Large breast lump.

[Madmarthas]

I made an appointment with my GP last week after I noticed a lump in my breast. She saw me straight away and said she was very concerned. It's a 5.5cm lump with irregular boarders.

My appointment with the hospital is next week, I was put on the 2 week referral and they contacted me with 2 days. I have not been feeling well recently but put it down to the possible onset of memories. I've had a pain in my breast bone and arm for quite a while but just ignored it. I have also been feeling very tired lately.

Panic has suddenly come over me.

So sorry to hear this. That's good you have got it checked out and got a referral. I had similar to this, similar size, rock hard, bit like a walnut, pain in ribs, if lifted arm up breast would become misshapen. Came on pretty much overnight. First GP dismissed was all over email and phone then saw thread on here of similar case was cancer went back referred immediately and sadly was cancer.

I hope in your case it's not cancer but if it is mine was caught in Nov 21, I then had 2 surgeries, chemo, radio and finished Aug 22 apart from one tablet a day for 10 years and reconstruction surgery. It's a very tough year. Some escape chemo, radio and surgeries weren't bad at all. But then you get your life mostly back. And you meet lots of wonderful people along the way.

There's a cancer support thread in general health for people waiting.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4929203-cancer-support-thread-91-dont-borrow-tomorrows-worries

Thank you @Silkiefloof I can't believe your first GP dismissed you , that is shocking. It's so good to hear that you are well now. Did they tell you on the day that you went to hospital or was there a wait for results?

I was told on the day that it was very likely to be cancer and the biopsy results confirmed it a week later.

I had a similar journey to @Silkiefloof treatment-wise with an extra 18th months of infusions every three weeks but that part was easy. TBH the worst part of the whole thing was the point you are at now. The not knowing is just hideous.

I'll keep you in my thoughts and keep hoping and praying for some positive news for you.

Can I also ask @Silkiefloof was your cancer at an advanced stage? I have really heard of many people with a lump as big as ours.

Thank you @Grumio , it's dreadful waiting. I'm so glad that I posted this today, you have both really helped. It's a very lonely feeling xx

You both sound incredibly brave.

I'm sorry you're going through the worry stage of this.

My lump turned out to be cancer, diagnosed in May and today I've finished chemo.

Most lumps aren't cancer, but if they are, the treatments are incredible these days and the prognosis is good.

I'm glad you're getting checked out and keep talking; here and /or in real life, whatever works best for you.

That's fantastic @TheFeistyFeminist ❤️
You must be exhausted when you get to the end though. I hope you manage a little celebration.xx

Congratulations on finishing chemo today @TheFeistyFeminist.

I was very far from brave at the time, I'm afraid. Do let us know how you get on. xx

I will do @Grumio .x

My mum had two lumps, one in each breast at the same time. Both felt exactly the same. Large with irregular borders. One was cancerous, one wasn't. Very, very unusual. She had chemotherapy and radiotherapy and has been cancer free for 25 years. Breast cancer is more treatable now than it ever has been. Hopefully it is benign OP, but if it isn't, there is still a lot of hope.

Second GP had told me it would definitely be cancer. I queried that and she said well 99% chance. Then when I went in a breast surgeon came in to do first physical exam and gave a look to the nurse. Nurse said we will do you a treatment plan then added quickly if you need it but it was really obvious they knew it was cancer. Then did mammogram and they said nothing, its quick a couple of minutes like being compressed then ultrasound plus biopsies and then they call you in. I asked them if it was cancer, they said yes. I said how certain they said 100%. Then biopsies come back a week later confirm and you get the type - mine was lobular, her2 negative, hormone positive, grade 2 (grade is speed its growing at and is different to stage which you are given after surgery though if you know size you can see criteria).

