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.

Sorry OP I didn't read the thread... have asked for my post to be taken down

@needabitof Good luck this week. Hope it is good news.

@Silkieschickens Hope your appointment - not sure which day it is- has reassuring news.

Thinking of you

Oh OP, I’m sorry you’re having such a tough time. Just checking in to wait with you x

Thanks for asking Lulu I saw the hospital doctor on Friday and not great news and he also found a second lump that day. Looks like stage 3 or stage 4 lobular breast cancer, in skin, around 7cms but likely to be bigger on surgery. Had MRI tonight, CT on Thursday evening to see if spread to stage 4 into bones and liver as have bone pain then back to hospital doctor probably on 3rd Dec and then probably surgery after that as first treatment.

needabitof thinking of you and hope CT was clear.

@needabitof and @Silkieschickens I am thinking of and praying for you both, I hope the results are as not as bad as you fear. Sending big and gentle hugs xxx

Oh Silkies, that’s really hard news, I’m so sorry.

@Silkieschickens

Thanks for asking Lulu I saw the hospital doctor on Friday and not great news and he also found a second lump that day. Looks like stage 3 or stage 4 lobular breast cancer, in skin, around 7cms but likely to be bigger on surgery. Had MRI tonight, CT on Thursday evening to see if spread to stage 4 into bones and liver as have bone pain then back to hospital doctor probably on 3rd Dec and then probably surgery after that as first treatment.

needabitof thinking of you and hope CT was clear.

Thanks for coming back and updating. I was so wishing for better news for you. How are you feeling? (Don't answer if you don't want to) I found the process really hard to deal with when it was my mam. Once we had the full picture and we knew the treatment plan it was more manageable. It can be a so overwhelmingly fearful time. Hope you are ok sounds stupid.

@Silkieschickens, sending you a handhold: that's worrying news.

of@needabitof, I'm holding my breath for you as you wait the scan results.

In the hope that some good news will help you stay positive, I finished my radiotherapy almost a fortnight ago and while it's set back the wound healing process, the aftermath hasn't been too uncomfortable. I'm back to normal life now.

Sorry, the above was also for @needabitof.

@Silkieschickens

Thanks for asking Lulu I saw the hospital doctor on Friday and not great news and he also found a second lump that day. Looks like stage 3 or stage 4 lobular breast cancer, in skin, around 7cms but likely to be bigger on surgery. Had MRI tonight, CT on Thursday evening to see if spread to stage 4 into bones and liver as have bone pain then back to hospital doctor probably on 3rd Dec and then probably surgery after that as first treatment.

needabitof thinking of you and hope CT was clear.

Let's hope you get the best news possible from the CT scan. Nothing is necessarily connected. Will be thinking of you. It is such a tough time.

Thanks all. So glad you are better now XingMing

Lulu Thanks very much for thinking of me. It's a strange time at the moment, I never expected to get breast cancer, no family history though apparently only around 15% is inherited which I didn't realise. I have been tested for quite a few cancers over the years, mainly due to bleeding, and always came back negative and thought this would too especially when GP in June had said would be almost certainly nothing. But I had this nagging voice that need to be checked though was scared to be checked as such a big lump I knew if cancer the news would be bad.

At least I am in the system now and its going fast and does not seem, unlike the rest of the hospital to be too badly affected. Its hard doing appointments on your own but the nurses are lovely, its so busy in there its very rushed with the doctors so you can't ask all you want. But overall its impressive. Most of the time I still think its happening to someone else but that helps me stay stable. I did cry for a few minutes before MRI as it was suddenly realise it was me and also I was alone and that MRI nurse was grumpy with the world not with me. But it was fine in the end and CT on Thursday. The hard thing is not being able to promise you kids you won't die and making sure if you did die things would be OK for them, especially my youngest is autistic and pretty much mute. My eldest is going through gcse and lots of friends but a very stressful year anyway. I have a lovely husband who wfh all the time and his work are OK with it but its a lot of time off for him driving me to and from appointments. Luckily financially I can stop work and we have savings as it takes quite a financial hit too and we aren't really eligible for any help as we have savings. But I used to have a really good job and saved a lot and I guess this is what savings are for.

Now have to decide between mastectomy and lumpectomy and whether reconstruction and what method and just was put on spot last time with no information but rest of treatment will be decided my doctors. I queried whether lumpectomy would be safe and the doctor reexamined me and said may not be and lobular is often found to be much worse in surgery than found on MRIs etc so veering towards mastectomy and that choice maybe out of my hands anyway after MRI. Other breast appears fine but then lobular does not show on mammograms until later stage often, need to find out if MRI picks up. I think its 0.5% chance per year of getting cancer in that breast if clear atm. I am mainly concerned about support for my son, though a lovely friend of mine, where we used to live has offered to help. He won't speak to any professionals and no friends here. Dreading the treatment but its what you have to do.

I think the time between diagnosis and a treatment plan is the worst! Waiting for results is very difficult and worrying. Once you know what you need to deal with you can break the treatment down into sections and just deal with one big at a time.

I found all of my breast care team were fantastic but I was in shock and denial. Other people get cancer. It takes awhile to come to terms with what is happening. I used to cry in the shower so my kids couldn't see. Happy to chat if you want to talk anything through.

Sorry, OP, I just read the full thread. My apologies. Sending you lots of love.

Go back to your GP with increasing symptoms but not a and e, that won't change anything.

@tae19

Go back to your GP with increasing symptoms but not a and e, that won't change anything.

Seriously? Jesus.

Very best wishes to the op and silkieschickens.

Morning, So my scan results are all clear, apart from a very small area of concern on my sternum. I'm having a mastectomy next week, then the consultant will decide if I need chemo and/or radiotherapy.
The relief on knowing the plan is indescribable. I've been able to work for the first time in three weeks. (Self employed). It's as if I've given myself permission not to worry for a few days.
It's a big mass - 7 cm, so if they can't it out with clear margins I'll need the other treatments.
@Silkieschickens thinking of you for your ct this evening, I hope you get your answers soon.
Everyone else- thanks for commenting and supporting, it really helps.

Been reading but not commented so far, so pleased you have a plan OP and some certainty as to what’s happening next.
Hope all goes well with the operation and your treatment too.

So glad there is a plan. I definitely spiral quickly without a plan.
Keep us posted, thinking of you x

That's really encouraging @needabitof, and yes, getting a treatment plan is immensely reassuring. So pleased you were able to concentrate yesterday! Still sending handholds and keeping my fingers crossed that all goes smoothly.

Glad your have a plan need and thinking of you. I have my ct tonight and then I think will be shortly behind you on the mastecomy route. Mine is also 7cms and lobular though awaiting mri then ct results. Hope things goes as well as they can and I will be right here with you just a week or two behind.

Rooting for you without anything helpful to say. Good update.