Referral to breast clinic

[nwmummy]

I've found a lump, and been referred to the breast clinic. My ds is fully breast fed and nearly 6 months old. The GP said it was best to get it checked out. It's a smallish lump, that I've had for several weeks (at least). It does not hurt and is not hot/tender/mastitis. The GP said that there are several tests that could be done. Would any of these impact on my milk?? Does anyone have any experience.

Thanks

I'm afraid I'm posting this on health and breast feeding to get as many comments as possible.

Hi, I got referred to the breast clinic at Christmas, when ds was 4 months old.

When I went the consultant had a quick feel and said it was a lump due to bf, that bf women get all sorts of lumps and bumps and that I was fine. The lump went when ds was a bit older. I did not have any of the tests as the consultant did not believe they were necesary. TBH, the consultant was a bit cross with the GP for sending me but then I suppose it's a case of better safe than sorry.

I was very stressed about it at the time but now realise that, until reading this, I had forgotten all about it.

Good luck.

xxx

Clayhead, if you don't mind my asking, what was the lump like. Mine's like a pea, fairly fixed but does not hurt at all.

I just mentioned it to the GP while I was there about something else, saying I assumed it was a blocked duct. She insisted on having a look, and said although I was b/f I should not have a lump and so she was referring me.
Now I'm worried I'll be wasting their time.

Oh no, don't worry about that. When I say cross I mean he was cross that I had been worried by the GP but cross in a good way IYSWIM, there I was between Christmas & New Year with a baby and a toddler sat in the Breast Clinic but he could also see that it was better that I had my mind put at rest. You won't be wasting anyone's time, believe me.

The lump sounds similar. I had had mastitis but this may not have been linked (don't think it was in hindsight).

did you get given any advice before you went? I would have thought it sensible to try and feed ds on that side first so it is as empty as possible, or does it not really matter?

9/10 breast lumps are nothing to worry about. I think your GP is just playing it safe. I have no experience of this so can't advise on the feeding issue. have you been given the clinic's number? there should be someone there you could chat to about these issues before you go, they're v well trained in communication in my experience (I'm a health journalist) and could also explain the kind of tests you might have.

nwmummy, I was told at the hospital that they don't do biopsies etc. on bf women as there would be no use as the milk glands are big and full of milk (regardless of if you've just fed) and so the breast does not look as it normally would and no meaningful results can be obtained. (In a similar way to smear tests not being interpretable during pregnancy.)

HTH

thanks for this. It's a bit pre-emptive as I've not heard anything yet, the referral was only written this week, and I would guess (hope) its not urgent so I could be waiting some time anyway. Just wondered if I ought to be building up some stocks of milk in the freezer in case they had done anything. My GP said they could do an u/s, and mentioned some sort of biopsy. When I googled it, the cone one requires some anesthetic. Looking at worse case senario I know.

Thanks again

nwmummy, I was seen at the breast clinic 7 days after my referral.

Maybe the GP said that about the tests as that is what normally (i.e. when not bf) happens?

The cone one is the one I read about when I got to the hospital, the one the consultant said would show no meaningful results in bf women.

Will you let us know how you get on?

x

nwmummy, I was referred to the breast clinic when breast feeding at three months but I cancelled the appointment in the end. The reason I felt confident enough to do that was because I knew I had a blocked duct but I could feel it clear up within a few days after the GP gave me antibiotics. I had a chat with the practice nurse at the clinic and they said they were very limited in the number of tests they could do if you are still breastfeeding. The appointment came up within 2-3 weeks by the way - I was impressed! Perhaps you could just wait and see what happens in the meantime and ring the clinic to get more information, but tell them you're breastfeeding. Good luck, but it's very common to have all sorts of innocent lumps at this time - meanwhile GPs will often follow a protocol to be sure they have not overlooked anything.

muminlondon - how long had you had the blocked duct?
I've had this for probably a couple of months (at least). I just mentioned it to the GP, saying I assumed it was a blocked duct. She looked at it but didn't say she thought it was, or offer me ABs
. I keep poking it, and thinking its been getting smaller over the last few days, but I know that's unlikely just because the GP had a look at it on Tuesday!

I had them both sides but on that particular side it came and went several times over the course of about a month (starting at about 5 weeks), each time for a couple of days. I did feel quite tender in that side for weeks or months later, if I was late with a feed or dd slept the night through, but if things were going smoothly it was fine. I don't think GPs are always sure what they are looking at when it comes to breastfeeding problems. But still, you can use the appointment to get it checked out properly.

nwmummy, any news?

hi Clayhead
thanks for asking. Yes they saw me within a couple of weeks, did an ultrasound and mammogram, and had a good look. It's nothing nasty but.. I still have to go back in a couple of months for them to check it again.
I was so relieved that it was nothing serious that I did not ask why they need to see me again, or any sensible questions, but maybe a follow up is standard if you're b/f??