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.

Good luck!

Sounds like the cysts I've had - in which case it's not a mammogram that you need. They look at them with ultrasound and can drain them with a needle (not painful). I had one that got big enough to be causing me pain, so I understand that. They do go down as well as up, so hopefully that will happen soon.

I am sorry you are facing this worry. It will be a shortage of suitable Drs that is leading to this delay. A friend had suspected gynaecological cancer - same waiting time in a private hospital as in NHS. Turned out she would have seen the same Dr at either.
It does sound like an abscess or infection rather than cancer, but the best practice is to check for cancer just in case. Contact your GP and tell them the changes. Good luck.

Good luck. A few months ago I had breast lumps that seemed to appear from nowhere and were huge. In both breasts so GP was convinced they were cysts. Didn’t stop me from panicking. Like you put on the 2 week fast track but again was told it was closer to a month. Ended up being about 3 weeks. The lumps were cysts and were drained. They were so big I pretty much went down a bra size.

Good luck today OP what a worry for you. Let us know how it goes.

@speakout

OP I would phone BUPA- they have one stop breast clinics all over the UK- and no need for a GP referral. I was given an appointment the next day-for a one off fee of £380 I had an examination, mammogram, ultrasound and consultation. Results were given within 15 minutes- I was given the all clear.

I had a breast lump and was given an appointment on the NHS with a 6 week wait.
The £380 spent with Bupa was worth every penny.

It's ok saying how 'worth it' it is, but not everyone actually has access to £380!

@GoingBacktoSchool123

http://theharleystreetbreastclinic.co.uk

Not everyone lives within a 5 hour drive of London 🙄🙄🙄🙄

@BrilloPaddy - that is shocking. I do hope he makes a full recovery x

OP, I'd call 111 or GP for advice.
You are in pain, it is noticeably growing since you last presented.
You'll have a long poss pointless wait in A&E but GP might be able to fast track you for IV antibiotics / speed up Clinic referral quickly?

Best of luck with it, it is such a worry. (I had a referral in 2nd lockdown)

All those saying go to the GP, even getting through to some GPs during the day and getting an emergency appointment is a bit hit and miss. If you miss one of the slots, it's missed, whatever you say! That's if you get through.

If the mass was fast growing, hot and looked infected, and you couldn't get to a GP that day, then A and E in the evening might be an option.

Of course, what you have done OP is even better, phone the clinic. I always contact the secretary/clinic numbers and ask for cancellations, as there's bound to be lots, especially in winter/covid.

I just don't think these things are as simple as never go to A and E or go to see GP, it depends on the availability of both, and whether the situation is deteriorating. If you had an infection and were on the way to sepsis, then going to A and E would not be an over-reaction. I sense a tendency on Mumsnet to imagine you have to be dying to go to A and E and at busy times, in some places, that might be the case, but in others, it's not like that, and I don't think people on Mumsnet are equipped to decide if something is life-threatening, untreated infections are life-threatening...

I'll be reminded of this thread next time someone pops up to say life in the Uk is actually fab and we should just all be grateful...if you are not a pushy patient who is prepared to work the system, make extra calls, and just accept what is handed to you, you literally risk dying in the UK, our cancer survival rates indicate that.

sorry x post.
Best of luck for this afternoon x

Also crossed fingers for you OP, hopefully you will have a diagnosis and treatment on the way much sooner than you thought when you started this thread! Good luck!

Glad you’re being seen good luck

@DontWantTheRivalry

I would absolutely be going to A&E.

If it’s growing that quickly then it sounds like an abscess or infection that may need draining. Infections within the breast tissue can be serious if not treated quickly and appropriately.

For example when women get mastitis, I have known many women have to admitted for drainage and Intravenous antibiotics which are far more effective than oral ones. Plus, thinking about worse case scenarios, I have known some infections in the breast lead to sepsis if not addressed quickly.

If it’s growing at the rate it is and it’s causing you increasing amounts of pain then I would advise you go to A&E.

Totally agree

I hope you get seen today and it isn't anything scary.

@lanthanum

Sounds like the cysts I've had - in which case it's not a mammogram that you need. They look at them with ultrasound and can drain them with a needle (not painful). I had one that got big enough to be causing me pain, so I understand that. They do go down as well as up, so hopefully that will happen soon.

And this

I hope it goes well for you OP thinking of you xx

Good luck Op

I hope it goes well. I’m glad you were persistent.

Great - I'm so glad you rang again and grabbed a cancellation. Hope they can offer you some relief today - mental and physical

Really glad you've got an appointment for today OP, handholds for later on

I expect it's going to be a large fluid filled cyst , these grow big quickly out of nowhere and are painful , they are unlikely to fastrack you or give antibiotics, unless you have a fever or feel unwell .
I used to get these and you won't feel better until you know for sure , but the odds of it not being serious are high , the relief on having it drained is unreal.

Best of luck. Fingers crossed you can get some treatment asap and longer-term reassurance.

That’s great news that you will be seen today OP. I totally understand why you feel so desperate and considered A&E. good luck today, let us know how you get on.

Wishing you the best of luck. You will be in the right hands.

Wishing you all the best