Huge mass in breast aibu to go to a&e ? **Diagnosis in and treatment underway for the OP** Title edited by MNHQ

[needabitof]

Last week I went to the doctors - my right breast has a big mass in it that has appeared in the previous week.
He checked my liver, lymph nodes, so I know what he's thinking, and referred me to the breast clinic under the 14 day rule. Except it isn't 14 days, it's over three weeks before you can be seen. The gp can do nothing to speed things up apparently.
I thought I need to pay for a private mammogram, it's £400. I'm desperate - imagining the worst constantly.
Managed to get a referral sent by the gp to the private hospital, only to be told they're breast clinic has been cancelled for the next three weeks.
Aibu to go to a&e to get some medical advice or wait? The mass is getting bigger and painful each day.
What would you do? Thanks in advance.

Morning,
@Helenahandbasketbing and@OneTitWonder thanks for sharing your experiences. It does give me hope. This is such an unknown path.
The bcn's are Macmillan nurses, and have been really supportive.
@ThumbWitchesAbroad thanks for the link, I will look into that definitely.

I had my ct and bone scan, now just waiting for the results.

Thanks for all your support, it means a lot, truly.

@LuluBlakey1 thanks. x

@thegreylady thanks for sharing your experience too, it all gives me hope.

@Silkieschickens I can't believe the doctor said that to you after dismissing you months ago - good luck with your appointment today.

Glad you've had the CT and bone scan. Thinking of you and hoping for good news.

@Silkieschickens

I am so sorry you are going through this and thinking of you.

Thanks also for posting as I have had a breast lump since May, emailed doctors in June and got dismissed, still there and reading this made me call doctors again and this doctor said expect it to be cancer, slim chance its not and referred me. Also 3 week wait here but after 3 hours on phone got through to clinic snd they added me to cancellation list and seeing them on Friday, they called today.

Wishing you all the best for the future checks and treatment.

Very best of luck today.

Waiting for results is the worst! Once you know and you have a plan it will be easier to deal with. I had to compartmentalise each bit of the journey to get through it. Surgery first, then treatment. Thinking of you.

Go to A&E.

@Thevoiceofreason2021

Go to A&E.

Oh for the love of God!

Thoughts and best wishes to you OP and to all the other ladies who are going through the same 💐

I missed your thread, I have been away from MN for the last couple of months having been diagnosed with breast cancer in August. It’s a bummer that you’ve been diagnosed ( I refuse to say I’m sorry I hate it when people say it to me, usually with their head tipped slightly to one side and a look that says I’m concerned for you but my boobs are cancer proof) but now you have been diagnosed try and breathe. You are in the system and your treatment is top priority but it does involve a great deal of waiting for results, results that are checked and rechecked toile sure they are correct. It will drive you mad with anxiety but it can’t be rushed. It’s not down to NHS shortages or waiting lists but just part of the process. There are so many types of breast cancer and they are now starting to realise that each one may be pretty unique to that patient, so treatment is now very much a bespoke process. This is what I’ve learnt from my journey so far,
They cannot give you full treatment plan at the start, it is great to have surgery first but some cancers need chemo first then surgery.
There is a very good Facebook support group Breast cancer support uk. The members have been through every possible treatment and complication and are the source of great knowledge and support. They will talk you down, push you along and generally be there when no one else really understands.
Please go and have a look, it’s a private group where you can ask silly questions, rant, laugh and share all the thoughts you don’t want to share with your family,

Thanks needabitof and LuluBlakey1 Unfortunately mine was also found to be cancer today and is a big lump as well so will be with you on this rather lousy journey needabitof

There is a good cancer thread under general health if you are not on it already, so sorry you are going through this. My next appointment is in 7 days. It was male doctor who dismissed in June then female doctor in November, wish had her first time though it was a big lump in June.

@Silkieschickens

Thanks needabitof and LuluBlakey1 Unfortunately mine was also found to be cancer today and is a big lump as well so will be with you on this rather lousy journey needabitof

There is a good cancer thread under general health if you are not on it already, so sorry you are going through this. My next appointment is in 7 days. It was male doctor who dismissed in June then female doctor in November, wish had her first time though it was a big lump in June.

So sorry to hear that. Stupid to say but try not to worry too much in the next 7 days. Is that when you get the plan? It's an awful time.

