Come reassure me, just found a lump

[Notimeforaname]

In my right armpit.
Its very sore to touch/press lightly.

I suddenly noticed the pain about an hour ago and there's a visible red mark where the lump is. Its definitely not an ingrown hair as it doesn't hurt if I drag my finger across the hair follicles if you get me,its definitely in my armpit/a lymph node possibly?

But I've had some other issues over the last few weeks which are really concerning me now.

About 6 weeks ago I started getting pain in that right shoulder,like it was the rotator cuff or something was trapped if I I tried using my full range of motion. I just got on with things. It didn't go away.
For the last two weeks I've had more severe shooting pains in that shoulder and arm.
My neck has been stiff and painful on and off and some small stabbing pains in different parts of my chest and shoulders (sometimes both sides). On and off through the day.
I have lost about 8lbs in the last 3 weeks..I have lost my appetite a little... But I still eat.

Now this coming up in my armpit is freaking me out and I have stabbing pains in my arm/shoulder/armpit area as I write.
The pains are quite strong now. And if I raise my hand above my head...it feels like I'm tugging on the lump kind of..like the lump wont allow me to get my arm up all the way. If that makes sense.

My whole upper arm feels heavy and sore as well as the stabbing pains.

I'm going to call my doctor in the morning and beg to be seen.

My partner was here when I found it. He tried his best to calm me down. I had a shower and got myself together.
He's asleep now and I'm starting to let my mind wander and I really don't want to start crying and panic again so if any of you nice people have any advice,words of encouragement or perhaps a similar story to mine that might help me out do please leave it here.

Thank you so much, I can attach a lovely picture of my pit if it helps but it just shows up as a small red patch on the photo so not very helpful.

Sorry. Posted without noticing how old thread was and that you were in clinic today OP. Hope you are ok.

Hope all went well today

We’ve not heard anything from @Notimeforaname. I really hope this doesn’t mean bad news. 🤞

Sending you OP and hoping for the very best outcome for you

I hope it went OK.

Hi all sorry I'm so late to update.

Consultant said my lump feels very smooth so he's leaning more towards a benign lump at the moment, he was concerned with my swollen lymph nodes and pain in torso so wants me to have blood tests and chest xray first.

He was really very kind and said he didn't want me to pay for anything other than his consultantation fee so said he would refer me back into the public system(he works half the week in the public hospital) he said he would see where I am on the public list for my ultrasound and try to move that up with a biopsy to follow if needed.

In the meantime I've to wait for a call either in the morning or the next day to tell me to go in for bloods and xray asap.
I have family who work in the hospital so I think together..theyll have me seen soonish and hopefully get to the bottom of this.
I'm still losing weight but not as rapidly as before (I'm guessing stress?) hopefully this will all just be some sort of infection thats gone untreated for quite a while and can get it sorted.

I shall be up and dressed in 5 hours time so I can be ready to leave if I get a call.

I feel really lucky to have all of you lovely people checking in on me. You've made me feel so good.
I'm grateful for all of the honest advice.

You're a great bunch 💕

That sounds quite positive? I hope you get a better night's sleep tonight!

Waiting is the worst part, it's awful. Your Dr sounds great.

Glad to read your update. Moving this along at a good speed will help tremendously. It is all the waiting that does you in.

Get some rest. We are all here with you through whatever comes next.

I hope that the call comes soon for you and the testing can get underway and leads to a clear diagnosis and treatment pathway.

I'll be thinking of you.

I know about the waiting @Notimeforaname, I’m a cancer survivor 🎉 seven years on now. The waiting is the worst part. 🌷

That’s good news, hope you get your tests done soon. Keep us updated 💐 x

Hi all.
Went to public hospital yesterday for bloods and xrays.
Did the bloods but xray couldn't find me on the system.
I went to receptionist in breast care to explain I had seen their consultant in a private hospital 2 days prior and he'd sent me here. She said he would be in shortly so I waited.

She did speak to him and he said that he never told me I would be having the chest xray the same day as my bloods (I swear he told me I could do them both same day)
She said he actually had my file in his hand and was reviewing it to decide what needed to be done. (I thought it was clear..have the bloods and chest xray first whilst waiting to be bumped up for ultrasound on lump) so I left feeling a bit confused again. They just said to wait for a call from somebody.

When I was at the xray desk they said I was in the system for an ultrasound but there was no date next to it yet.
So it's just waiting again now.

Im now starting to feel like I should have pushed in the private hospital and just insisted they do the ultrasound and biopsy. But then again doctor's advice is best. Ah..I just thought I could pay the worry away,this one time...but it seems we've to just wait around.

I am in no way ungrateful though!!
I understand there are people in much worse situations and indeed people who are very sick being left to wait horrendous lengths of time to be seen or helped.

I suppose it helped when I had actual dates in place for next appointments etc but hey ho nothing to do now except try to remain as positive as possible...you lovely people have definitely been running that department for me the last few weeks! So thanks again for all your supportive words and advice 💕

I recently had similar OP, the pain was actually quite significant. Called my GP after a few days, went in to be physically examined. GP referred me immediately to the breast clinic as a precaution who saw me within two weeks. They were very clear that pain is rare with breast cancer as an initial symptom and that it was likely a cyst or similar, prescribed antibiotics for a week while I waited for my appointment.

