I found a lump

[aodirjjd]

Sorry you probably get hundreds of these on the board. I’m only 35 and found a breast lump when showering today. I’m shit scared and just really worried that I won’t get seen quickly because the nhs is such a mess right now. I’m going to call gp in morning and beg for an appt.

do all lumps get referred to breast clinic or is there chance doctor will poke it and say it’s not needed ? Are people still actually seen in two weeks if a referral is needed ? I’ve spent all evening googling private breast scans trying to get an idea of costs because I can’t bear the idea of waiting weeks for a referral that is delayed or some other drama like lost test results. Has anyone done this? It seems initial appt is £250 which I could afford but I wasn’t sure how much biopsy’s etc might run too. If I’m seen with nhs do I have to wait ages for any results or can they give me all clear quite quickly from breast clinics?

I’ve got a holiday in 6 week that I’m desperate to go on as well. I know logically this lump is almost definitely nothing and I’m really upset that if I don’t get seen quickly I might struggle to get travel insurance.

Ah thank you. So same as my normal cover.
Do have a lovely holiday, I'm sure you need a break right now xx

Big fingers crossed everything is smoother from here. Have a fantastic break.

Have a lovely holiday OP (As much as you can anyway sweetheart). Xxx♥️

Hi OP, how are you doing? Did you have a good holiday? Sending well wishes to you and your family xx

I did thank you! it was hard to relax but I’m glad I went and the break from work was really needed.

Things have been quite mixed for me. They found what they think is a very early second tumour but they didn’t do the biopsy right (unbeleivably they accidentally biopsied the already confirmed cancer) so couldn’t confirm it last week but said they think it is looking at scans and suggested moving ahead without putting me through another biopsy. Im still waiting on the results of the second attempt at my lymph node biopsy results (two weeks and counting!) and was expecting that next week and surgery end of July but I had an email a couple of days ago with a letter for surgery in two weeks time(!).

so I am scared and worried at the implications of a second tumour in terms of the future but over the moon to have the surgery date much sooner than what they originally thought it would be. I feel like I’ve “caught up” now and am on the timeline I should have been all along.

Lovely that you've managed to have a nice break despite everything 😊

Wow, that's crazy that they accidentally biopsied the same tumour! But good you don't have to put up with another biopsy. They can surely biopsy it after surgery.

Fantastic news that you're having surgery in 2 weeks! Wishing you all the best with your recovery and hoping in half a year or so this will all be a bad memory xxx

All the best OP and im glad dates been brought forward. Ask them any questions when you go, the 2nd tumour etc. Any worries about that etc. keep us updated if you can OP. ♥️XXX

I had my op yesterday. It went well (I presume- no one told me different!). I am struggling today with constipation. I know it’s only been 24 hours but I didn’t go the night before surgery and I am just already so uncomfortable today. It’s stopping me from being able to rest properly. I bought lactulose ahead of the op and have had 3 doses of that so far as well as drinking lots of water and fruit. Have just sent my partner out for senokat. I have a bag of dried apricots I might just munch my way through. are there any other suggestions people have? I’ve also tried coffee. I’m going to have to stop pain killers if I can’t get this moving.

How are you feeling other than the constipation?

Congrats on getting through the op!!

Have you been eating a lot or not much? Lactulose can take a while to work. If you get movicol for the week, it's a little gentler but takes a bit longer to work.

If you like prunes and prune juice those might work. And add a big spoonful of chia seeds to your porridge or cereal (soak them before if you can). Psyllium husk is also quite helpful and can be added to porridge or smoothies (though it makes them a bit thick).

Hope you manage to go soon and are not in too much pain!! xx

I had an awful time after the op when they tried to discharge me without any painkillers and told me to just take paracetamol! This was completely contradictory to what the cancer nurse had told me the week before when I expressed concern that the hospital might leave me with just the paper prescription and I wouldn’t be able to get to a pharmacy. She promised me they’d send me home with coedine or another one I can’t remember. So I had to kick up a huge stink and advocate for myself and insist they prescribe me something. I was crying buckets it was horrible.

but with the prescription the pain is controlled , im cycling between ibuprofen/paracetamol and 30mg of coedine and it seems to be working.

