Worry over breast clinic urgent referral.

[Exhaustedandworried]

Looking for a handhold really as I don’t feel like I’m coping at all.

I’ve been experiencing some mild/moderate pain on and in my breast for a couple of weeks. I went to the doctors who has referred me on the 2 week urgent referral to the breast cancer unit.
The gp found a small lump whilst she was doing the examination.

I don’t feel that I’m coping at all. My appointment is Wednesday. I’m struggling to eat and massively catastrophising. I can’t seem to keep it in perspective. I am in a toxic marriage and I’m terrified I’m going to die and my children will end up left with their Dad. (I know the marriage is an issue within itself but not something I can deal with right now).

I accidentally saw something on Facebook this evening about Hodgkins lymphoma which I’ve terrified myself with this evening. I’m struggling to stop my heart racing.

I feel pathetic writing this as I know I’ve got everything well out of proportion.

The stupid thing is I had breast implant when I was 18 - low self esteem, not a very nice boyfriend who convinced me to do it. They’re well overdue for removal so logically it could quite easily be this.

I just don’t know how I’m going to cope until Wednesday. I’m sat here shaking from the worry of it all.

I'm so sorry I know how stressful the wait is, I also had pain & a lump & it turned out completely fine. But the wait for answers was so hard. Hang on in there.

I know it’s hard not to panic. I had an ultrasound and mammogram recently for pain, it was harmless cyst. I’ve had a lump in the past, nothing sinister . My consultant said that most of the news he gives is good news, he sees far more women with harmless reasons for pain or lumps, than he does women with breast cancer.
Even when it is cancer, far more women survive now. I know a lot of women who have had breast cancer, ten, 15, 20 years ago and longer.

No experience, but just wanted to offer a hand hold OP, as I'm sure that all women would feel much the same in your position. The one thing I would say, is that as you haven't delayed getting things looked at, you have the best possible chance of a good outcome. Sending you a hug!

There are loads of threads on here from women in exactly the same position as you and it turned out to be a cyst or something else non scary. The two week pathway is standard. Try not to freak out. I know it’s easier said than done. But it could be nothing to worry about. And perhaps the opportunity to check for any damage after implants will put your mind at rest in that regard also.

OP, it's almost certainly nothing but even if they do find something, please try not to panic.

I was diagnosed with bc in 2021 in the middle of covid. I'm a single mum with one ds. The NHS were brilliant, responded immediately, came up with a plan, held my hand through 6 months of treatment.

I worked throughout, am now back to running, cycling, swimming. My ds still doesn't know it happened.

Good luck x

Thank you for your replies, they do help especially the positive stories and stats. I’m annoyed at myself for not being able to be more resilient about it all.
My Dad is currently at end of life and I’m the only one he has so my stress levels were already very high. I just feel like my life is on the brink of imploding.

@Meadowfinch that must have been utterly terrifying for you. I’m so glad you’re through it now.
My mum was diagnosed during Covid and it was such a hard time to go through it. Luckily my mum is also ok now.

Don't be hard on yourself. When I first found a lump, I was beside myself with worry. The consultant said 9/10 lumps were benign.

Just take it one day at a time 💐

I’ve had breast cancer, breast cancer lumps don’t usually hurt. The wait is the worst part. At least you’ve got your referral, & you’ll be looked after well no matter what. Hopefully you’ll be OK.

Handhold here for you OP x
My only symptom was pain in my breast last Summer and I was refered and did have breast cancer .Ive had a mastectomy and recently completed chemo and am on immunotherapy . …..however …
8 out of ten lumps are benign , most women who are refered to the breast clinic WILL NOT get a breast cancer diagnosis .. there are lots of benign reasons for pain , lumps etc x
However , if you do get a BC diagnosis , you’ll take it from there … until then .. though it’s easier said than done , don’t google .. and just sit tight until you have your appointment x

Oh you poor thing. I’ve gone through this 3 times over the past 15 years. All of the lumps were benign thank goodness but I know the build up to the appointment is absolutely dreadful. The chances are you WILL be absolutely fine- keep telling yourself that x

You don't know anything until Wednesday.
Take pain killers before you go. Hopefully nothing to worry about.
Worrying won't help. 💐

I’ve had breast cancer and was told by a GP that it couldn’t be breast cancer because breast cancer is painless - this gave me false reassurance and led to a delayed diagnosis. Having said that, 9/10 lumps are benign so the odds are in OP’s favour.

I feel like I’m second guessing everything. I just can’t think straight at all.

Hand hold from afar. Please try not to worry- have a look at the headspace or calm apps- they have free trials, to help you keep calm.
Stay away from Google. And as everyone says, this is the hardest part.

IDK if this will help but I'm above average risk, have been through this twice, and have had 2 biopsies and a lump removed.

Please try not to panic, and instead focus on making new plans for the future. You aren't happy, and that's no way to live.

My lump was fat necrosis caused by trauma usually. I have bashed a boob a few times ouch it hurts. Did it on a kitchen cupboard door the last time. Boobs are a worry from the day they appear sigh....

I had a painful lump, spent a week absolutely scared to death waiting for an ultrasound and turned out it was a harmless cyst. It was awful and I really sympathise with you, because even with all the positive stories, your mind easily reverts to worst case scenario. I hope you're ok 💛

Thank you for all your replies. I don’t know why but tonight has been particularly bad. I haven’t been able to stop myself from shaking. I’m going to try and watch something on tv to distract myself because I’m just sat here shaking and crying with a million things going on in my head. I’m sure I’m making the pain worse by thinking about it so much too so I don’t even know how bad it really is. I’m absolutely exhausted .

As hard as it is try not to worry , it’s probably a cyst .

Waiting is the worst thing - try to distract yourself. There’s a 90% chance this will turn out to be harmless.

I know it is easier said than done, but try not to worry. Most lumps turn out to be benign. Mine unfortunately wasn't, but I can honestly say the worst part was the bit you are doing now - the waiting. If it does turn out to be breast cancer, the NHS services will kick in, a plan will be made and there will be lots of support. Whatever you do, don't Google - no good will come of it! Ido recommend the Breast Cancer Now website though.

I honestly feel like I’m going crazy. I’ve been having panic attacks through the night.
i feel convinced it’s a nasty cancer. I feel trapped and I don’t know what to do. I can’t get a hold on this panic. I feel so alone as I know there’s nothing I can do until the appointment.

Relax, take a nice deep breath. You are going to be fine. I know the waiting is the worst part. I had a scare last year and I remember being awake all night before my appointment with extreme anxiety and panic thinking I was going to die. I was planning in my head how I was going to have to tell people and worrying how my husband would cope. I went to my appointment and had a mammogram and ultrasound and all was fine.

Most lumps are nothing serious, and pain is usually not associated with breast cancer. If you do have breast cancer the odds are in your favour, they will have a treatment plan for you and you will be well taken care of. Cancer doesn’t mean you are going to die.

Try to distract yourself by any means possible until your appointment, read a book, start a new tv series, keep busy as much as you can.

You’ve got this ❤️

I got a call back after a mammogram. I was a wreck - I imagined every twinge was the cancer spreading. I was lucky as I only had a two day wait for all the tests (not in the UK). There was absolutely nothing wrong with me - just thickened breast cancer on one side. You know that 9/10 women who get a callback don't have breast cancer and most (not all) breast cancer isn't painful.