At the appointment I had another examination and breast ultrasound (apparently it is a mammogram if you are older) and diagnosed with several complex cysts in the breasts that were currently not inflamed, so the antibiotics presumably helped. I was advised to consider coming off the pill as the extra oestrogen can cause the cysts to fill and become sore around the menstrual cycle and told to see my GP again if the problem returned severely to discuss but it was likely a 'hormonal blip' so said the breast consultant.

Couple of months later the lumps and soreness have all but gone anyway.

I was never overly concerned as it was made so clear to me that the fact there was pain indicated cancer was unlikely. Tests were a welcome precaution and ruled it out swiftly. Hopefully you can experience the same

Notimeforaname I really really want you to have an X-ray. Can you ring back and push hard for an X-ray ASAP??

I have skin in the game here as I've just had a diagnosis of lymphoma which was discovered on X-ray and I was very lucky that my husband pushed my Gp hard to brought it forward a week.

Lymphoma is really tricky to spot and often gets missed. I just want that possibility ruled out for you.

Babamamananarama I was quietly wondering this to myself,thank you.

I have family in the hospital who are trying to find out some infor for me by the end of the day.

I'm so sorry you've had this diagnosis..how are you at the moment? I will be thinking of you from here on out

Thank you dontgobaconmyheart for taking the time to share your experience and reassurance. It means a lot. 💕

I’m ok OP. Had a really scary hospital admission as an emergency and stayed in for a round of chemo. Back at home now and feeling much much better than I have in weeks. 5 more rounds of chemo to go but I’m feeling overall quite positive about the success rate they’ve given me.

But it could have been very different as I was really poorly by the time the X-ray caught it, which is why your thread has alarmed me.

Oh that's really positive Babamamananarama !
With an attitude like yours, I have no doubt you will barrel through these chemo rounds. 💕
As I saw with my best friend..it was always her positivity and unbreakable spirit that helped carry her through the difficult days. She's back to full health now and even more positive about life than she ever was before😊
I would love to keep up with your progress, wishing you the best of luck!!💕

@Notimeforaname sorry to hear about all the confusion with your x-ray. I think he probably just forgot to get you in the system.
In a weird way hopefully it's good news though, I was once sent for a second x-ray in the afternoon having had the first that morning as they were worried. So these appointments do appear when they think something is up.
Once he gets your x-ray request in you can see if your family can get you bumped up the list.
Hang in there, the waiting is the worst bit!

Thanks a million M0rT

Hi OP, do you have health insurance? You are now in the Irish limbo land between private consultant who works in public care and if you can at all get the tests done privately. If they show something or nothing, you will know what you are dealing with. The system is quite unbelievable, but if something shows then waiting time becomes the problem of the consultant. I wish you well. I had 2 tumours removed (also had childhood cancer, so not unexpected) but on the public waiting list I was given an appointment in 2.5 years time even with history of cancer and had to go private, seen, diagnosed and operated on within a 5 month period.

Hi lighteincastlewindow I dont have health insurance but did/do have the money to pay for all tests that day at the private hospital. The Doctor insisted he send me back to public even though I could have paid.

I have had my bloods done last week and my own GP sent me a text today to say the results were Satisfactory. And to let her know when I've had my appointment for my xray and ultrasound. Still waiting to hear for those.

I spoke to my own gp for the first time in 2 years,yesterday evening(it was a stand in GP who found the lump and referred me originally)
I called my gp surgery yesterday afternoon and spoke to receptionist, I told her I had a lot of pain and discomfort in both my armpits now and I have felt another small pea sized lump in the other armpit ....and that I am not sleeping or eating and what should I do ,should I keep trying to contact the hospital or should I wait ? (My family friend who is a GP told me to keep pushing and asking for advice) receptionist said dr would call me back.

Well...she did,she called at 6.45pm yesterday...I went through the whole thing with her, I got a bit upset on the phone saying I was trying to avoid this by going private and now what should I do...?

She said ....''You seem to be getting very excited there Notimeforaname, getting way ahead of yourself, sure what do you expect to be done the night before Patrick's day..a bank holiday.?? You need take a paracetamol or something like that and just wait''.... I felt so dumb. Like a fucking moron

Also lighteincastlewindow I'm sorry you've had to go through so much - as a child and adult.

I'm glad to hear you were treated successfully. How are you now ?

My GP also passed a snotty remark about being in both the private and public systems.

Had she had any people skills at all,I would have been able to explain to her why I had been to both.

I had been reassured by my family friend and a lady who worked at the private hospital,that it was ok to hang onto any previous appointments I had made,public or private.

I was worried at the start that it would look bad..like I had a finger in every pie...but was assured it was ok.

Sorry you’re having a stressful time at the moment- it must be really worrying waiting to hear the news.
Just remember that even at biopsy stage, a big majority of biopsies come back with a no cancer result