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.

I think there are people who just need to post something, anything 😄 irrespective of the original post date. Sad.

That would be awfully fast for C. Abscess ?

RTFT folks!!

If it grew/growing fast and is painful its unlikely to be dangerous.

I had cystosarcoma (the fastest growing 'cancer'), it grew 1cm per hour in its inital growth then slowed to a few mm a month and I could feel it constantly it emmitted a unique 'pain'.

We left it in place and did watch and wait for over a year before my partial mastectomy no radio or chemo and it was completely fine still in the benign stages (the reason we removed it is constant growth can effect blood supply and cause necrosis), most cystosarcomas start benign and take a very long time to become malignant or to metastasize.

Most other breast cancers are not fast growing or painful, especially with 'dangerous' cancers its other non breast symptoms you tend to notice first.

Very few cancers require immediate life or death treatment and if it did you would likely die before you even knew you had it. So while your probably paniking and me saying this is unlikely to stop that what you have discribed actually bodes well for you and paniking will not help.

My tip of the day:

After reading an opening post, click "see all" to read the Op's further updates before posting a reaction.

Try not to worry too much. This happened to me - a large needle later and boom, out came all the fluid!

Thank you for that. I didn't know that was possible and much quicker than reading 29 pages!!!

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.

@JustcameoutGC is right - and to it I would add that a suddenly appearing large lump is unlikely to be anything malignant - more likely to be an access. Obviously it still needs to be treated asap, so YES! go to A&E. It may be that they will be able to aspirate it (grin it using a needle) and will give you antibiotics to deal with any infection. (I don't normally suggest going to A&E for random things, but this could make you very ill if it is infected.)

I've been in your position many years ago and know how terrifying it is. If only to have your mind set at rest, go.

Sorry OP - I didn't read all of your posts, and I should have done.

I'm so sorry - but now that you and the doctors know what you're dealing with you can concentrate on the practicalities.

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

You really need to read the thread this is not acceptable advice on this thread.

the OP was diagnosed with cancer

Lovely to read your update @Silkierabbit, and glad to hear you are coming to the end of your frequent appointments. (Take the time to prioritise your mental health as I know the transition from being under regular oncology supervision can be a tricky one).

Hope you are doing OK OP ❤️

It's always reassuring to read the posts from those with large or painful breast lumps that turned out to be benign, but I do think we need to be caution against the narrative of "painful or fast growing won't be cancer".

My breast lump was extremely painful and fast growing and was indeed advanced breast cancer. (I'm living with stage 4 disease but have been stable for 3.5 years and confident I'll be around for many more).

Posting my example not to scare people, but to hopefully reassure that even what I considered to be the worst possible news (aggressive breast cancer which had spread to my lymph nodes and liver and is incurable) isn't necessarily the end of the road ❤️

OP I just read through all your posts - I didn't read the whole 29 pages though lol! You sound so much better than your first post that was full of anxiety and fear. For what it's worth, I wasn't expecting a cancer diagnosis for you, with the symptoms you described I thought it would be cellulitis or some deep tissue infection. I wasn't even thinking cancer, I was worried about sepsis for you.
Yes, reading your posts and updates it seems that if you know what's going on you can deal with it. You certainly sound much calmer, much more positive, and ready for what's ahead. You have lots of supporters here on MN, wishing you luck and love - myself included.
It sounds like the op was very successful,, and I wish you a speedy recovery. It's obvious from your posts that you have some extraordinary inner strength that will see you through this situation, but there are loads of people here, waiting to care for you if you have a little (or big lol) wobble. Though I am not sure how helpful I would be to you, you are more than welcome to pm me for a rant, cry or whatever we you need. I am the sort that says what I think so if you want blunt honest reactions then I am your girl, woman, hag, crone, woman lol!
Take good care of yourself, big hugs x x

I remember reading this thread last year, I hope the OP is ok.

Just read the full thread, I do hope your well now op!

@DoreensEatingHerSoreen (loving your user name!), thank you so much for your post. It's uplifting to know that women with this bloody awful disease, even at stage 4, are still with us many years later Wishing you all the very best with your treatments, along with the OP and @Silkierabbit

I went to A and E with very swollen red breast. Tried antibiotics which worked so was mastitis. Advised to keep a close eye for changes, but nothing since. Yes sepsis is a thing so appropriate to go for potentially urgent treatment.

Apologies OP I hadn’t realised I wasn’t on the first page. Good luck with what you are facing.

Great update @Silkierabbit lot's of good vibes heading your way! Take care of yourself.

Hope you're doing well OP. Would love an update.

@mam0918 @CannibalQueen come on, even if you don't read the whole thread at least read OP's updates. You've both said it's unlikely she had cancer, when actually she did and has already had a mastectomy and treatment

Glad that you are coming to the end of your horrible journey silkie Hope the op has had a similarly successful journey. Xxx

Thanks everyone. Mine was painful btw and first noticed as a 5cm lump, it was 2 lobular breast cancers which grow as a spiders web to start and then form lump at end.

I hope op is OK, she did message me at chemo stage.