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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

721 replies

needabitof · 14/10/2021 06:56

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.

OP posts:
Immaculatemisconception · 14/10/2021 10:15

@needabitof

Thank you so much for all your replies. I'm so sorry about your uncle #brillopaddy. I've phoned the gp again and am waiting for a call back but meanwhile I rang the breastcare unit as someone on here suggested - thank you so much for that suggestion - they have a cancellation this afternoon. Even though I was on the cancellation list being persistent is the answer I suppose. I can see that they aren't going to have the expertise or be able to jump the queue for me at a & e, I'm just so desperate I didn't know where to turn. Wish me luck for later and thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate it.
Excellent @needabitof. I’m so glad you’re being seen. Do let us know how you get on. 🌷
Katela18 · 14/10/2021 10:15

Hi OP,

No advice but I can see you've already had some great advice from others on here.

Didn't want to read and run, sending you positive thoughts and wishes that it's nothing serious Flowers

needtogetfit21 · 14/10/2021 10:16

All the best OP, thinking of you

washingmachines4 · 14/10/2021 10:19

www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/urgent-and-emergency-care-services/when-to-go-to-ae/

An A&E department deals with imminently life-threatening emergencies.

This sounds like you have an infection so you need to weigh up a few things - do you have a temperature that cannot be controlled with paracetamol

  • 40+ degrees C go to a&e straight away
  • looking out for signs of sepsis , signs of sepsis and you should go to a&e straight away

If there is nothing imminently dangerous about your situation you must go back to your GP or urgent care centre.

washingmachines4 · 14/10/2021 10:21

The posts aren't displaying properly for me for some reason so I missed the bit where you have an appointment at the breast clinic - definitely the right place to be seen - well done for getting a cancellation.

GorgonzolaSouffle · 14/10/2021 10:33

Hope your appointment goes well x

BrilloPaddy · 14/10/2021 10:34

Glad you've got an appointment, OP.

Try not to panic, though easier said than done Flowers

StrongArm · 14/10/2021 10:39

Good luck!

@BrilloPaddy that's a dreadful story :(. I hope your uncle is ok :(

WhatsWithAllTheCarrots · 14/10/2021 10:53

Best of luck for this afternoon. Well done for ringing and being persistent - I really, really hope that you will be able to relax by this evening. I've been to the breast clinic for lumps 7 times and been lucky every time - hoping the same will happen for you.

cultkid · 14/10/2021 10:54

Go to a&e it might need draining

OnwardsAndSideways1 · 14/10/2021 10:55

Good luck OP. Just to say that Minor Injuries Units are fab, we have one which is next to the A and E and there is also a GP on call there, so we actually have a very good set up which means if you have an issue and you are not sure which to attend, you just attend the front desk and they triage you to the right place.

We also have many MIUs, at least two within a 20 minute drive, and I always attend them first if it's something I think a nurse can help with that's urgent (e.g. dog bit, wound, even ear infections) and that the GP won't be able to get to for a day or two...

WakeMeUpin22 · 14/10/2021 10:55

Good luck Op. Thinking of you. Flowers

CatherinaJTV · 14/10/2021 10:56

@needabitof

Thank you so much for all your replies. I'm so sorry about your uncle #brillopaddy. I've phoned the gp again and am waiting for a call back but meanwhile I rang the breastcare unit as someone on here suggested - thank you so much for that suggestion - they have a cancellation this afternoon. Even though I was on the cancellation list being persistent is the answer I suppose. I can see that they aren't going to have the expertise or be able to jump the queue for me at a & e, I'm just so desperate I didn't know where to turn. Wish me luck for later and thanks for all your comments, I really appreciate it.
Good luck! I hope this can be sorted quickly and it turns out to be entirely harmless!
TokyoSushi · 14/10/2021 11:10

That sounds really stressful OP and nobody could blame you for panicking, I think we all would under the circumstances. I hope that you get sorted ASAP.

justasking111 · 14/10/2021 11:23

My GP prescribed antibiotics he said my breast felt hot I also had a slight temperature. I too was fast tracked, mammogram etc. Was told to wear a bra day and night

littlefireseverywhere · 14/10/2021 11:32

Good luck for this afternoon, well done for being persistent

nellyburt · 14/10/2021 11:35

Hope this afternoon goes well.

usernamealreadytaken · 14/10/2021 11:36

Just a little note to wish you good luck for this afternoon, and hope it's something which can be easily sorted Flowers

Original poster
needabitof · 14/10/2021 11:38

I've just had a call from the breast clinic saying my appointment has been cancelled due to the Doctor being taken Ill.
Where do I turn now?
Back in the queue on the phone to the gp, but what can they do if there is no breast care clinic, either nhs or privately. I'm despairing here.

OP posts:
Original poster
needabitof · 14/10/2021 11:39

Thank you for all your lovely messages, I feel enveloped by caring people, it has helped.

OP posts:
PurpleDaisies · 14/10/2021 11:42

Oh that’s rotten. Hopefully the gp can see you. I suspect it might be a trip to a walk in/a and e if they can’t. Flowers

RainbowZebraWarrior · 14/10/2021 11:42

I would still go to A&E OP. I had a huge painful mass like this. My GP sent me straight to A&E. It was a massive abscess and they drained it and put me on strong antibiotics. Good luck.

LittleGwyneth · 14/10/2021 11:43

I'm so, so sorry you're having such a terrible time. Thinking of you Flowers

toomuchlaundry · 14/10/2021 11:45

Did the GP give any clues at your first appointment? Obviously, couldn't confirm for certain but at my appointment the GP said my lumps were classic signs of cysts, probably helped that they were in both breasts. The consultant said the same thing before I had the mammogram too. Didn't stop me worrying though.

IncessantNameChanger · 14/10/2021 11:48

I'm so sorry op. I have been waiting over four weeks for a hear ecg after suspected heart failure. My chest x ray and bloods was ok but I still have ong term symptoms and my creatine was 3 times the upper limit.

Its paralysing just waiting