Terrified, pelase hold my hand

[ScatteredMama82]

So I’ve found a lump in my breast, and I’m having really odd sensations in it like a tingling/burning feeling. I’m 40. My Mum was diagnosed with NC at 48 and 4 years later she was dead. I’m a wreck, I have a GP appointment this afternoon to start the process of getting checked out but I am terrified. I’m shaking, I’m imagining telling my kids I’m dying. I’m so scared. DH is working away and has a long drive home, I haven’t told him yet as I don’t want him to worry.

Oh, yes, that was me in December as well. My Dsis had BC a few years ago, so clearly it was my turn :(

Except it wasn’t

All turned out to be a swollen lymph node and completely nothing to worry about, but MY GOODNESS the thoughts that go squirrelling around your head before you have the tests.

They said I had to take DH with me. I didn’t want him, he didn’t want to come, but he came with me anyway and we had an embarrassing lunch afterwards as I sobbed with relief into my fish.

Do let us know how you get on xxx

No reason to panic! You're getting it checked quickly which is the right thing to do.

I've had this a few times and it's always been a cyst. One time it felt weird almost hot and electric, turned out the cyst was infected and a bit inflamed. They aspirated it there and then with a fine needle, painless and it never came back. Good luck OP most likely a load of worry for nowt x

Plenty of women have lumpy boobs. They just don’t like to say so, for obvious reasons. However, sometimes, those lumps do get inflamed and feel the size of a walnut, hot and tender. I had a needle biopsy at about aged 30 and all was fine (except the pain when the drugs wore off). This inflammation had happened on and off episodically for a few years before I had the biopsy.

You can only take it one step at time and you have taken the proper first step. Fill your time as best you can until the next step.

Sending much love. I was exactly the same as you 3 years ago this week. I saw the specialist within 2 weeks and it was fibroid. The GP had already decided that, but sent me just to be on the safe side. I hope you get some answers today x

Good that you managed to go to work and that you’re seeing your GP.

Completely normal to go to the worst case scenario given your mum’s experience.

But even IF you do end up with the worst case, as a PP has said, treatment has changed dramatically since your Mum was diagnosed.

And really good advice to call Macmillan and talk to someone who can listen and give you helpful information.

Thinking of you OP.

Best of luck op, I know there’s no point in saying not to worry but hopefully it is nothing. I know loads of people who had lumps that turned out be harmless.

Worst case scenario and it is something more then take comfort from the fact treatment has advanced so much since your poor mum had it that survival rates are much, much higher. Even the survival rates on legit cancer websites are out of date because they must be at least 5 years old to have that data - care & treatment are improving that much.

Sending much love your way xx

The chances of it being something else are higher than the chances of it being something very bad. Deep breath, chin up. You'll be ok. x

Sending hugs, OP XXX

I've been in twice for lumps, neither of them anything to worry about. It was all dealt with so quickly. don't panic. My twins were newborn the last time and I was terrified I wouldn't see them grow. It's best not to let your mind run too far ahead. You're doing the right thing so don't dwell on it until you know what's going on. Good luck.

Hand hold for you. Let us know how you got on at GP

Sending you the hugest hugs. It's impossible not to be terrified but there is every chance it is all fine. My mum has had half a dozen lumps over the years and they have all been benign. Each wait has felt horrendous though.

This happened to my sister at 44 and my friend at 32. In both cases it turned out to be harmless, but they were worried at the time.

Go and get it checked and remember the likelihood is that it's nothing. Even if it is something, catch it early and it can be treated. Just try to call down, do some breathing exercises and go to your GP.

Finding a lump is terrifying and I'm not surprised you're feeling the way you are. But as pp have said a lump can be any number of things.

The lump I found turned out to be a fibroid like the pp above.

You're getting it checked out quickly, which is a good thing.

Yes, call Macmillan, it'll help to talk to someone in RL and feel free to cry.

Very, very best of luck this afternoon.

Very best of luck to you OP. Thinking of you xx

BC survivor here. Please tell someone in RL as soon as you can. You need some support. The vast majority of lumps turn out to be nothing to worry about.

I know it’s different for each person, but try to remain calm. Do your work to take your mind off it. I also have had a number of lumps over the years, they all turned out to be cysts ( which is when I also had a burning/ tingling sensation) which they aspirated and that was it, or a couple of fatty lumps that were benign. I know you will be worried about what happened to your mum but you have done the right thing and the doctor should send you for tests. It could be lots of things, not cancer

Join the Cancer support thread here .There's lots of us who have had, have or are waiting test results for breast cancer.

Tingling and burning does sound more like a cyst/abscess sort of thing.

Did you breastfeed? I’m asking because I know a few women who’ve had cysts and similar from “left behind” milk in the ducts calcifying (or similar) and creating an immune response a few years down the line after they stopped bf-ing.

We’re all right here.

Look your doing the right thing at least your seeking help and yes it is a shit scarey time been theer myself twice now not BC but my ex devloped that but is now fine treatments are improving all the time even if it is something bad which it may not necessarly be anyway!

Handhold here, love. I’m a nurse and worked in breast health for ages. Good to have it checked and begin a referral process if needed but aassuve majority of lumps are benign. Given your mum’s history it’s best to get checked ASAP but please try to breathe and just take things step by step. Perhaps you have someone who can go with you th te appointmen or to chat with IRL?

Hi OP, you're braver than you think. Honestly, you are. I bet you're putting your best face on for everybody despite feeling like crumbling. You are amazing.

hey OP, this must be very stressful.

i was referred on a 2-week wait about 6 years ago, for a lump i had been studiously ignoring.

i had mammograms, ultrasound and punch biopsies. none of these things were pleasant, but it wasn’t unbearably awful either. i ended up electing for surgery, even though the consultant was very, very sure it was a fibroid.

lumpectomy was fine. recovery wasn’t awful. the letter i then received explaining that the lump wasn’t what they thought, and histology showed it was a rare-ish thing called. Phyllodes Tumour. i then had further surgery to ensure it was all gone.

all of this, OP, whilst terrifying, was bearable as long as i talked to someone about it. you shouldn’t be carrying this burden of fear by yourself. talk to someone, please.

i have everything crossed for you. the NHS were amazing with me. they will be with you, too. trust the process, and once again, talk to someone.

Hugs OP

Holds out hand (sorry it's a bit sweaty, but it's still supportive)
You're doing the right thing getting checked, and chances are it'll be something harmless.
If it's not, there are always options, and it's not a death sentence. Things will happen quickly if they need to.
In the meantime, keep breathing, keep posting if it helps, and remember you've got all of us here to support you.
squeezes hand

Just a hand hold here and as others have said don’t panic. You’ve done exactly the right thing by booking the docs appointment, chances are it’s a cyst. Sending hugs