Then it was further tests to check if spread around body, this is the most terrifying part, they don't always do this - it was breast MRI which is just to get another look in breast and depends on cancer type, its done for lobular. Lobular is a type which appears as big lump overnight, grows as spiders web. And a CT scan of body, very quick, its rare for it to have gone to stage 4 at outset - only 5% have. 5cms is big but I've known people with 13cms ones and even there's where not at stage 4. It spreads normally through lymph nodes but you have loads of them, in lymph nodes is not classed as stage 4, mine was clear of lymph nodes in tests but in 1 in surgery. I had 2 lobular cancers, which together where stage 3 equivalent but it was a stage 2 (right on border with stage 3, under by about 0.1mm and a stage 1).

The chemo was the worst part of treatment by far for me but even that was 4 months then its over though obviously there's lingering effects like hair loss and neuropathy. You could avoid chemo, I was on the border. Fine to PM me if you need anything. I hope it won't be cancer.

This give me hope @Fantasia99 , it may be nothing to worry about. As you said even if it is outcomes are very good these days. It's lovely to hear about your mom.x

I had a pea sized lump and it was not cancer, sending my best thoughts x

My GP seemed very worried @Silkiefloof but I was a bit numb and didn't ask enough questions. Your post is so helpful, I feel that I know what to expect on the day now. I was starting to look at the worst outcome.

I have a DS sitting A levels and was wondering how we could cope. This has really helped this evening.

@coldcallerbaiter I am hoping that I will have your outcome. The women who have been through treatment here seem so strong, I hope I will be able to muster up the strength if I need to.

I have a 17 and 16 year old, eldest is y13 doing A levels, she did GCSEs in my chemo. My 17 year old coped well, my then 15 year old DS didn't but he is asd and very attached to me and his school were awful and said for him to find a new one during my chemo and there wasn't one. Most children are OK but its like cancer if they are not you just have to find a way through one day at a time.

Hi my lump was the same size as yours. Diagnosed in 2018, luckily it was stage 1 so was treated with 6 rounds of surgery then mastectomy, I opted for no reconstruction.
I agree with other posters this is the worse bit, the waiting.

@Silkiefloof that must have been so stressful, very poor behavior by the school. They should have been supporting your DS , it was obviously very stressful for him. I hope that year 13 is going well for your DD.

Hi @ranoutofquinoaandprosecco it's so good to hear that treatment went well for you. I was starting to feel very low this afternoon but this has definitely helped ❤️ xx

Thanks Yes DD has been really fine and lovely schools for her. She did GCSEs during my chemo and got equivalent of 14 at near perfect grades then onto A levels and predicted all A stars and trying for Oxford. Has been working 2 different interesting jobs and boyfriend and friends and travels a lot and coped very well.

There are charities that can help as well, SomethingTolookforwardto which gave us a week in Cornwall and a few other gifts, Macmillan does counselling via Bupa and there are gift packs for chemo. It's good to buddy up with someone going through chemo at same time and moan together. Quite a strong community around it. And if you can't work there is ESA and some also get PIP, Macmillan can help with that.

That's a fabulous achievement @Silkiefloof , best of luck with her application for Oxford.
You must be so proud.

Thank you for your help xx

@Madmarthas sorry you are going through all this stress. I found a lump in my armpit earlier this year, foolishly ignored it for ages, when I did go to the doctor she found another lump in the same breast and was concerned. I panicked but when I went to the clinic the lump in my armpit was nothing worrying and there was no lump in my breast. The consultant seemed quite unimpressed that the GP had worried me so much. GPs are brilliant but of course not as highly trained in breast exams so try and stay calm until you see a specialist. Best of luck Xxx

Thank you @herbygarden I am so glad that you got the all clear, I hope my GP concerns turn out to be wrong. She was quite young so possiblity she didn't have much experience

@Madmarthas I really, really hope yours turns out to be nothing to worry about. But if it turns out to be cancer, as a bit of reassurance, I had a 9cm tumour which had spread to my lymph nodes and am doing fine 14 years on. Sending you understanding hugs. Waiting for scans and results is the worst.

The waiting is horrendous.
I was at a breast clinic last week after being referred. I didn't have a lump but a significant change in one of my breasts. I was absolutely convinced it was cancer. Amazingly it wasn't and I am still in disbelief almost, I was so sure.

I hope you get good news, but as others have said the treatment now is so good. I have my fingers crossed for you.