@Silkieschickens It was me who spotted my mam's symptom- which was an inverted nipple. She had had it for 15 months she said - had put it down to an accident she'd had. When it was removed they found two lumps one behind the other and large. It had not spread to any of her lymph glands and she had no further treatment apart from Tamoxifen. Never recurred. Hope you are that lucky.

Thanks - Yes they said I get a plan in 7 days time which is good as its not that long and at least then will know type of cancer and may know stage. They said definitely surgery, its depends on type of cancer etc what rest of treatment will be.

I am trying to distract myself next 7 days as nothing useful I can be doing before then regarding it as need to know type and stage first. I will be watching lots of trash TV and have a few work projects and kids always provide lots of things.

I wish all of you the very best. My own mum lost her life to breast cancer 20 years ago. Yet my mother in law (had the same cancer journey as my mum,) is still thriving at the age of 89. I am now in my forties and know that I have a good chance of having this same wretched disease. It runs in my family. I am desperately trying to outlive this dreaded genetic curse.

Oh @Silkieschickens - sorry you've also had bad news!

Up to you entirely, but that male doctor will never learn any better if he's not told what an utter arsebadger he was, so if you feel strong enough and want to do something proactive while you wait for the next stage, I suggest a strongly worded letter of complaint to the GP!
Outrageous that he just ignored it.

Glad that this thread prompted you to take further action though - it's also reminded me again that I must see if breast screening has started up again here (NSW, Aus - it was put on hold during lockdown unless one specifically had an issue, which I don't think I do, but I need to be screened) because I'm "that age" now where it's recommended routinely.

Best of health and healing to all of you undergoing this journey

Thanks. I won't complain but I have just forwarded his e-mail back to them with a btw this was cancer. It was partly my fault what happened in June, he sent an e-mail saying it would be nothing but they would call me and I was asleep during call. Having said e-mail said it was a hard lump of about 2.5 inches and skin affected. In my old area my GP would have not given up and would have referred me. The GPs are crazily busy and we live in an area full of old people. Trouble is whatever you send in to them gets it'll be better next week response after 2 days so I give up bothering. I am kicking myself a bit as I was going to go private in June but husband said not to and try GPs again but I didn't want to get fobbed off again and then there was just one child issue then another then we all got covid one by one over 2 months and I was really ill and in hospital with that.

It was sad though when I said it was my fault for not going back to gps sooner the doctor said no it isn't your fault, when we have gps tell people it'll be nothing, normally they don't go back until extremely late on, she implied when it was too late.

Though no real family history so wasn't especially on my radar. Both the GP and the first doctor seemed to know it was cancer as when I lifted my arm breast got distorted with very visible lump. I so wish I had known that meant it was cancer as it was like that in June, remember showing DH. The lump was also very heavy and hard which are also signs. And skin affected like puckering, orange peel and a rash.

@Silkieschickens

It was sad though when I said it was my fault for not going back to gps sooner the doctor said no it isn't your fault, when we have gps tell people it'll be nothing, normally they don't go back until extremely late on, she implied when it was too late.

Though no real family history so wasn't especially on my radar. Both the GP and the first doctor seemed to know it was cancer as when I lifted my arm breast got distorted with very visible lump. I so wish I had known that meant it was cancer as it was like that in June, remember showing DH. The lump was also very heavy and hard which are also signs. And skin affected like puckering, orange peel and a rash.

Please stop blaming yourself. Your GP should have spotted all of those as signs when you first went. I think you should complain.

My mum's was pulling on her skin, inverting her nipple, and she'd had it at least 15 months and it was very treatable. Please try not to think the worst at this point. So many factors are relevant and you don't know yet.
It is very difficult and scary when you don't know and don't have a plan. Just try to not over-worry and take it a day at a time until your next appointment.

Please don't blame yourself. I thought there was something wrong with my nipple for three years but various GP's kept telling me it was eczema and giving me cream! It was Paget's disease which is cancerous. I also had lumps which only showed up on an mri. I always think I should have pushed harder but I trusted the GP's when they said it wasn't cancer!

Thanks both. Trying to distract myself this week. Sorry you were dismissed for so long Marmite.

Thanks for your replies.
@Angrymum22 thank you for your rational message, it's hard not to get impatient, my appointment has been brought forward a few days so I'll see the consultant next week.
Funnily enough I've just joined the fb group you've mentioned, it is a warm place to be and I'm sure it will help once I know more about my diagnosis.
@Silkieschickens I'm so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, pleased my thread pushed you into pursuing it though. I'll join you over on the thread you mentioned.