtomybones, GemmeFatale, GreatDuck and John.

I am so incredibly scared tonight. If it was a small lump I feel I would be coping a bit better but I have multiple symptoms of a particularly aggressive cancer and I am terrified.

Thank you for the reassurances though- I would love to write back in a few weeks to say that things are ok!

OP posts:
Blondebakingmumma · 28/10/2018 01:34

I’m so sorry OP. This must be giving you a real fright. As hard as it is, try not to google any further as it’s just going to add to your stress levels.
Good luck with the check. Let us know how you go 💐

Original poster
EmilyRosiEl · 28/10/2018 01:58

Thanks so much Blondebakingmumma! I will try to stop- I am so anxious at the moment.

Thank you- I will post back on this thread. I'm just hoping the referral letter arrives on Monday and I don't have too long to wait.

OP posts:
Shriekingbanshee · 28/10/2018 01:11

Flowers hand-holding if helpful. Just take care of yourself, I don't suppose anythings going to stop you panicking and being scared, but you have lots of support here. Do anything you can to distract and soothe yourself, and hopefully you'll get a nice quick appt to get this sorted out. Everything crossed for you x

Seren85 · 28/10/2018 01:13

I got referred under the two week wait route. I had a lump, painful breast and an itchy nipple. I was terrified. No need to Google it, I was worried. At the end of the day I can't say it isn't anything serious but it likely isn't (mine was hormonal but I did get put on the schedule for early mammos due to family history) and if it is, you're doing the best thing you can and dealing with it. Hope all is well for you.

thaegumathteth · 28/10/2018 02:05

It’s unlikely to be cancer - keep reminding yourself and also worrying won’t help either way. I hope that doesn’t sound harsh but sometimes I tell myself that and it sort of calms me down a bit because i remember I don’t have influence on the outcome.

FWIW I’ve been referred to the breast clinic twice when under 30. I felt the same as you in terms of being scared and it turned out ok.

Hope you manage to get some sleep and the appointment is quick: have you got someone to go with you?

maddening · 28/10/2018 02:32

Once you get your date maybe see if they operate a cancellations system for an earlier date.

Good luck op, hope you get good news and soon x

Original poster
EmilyRosiEl · 28/10/2018 13:48

Thanks Maddening, thaegumatheth, Seren and Shriekingbanshee.

It's really reassuring to hear from people who have been referred and were fine!

Maddening- I think I will do that as I'm free this week to go whenever. Sadly no DH/DP so I will probably go with my Mum.

Anyway hopefully I'll be back with good news soon.

PS. Do you think it would be absolutely ridiculous to spend £400 on a private breast MRI scan? I'm a bit worried about waiting for up to two weeks for this and then two weeks for biopsy results if it comes to it, in case it is IBC (I've read IBC is very fast spreading).

OP posts:
Shriekingbanshee · 28/10/2018 13:58

I would take advice on that one, although certainly don't think yourself ridiculous for considering it,IF it will make a difference, I would throw everything at it.

Mandapanda85 · 28/10/2018 14:02

Spend the 400 if you can afford it - may be worth it to help your short term worry. Thinking of you and have my fingers crossed 💐

Peridot1 · 28/10/2018 14:02

Not surprising at all you are scared. Anyone would be. I’m a lot older than you but have had treatment for breast cancer why was found through a routine mammogram. It hadn’t spread but was still terrifying at the time.

I wouldn’t say you were ridiculous at all to try t get a mammogram more quickly. If you can afford the £400 I would do it.

isitthehormones · 28/10/2018 14:05

I’m so sorry OP, it must be such an anxious time for you. Re the £400 I know if it was me I would pay it but it might be worth seeing when your appointment will be first of all compared to when you’d have the scan privately.

Whatever you decide I wish you all the luck and am sending positive thoughts your way Flowers

Returnofthesmileybar · 28/10/2018 14:07

If you have £400, it's a win win, it will either buy you peace of mind or time, money well spent either way. Good luck op Flowers

LEMtheoriginal · 28/10/2018 14:09

Go private if you can afford it. I was referred for a non suspicious lump. I was insane with worry. In the end i was given diazepam just to get me through the days. Tbf i suffer with anxiety so this nearly pushed me over the edge.

I had a horrible weeks wait then called the breast clinic as i hadnt heard. I was offered a cancellation appointment for the next day. We couldn't afford it at the time i but i can tell you now if it happened again i'd go private.

Not because of time - a couple of weeks wont change anything but for my sanity.

I had a cyst and they drained it. Sorted.

Cammomile tea helped me through although it tastes vile it made such a difference.

UpstartCrow · 28/10/2018 14:10

If you can afford £400 for a private MRI it would not be money wasted - its better to know one way or the other than to have to wait imo.
Best of luck with your diagnosis.

Namechangeforthiscancershit · 28/10/2018 14:10

Emily we have a thread for people
Waiting for cancer scans, checks, results etc. Some people are long termers (unfortunately, though we all are actually doing pretty well one way or another) but a huge number of people check in and out very quickly when they get good news- even on the two week pathway. So come over if we can help with a handhold. Lots of us are around 30.

There is a very strict no googling policy though so you need to step away from the search engine. I can’t tell you how much worse it makes everything

Hazardswan · 28/10/2018 14:12

If you have the cash get yourself sorted, can't put a price on peace of mind. Better to be safe and sorry and all that. Plus sods law the fact youve spent out will mean it's nothing and you'll be annoyed you spent your money!

purpleunicorns · 28/10/2018 14:19

Namechange beat me to it, pop over to the cancer support thread. There's loads of advice