I’m in good spirits and up and about. I feel like I could almost carry on as normal but I’m trying to be sensible and not push myself!

I haven’t looked at my chest yet though, I’m putting that off as I think it will look really upsetting to me. Initially they told me I’d get a reconstruction at same time but then that changed to “maybe down the line, there’s a 2 year waiting list for that and it won’t look good on you anyway” (paraphrasing there a bit but that was the gist!)

Ive got an appt for lab results start of august so I’ve just got a month now to watch rubbish tv and heal physically and mentally as best as I can.

also as a bonus I don’t have any drains :)

Movicol is usually good and more gentle.

were you not given laxatives with the pain killers?

Hi OP...good going!. Love sent.
Btw i poach pears and drink loads water...that really helps me go xxxx

No , the nurse I saw a week earlier told me to buy some lactulose which I did and have been taking but it’s either not worked yet or not been enough

Constipation is sorted :)

Struggling emotionally this morning. I feel so let down by how I’ve been treated and I’m so upset about how I look and hate the feeling of tightness. It makes me feel claustrophobic in my own skin. I know the alternative is death but it all feels so unfair.

my stomach felt awful yesterday so I didn’t take any painkillers last thing and I’ve woken up about an hour ago in a lot of pain and I think I must be more swollen because things feel more restricted.

Bless ya OP...i bet you feel a bit lost...we are here though...♥️. I think its case staying on top of painkillers... sadly that tightness until healed will last a little while but its not forever sweets. Get those painkillers 😁... A lovely cuppa and watch a funny film...hugs xxxx

@aodirjjd
so sorry you are struggling today. I am having surgery next week and feel quite daunted as well. Can I ask if you don’t mind what worked best for the constipation as I am prone to this and quite worried
are you able to take things easy today? Netflix?? Xx

Love sent sweets. ♥️ For next week xxxx

Thank you, that is so kind xxx

Happy to hear you've had luck in the toilet but sorry you're struggling today. Was it a lumpectomy or mastectomy you had?

Either way it's shit to suddenly have a different body. Sorry you have to go through that on top of all the issues that come with the op. Hope you can take it easy today, watch something nice and get lots of rest. The man who fathered 1000 kids on Netflix is interesting if you've not seen it xxx

Masectomy. I think lumpectomy would be much easier to cope with new body wise but they thought there might be a very early 2nd tumour so it was suggested and I agreed. There is a chance the lab will show there is no second tumour and it was unnecessary in which case I will feel even worse about the care I received as the reason the second tumour is unconfirmed is that they biopsied the same tumour twice accidentally.

constipation wise I’m not sure what helped. As I tried a bunch of things at once. I’d recommend lactulose as it basically made my poo liquid so at least when it finally got moving it didn’t hurt. I basically ate a bowl of fresh strawberries, a packet of dried apricots, had several strong coffees and stopped taking constipating painkillers for a few hours until things moved again. I think in hindsight the constipation was caused more by surgery drugs than just coedine in taking for pain management.

Make sure you keep up with the physio, to battle the tightness.

Thankyou for your advice and I am so sorry that you/we are in this situation. Hopefully now you are through the surgery the worst is all behind you. Are you able to relax a bit today? Xx

I’m hesitant to agree the worst is behind me. There could be another op on lymph nodes depending on results from that or worst case another mastectomy and operation to remove my ovaries when brac 1/2 test comes back.

seperate from that I’m now waiting on lab analysis of the tumours which will determine if they recommend chemotherapy or radiotherapy or both.

And finally after that I will sfart taking drugs to suppress all my hormones and potentially go into menopause at 35. It’s potentially a long road.

but yes I’ve got a few weeks off work to do nothing but crap tv and heal as best as I can mentally before I get the lab results around start of August so I will try and do just that.

@aodirjjd
huge apologies - I had not fully appreciated the fuller picture. I do hope that you get more clarity soon xx apologies again xx