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.

@needabitof and @Silkieschickens
Thinking of you both and sending love.

Thanks Flim Had my CT tonight and had MRI on Tuesday and awaiting results and to see doctor probably on next Friday

I have a similar size tumour to you need at 7cm though MRI could change that. I know mine will be at stage 3 or stage 4 as they have said cancer in nipple and also last time they thought 1 lymph node was included. I have pain in ribs and hips which are symptoms of stage 4 but they said would be an unusual route and said if I had not mentioned pain they would not have done ct scan. The ct scan was very quick but will see.

I have been told mine is lobular cancer of the right breast and her2 negative, oestrogen positive. I was told to expect surgery first, they initially suggested lumpectomy and take from side of breast and I queried if this was possible and they rechecked and said unlikely and so will be probably mastectomy but need a doctors meeting to agree. Then after surgery they will review what is needed. I was told if a lumpectomy to expect 3 weeks of radiation therapy every day Mon to Fri and then tamoxifen. With a mastectomy they said it may not need radiotherapy but could be 3 weeks of it plus tamoxifen is also required. I queried chemo and they said if I had been HER2 positive would have started with chemo but there may be no chemo as does not respond well to it or there may be something like 6 sessions 3 weeks apart. Obviously things are likely to change with MRI and CT results if they flag things.

I hope your mastectomy goes well and that is all you need but will be going through it with you and please feel free to PM me if you want to chat.

Hi OP

I really hope that the area of concern on your sternum turns on to be non-cancer related.

@Silkieschickens also hoping that your bone and liver scans come back clear.

I'm sending a 👋, some love, and hopefully some reassurance from the stage 4 breast cancer camp.

I was diagnosed as stage four 2.5 years ago, and currently my treatment is keeping the cancer under control, allowing me to live a pretty normal life, and I intend to continue doing so for many years to come. I'm part of a wonderful community of women that are living with stage 4, and I am spurred on each and every day by their stories of hope and resilience.

While there's every chance that your cancers are curable and you will both respond fantastically well to your treatment, I just wanted to share that stage 4 is not necessarily "game over".

I have everything crossed for you both and will keep you in my thoughts.

Thanks so much for posting that Doreen very kind of you and I hope you continue to live for many years to come.

Also @Pixxie7 when I was going through my breast cancer diagnosis, my breast lump was getting larger and more painful by the day. It's a myth that cancer never causes pain, growing tumours (as well as cysts and other benign lumps) can press against nerves which can be extremely painful. (My treatment had to start earlier than planned as I was in so much pain)

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@Jibberjabberhutt I agree. The OP was mentally in a good place and had been told what her consultant thought she needed to know at this point.

I agree - OP, please listen to your consultants and the experts who've met you and know you and have looked at your actual scans and body.

@Silkieschickens

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 you sound very measured given the fear you must be experiencing. I remember my mam asking the consultant, after he said she could have a lumpectomy or mastectomy, what he would advise his mother if she was in my mam's position and he said he would advise a mastectomy and explained why. Don't be scared to ask questions like that if you want to.

I hope everything with the CT and MRI is good news and you can get started on the treatment.

Just to support what a previous poster said about women who are diagnosed as Stage 4, I have a friend from where I worked who was diagnosed with Stage 4 breast cancer 4 and a half years ago- she was just 38. She had surgery and a procedure on her spine at the beginning and now just has a monthly chemo session. The tumours are now tiny and have not grown again in 4 years. She works full-time, looks great, can do everything she did before and is living her life with two young children to the full.

Best wishes for good news this week.

@needabitof

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.

Good luck this week with the mastectomy. It will be a relief to get that over and know the tumour has been removed.

Will have everything crossed for you and for good news afterwards too.

Just dropping by to send @needabitof and also @Silkieschickens a great big hug and lots of love.

Thanks Lulu and Its for your kind messages.

Just got ct and mri results and unfortunately there is a mass on the adrenal glands which they think could be stage 4. Also showed weak bones non cancer and scarring they think on lungs which they think is from covid rather than cancer. Another CT soon then 2 week wait to get results.

@Silkieschickens I wish so much the news had been better for you. I wish I could magic away this horrible waiting time to something more positive. I can’t imagine how you are coping with all this but you and @needabitof are in my thoughts and I’m so sorry you are going through this. Hugs x

Thanks Much for your kind message, they do help.

The waiting is torture.
So glad you're treatment is progressing.
The BreastCancerNow website is good for information and shared stories. breastcancernow.org/

Go to A&E as a mass increasing at that rate could be an infection which is not good for your bodies immune system.
Look at it this way, you will get a second opinion and possible a different route to care.
Perhaps look at a private appointment if necessary.

I have been following since OP first posted and this prompted me to go to my gp, I had been having pain in my left breast for a while. I went to the go yesterday where a nurse checked me, she found 2 lumps but thinks it’s nothing, my pain started shortly after coming off the pill and being sterilised, I have had scares before and been told I just have lumpy boobs. I haven’t been referred for further tests which worried me a little. I’ve been told to take evening primrose oil for a few months and see if it helps. I’m not sure if I should be pushing for further investigation? Can the nurse really tell that my lumps are nothing to worry about just from feeling them?

Thinking of those starting their journey and treatment, I hope all goes well for you

@saleorbouy

Go to A&E as a mass increasing at that rate could be an infection which is not good for your bodies immune system. Look at it this way, you will get a second opinion and possible a different route to care. Perhaps look at a private appointment if necessary.

WTAF🙄

@JustcameoutGC

You must be worried sick. I hope this is some reassurance but there are lots of things that can cause lumps in boobs ans only a small fraction of them are cancer.

A&e will not be able to magic you up a mammogram, which is what you need.

Your best bet would be to find a private clinic with an opening. Start ringing round any you can get to.

Did the GP say if you had any markers of infection? Something growing as fast as you say would more likely be an infection.

Good luck.

I'm sorry, I understand you're scared, & want tests, & a diagnosis now but an emergency department cannot refer you urgently for these tests.