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.

I've just been through this. Pain under my armpit/breast and a feeling of a lump. I couldn't find anything but the GP did and it was very tender. Referred under the 2 week wait but had the call a few days later. Around 9 days from Gp visit to appt. I saw a consultant for an examination, then had a mammogram and then scanned again and there was another doctor there. Told it was fatty tissue which was a big relief.

Hey. I've had 2 urgent cancer referrals over the last year as has my friend. All were fine in the end.

In all cases they rang us to arrange the appointment.

The wait is very scary but I do encourage you to do a lot of deep breathing and exercise to try and keep your (understandable) stress reaction manageable. It can make you feel quite Ill if you are pumped full of adrenaline all the time. And that in turn can make you think that maybe you really are I'll, even if you're not.

Hopefully you'll get the appointment soon. One day at a time.

Called the hospital today who said to call back if I’ve not heard about my referral appt this time next week. I did say the nhs app is showing that I should already have the appt date by now but the receptionist just kind of said it is what it is.

I’m totally gutted. How is it ok to take more than a week between getting a letter from my gp saying I need to booked in within 2 weeks to even book the appt?

My 2WW was actually nearer four weeks due to staffing issues and a long waiting list - so although the GP will say it's two weeks, it might be longer and there isn't anything you can do to speed it up.

I mentioned before, mine was a lump that grew really fast - literally appeared one day out of nowhere - it was cancer - I have just finished chemo and now waiting for surgery. I am 36 so one of the "unlucky ones" - but once it was confirmed, things moved quickly.

@RiverFlowers thank you. Now that I’ve stopped sulking a bit I’ve thought about the terminology and what doctors actually said to me. Doctor said if hadn’t heard anything by Friday to call. NHS app said my referral was to be reviewed by yesterday which I took to mean I should have got a phone call yesterday but when I rang today the receptionist told me “we’ve accepted your referral”. So I’m actually on original timeline as accepted referral isn’t the same as having booked the appt. So I will just have to wait.

I went to GP yesterday, referred to clinic. Phoned today to see how long to expect to wait, as like you, I will consider going private if it's going to take weeks as I cannot cope with the stress of waiting - it's making me mentally unwell. Anyways, they have advised that I will likely be seen next Thursday or Friday which at the moment feels like a life time away but I'm not sure that where I am based, going private will mean being being seen any quicker.

Google 'fibroadenoma'

It's probably that.

i asked gp how long it will likely be and she said nearly always 2 weeks but given they are estimating 7-10 days to even give me the appt I’m doubtful.

I have breast cancer, Double mastectomy and 6 months of chemo. Its all been fine, cope-with-able. The very worst part was waiting for the initial appointment. Nothing else was every even half as bad after that.

I have had 4 breast lumps in my life. The first 3 were benign

thank you this has helped a bit as it does sound like that. I wouldn’t really call it rubbery but the rest of it fits.

@aodirjjd - I really hope you hear soon. The waiting is awful.

Thank you. I’ve looked again at going private this evening. I’m a bit torn on what to do. I had dropped the idea when I saw so many people get appts through quickly but I’m a bit scared is going to be 4 weeks now.

@aodirjjd if it's quite smooth and sort of 'moveable' then it's likely that

I went through this a few years ago and I can relate to how you're feeling. I was in a state of panic and the only thing that stopped me going private was my doctor saying ' if you go private, you will be wasting your money. I am referring you because that's what we do but I have felt a lot of lumps in my time and I know when I'm feeling something that doesn't particularly concern me'

Without her reassurance I'd have paid to be seen privately because the toll of my mental health was just ridiculous

But honestly, please bear in mind that 90% of lumps are benign and of the remaining 10%, 90% of those are treatable

So the odds are firmly on your side but if it gives you peace of mind and you have the funds, then do go private for your own peace of mind

So this reassured me and I was able to wait the two weeks

@ToddUnctious1 thank you for acknowledging how much strain this can put on. I thought I’d be ok today as I was at work but I’ve really struggled all day again. I just feel like I can’t function.

I found a lump recently, and went to the GP when it was still there after 2 weeks (DH practically frogmarched me there as his Mum died of breast cancer in her late 40s). GP had a good poke and prod of it, and said he's sure it's a cyst as it's moveable and like a tubular shape under the skin. Told me that if it's still there in a month, go back and he'll refer me but he also did a thorough breast exam and found nothing suspicious. It's now about a quarter of the size it was but it's taken nearly 2 months to do so. Bloody terrifying at the time and it has pushed me into booking a private well woman check just to be on the safe side.

@aodirjjd it's a huge strain and I feel for you. Just hold on to the fact that the chances are that you'll be absolutely fine, but go private if you need to for your own mental health

So I took the plunge and rang private hospital today. 24th of May was their earliest appt :( so I might be nhs still after all .

@aodirjjd - I seen GP Monday and have received appointment today for Tuesday and I had been just about to contact a few private options but don't think il Perdue that now. Hopefully you will get something NHS through fairly quickly as well? I don't think I'd get into a private clinic any sooner but it will all depend on where you are based etc I guess. Fingers crossed you hear soon too.

I saw them Friday so I thought I’d at least know when my appt is by now. According to the app it’s overdue but it’s not like that really helps me. I’m going to call them again soon

Keep chasing OP. I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to stuff like this. It's like a form of mental torture waiting!

I’ve called and they have got as far as processing Wednesdays referrals but they did say they get lots of cancellations and the so appt can be next day or same day. So I’m hoping the late to book thing is a red herring and I could have an appt within the two week frame.

I hope you manage to get one of three cancellations and then it ends up being much quicker than you think it will be.

My letter came 6 days before my appointment, if that helps. And the appointment was exactly 2 weeks after referral.

You were referred last Friday so there's still a lot of time. So sorry you're finding this so stressful. Fingers crossed you get a date very soon xx

I am still waiting. I was really hopeful I’d get the call today. The gp said when I saw her to call her if I hadn’t heard by now but I don’t know what they’ll say except we sent referral please call the clinic.

So I called the clinic again today who said the two week wait no longer exists, that I will likely be called by this time next week and that they are currently booking people in for 10th of May so expect it to be about the 20th of May.

I’m going to try private again I can’t deal with this.