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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:
Embracelife · 14/10/2021 11:51

Get face to face gp today maybe needs antibiotics
If none then a and e /urgent care

If was growing lump elsewhere you would assume cyst access etc and would need face to face review

Redannie118 · 14/10/2021 11:59

Ibwould go to A &E . I know pp have said they casualty cant magic up a mammogram, but tbh an ultrasound is far better than a mammogram anyway even if it was cancer. My breast cancer last year was diagnosed by ultrasound alone. I spend a lot of time in hospital due to a chronic health issue and they can always access an ultrasound machine. Hope you get seen soon xxx

Redannie118 · 14/10/2021 11:59

Lol sorry for kisses, force of habit !

Original poster
needabitof · 14/10/2021 12:03

Just got to the head of the phone queue to the gp after holding on for half an hour and the person answering cut me off. Wtf? Back in the queue now.

OP posts:
Original poster
needabitof · 14/10/2021 12:04

@Redannie118

Ibwould go to A &E . I know pp have said they casualty cant magic up a mammogram, but tbh an ultrasound is far better than a mammogram anyway even if it was cancer. My breast cancer last year was diagnosed by ultrasound alone. I spend a lot of time in hospital due to a chronic health issue and they can always access an ultrasound machine. Hope you get seen soon xxx
Do you know I think I'm going to do that, I'm at my wits end. x
OP posts:
Spidey66 · 14/10/2021 12:05

Oh sorry appointment was cancelled, OP.

Severe pain can cause all kinds of anxiety and makes your mind play tricks on you. (Spoken as someone who is recovering from surgery to a broken arm.)

speckledcat · 14/10/2021 12:24

If it is likely you have an infection or abscess, then A +E is the place for you. They can give you antibiotics and refer you to breast imaging for an US to look for an abscess and to drain it. If it's likely to be something else then I would try again for a cancellation in breast clinic. You can try your GP but they probably won't have much influence on waiting times. PP are wrong about the availability of US. Whilst every department has general US imaging they are very unlikely to have the correct probe or anyone willing /able to preform beast US competently. A and E won't have mammography either. I hope you are seen and sorted soon. Waiting is agonising. Best wishes.

DontWantTheRivalry · 14/10/2021 12:31

Put the phone down and go to A&E.

Conniethesensible · 14/10/2021 12:37

PLEASE! go to A+E whatever you can to get this sorted, please do not wait. The regret of going and finding it its fine is a lot better than the regret of knowing you could have done something about it

HPFA · 14/10/2021 12:46

If you're anywhere near London this particular private ultrasound service was recommended to me by the consultant who did my (NHS) hysteroscopy. Sadly I'd paid another firm to do a not-very-good one!

www.harleystreetultrasound.com/breast-wellness-institute/

PutYourBackIntoit · 14/10/2021 12:47

What a rollercoaster @needabitof, take a book with you. I hope its not too long a wait.

Reallyimeanreally2022 · 14/10/2021 12:49

@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’d contact local private I was seen the following afternoon for a scan

Best money I ever spent

TokyoSushi · 14/10/2021 13:02

Yes agree, I think it's time for A&E. If you don't have much luck there then if you have the funds and the transport then perhaps widen the search area for a quicker private appointment. Would you say roughly where you are and people might be able to help with reccommendations? I can feel how (understandably) stressed you are through your posts, I really hope that A&E can give practical help and we can support while you wait.

cultkid · 14/10/2021 13:05

I would go to a&e with the assumption you have an abscess that needs draining. Go now instead of later

What a shit day for you. Just get off the phone and go to a&e you need bloods and a scan and they can do that

If it needs draining it will need surgeons and they can be accessed via a&e xx

Goshitstricky · 14/10/2021 13:10

I had this but in my armpit, woke up one day in so much pain with a goofball sized lump, by the time I'd seen the GP (the same day) it was grapefruit sized and I was sent straight to emergency floor to have it surgically removed. It was so painful. I hope you get it sorted OP

Comtesse · 14/10/2021 13:21

Go to A&E Flowers

KT727 · 14/10/2021 13:36

I think it's reasonable to go to A&E. If it's a rapidly enlarging abscess then A&E is the right place to be; if it's something else then they should be able to take a look and decide whether you need to be seen sooner.

KT727 · 14/10/2021 13:38

I also agree with the other poster who suggested that if they don't help much at A&E then you could widen your search area for a breast clinic appointment- I found a few places that could offer one within a couple of days when I had a 2-week referral.

celan · 14/10/2021 13:41

I'd go too, OP. It isn't as if you've not tried everything else. And if it's an abscess, they'll only send you to A&E anyway.

londonrach · 14/10/2021 13:51

Wishing you luck x

Angrymum22 · 14/10/2021 13:53

The radiologists who carry out breast ultra sound and look at mammograms are very specialist. Having an ultrasound in A&E is not necessarily going to speed up diagnosis. You may have to wait 6+ hours. Far quicker to wait on the phone to GP who has already seen you and more likely to prescribe antibiotics and painkillers quickly.
Also if you’ve never had a mammogram then trying to get one done as an emergency when your breast is very painful and swollen will not be a pleasant experience and definitely will not give a diagnostically suitable mammogram.

Upsky · 14/10/2021 13:54

Does it hurt? Are you breast feeding? Is it getting bigger or worse? What do you think it is? Infection? Cancer?
I have had breast cancer and so am not unsympathetic about your fear but A&E won't do anything other than establish whether it is indeed an emergency. You could be sat in there for 8 hours and get nowwhere.
The breast clinic are the experts and have already agreed to see you asap. I would just phone them each day.

nordicnorth · 14/10/2021 14:08

@Redannie118

Ibwould go to A &E . I know pp have said they casualty cant magic up a mammogram, but tbh an ultrasound is far better than a mammogram anyway even if it was cancer. My breast cancer last year was diagnosed by ultrasound alone. I spend a lot of time in hospital due to a chronic health issue and they can always access an ultrasound machine. Hope you get seen soon xxx
Ultrasound of the breast is a completely different ball game compared to standard ultrasound. It's a specialist scan and the majority of sonographers working in ultrasound in regular radiology departments do not scan breasts. That's why it's done at breast clinic.
MarleneDietrichsSmile · 14/10/2021 14:35

Good luck OP

Most growths are benign, when I had a big lump checked out they told me 9/10 it’s nothing to worry about 🤞

Tallulahh3 · 14/10/2021 14:40

So sorry you're going through this OP. I had a massive lump (tangerine sized) found a few years and it was incredibly painful. I did see a Dr and get referred like you, but the Dr stressed to me that if the pain got worse or I felt unwell to go straight to A&E. Until you see the specialist they cant rule out an infected cyst - and A&E is the best place for quick treatment if needed. I followed this advice a couple of times and the Drs told me I was in the right place constantly, and my prescription was changed and increased a few times before I saw my specialist and was scanned - don't worry, just go! I would also urge you to call around and find another option for a private specialist as the stress of waiting is horrendous, and it was the best £500 I ever spent (my specialist drained mine there and then and the relief was immense!). My lump turned out to multiple lumps - all harmless just very painful and they make a repeat appearance whenever I get too stressed. Please go get seen, and know that statistically its likely to be harmless. Keep us posted please as you're in my thoughts.