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.

Just what you don't need, stress! I hope it gets resolved very quickly for you in whatever manner you can get it resolved, the unknown is the worst. I truly hope it is benign or nothing at all but a temporary blockage. Hopes and prayers for you.

So sorry to hear that. I completely sympathise as that feels such a long wait 😞

@aodirjjd That’s really awful. But if you do decide to go private, please let the NHS know, that will release an appointment for those who can’t go private and are also waiting.

The waiting is horrible, I'm sorry you are going through that.

This time last year I did the online consultation form with my GP at 8am, call from GP at 9.30, face to face that afternoon, first referral appointment was same week. I'm sorry yours is taking so much longer.

6 out of 7 breast lumps referred for investigation turn out to be benign. The odds are in your favour.

It’s just absolutely awful and exactly what I was afraid of when I started this thread. The GP said to ring the surgery if I’d not heard within a week (tomorrow) but I’m not sure there’s any point because I know the clinic has my referral.

Ive requested call backs from 3 private providers and I’ll pick the one with closest date then cancel if nhs gives me something sooner. Even if private it 4weeks away it’s better than just not having a date. They just keep moving the goal posts every time I’ve rung. It’s not the receptionists fault but it’s just really upsetting .

@aodirjjd that's madness. I'm so sorry for your worry.

Where I live you can self refer to the breast service via a telephone triage and I know someone who was seen in 5 days a few weeks ago.

Good luck with the private providers.

I went through the process recently, the clinic rang me about an appointment a few days after the GP said they would, but on the phone they said I had to pick an available date within the 2 week timeframe, so it does exist. Then it was only 6 days wait for biopsy results.
You might be in a trust that has given up on the 2 week pathway, its usually a money incentive that encourages them to stick to protocols, but if they find they can't meet the targets, perhaps its given up on. This should reflect poorly on the hospitals' rating too. I wonder if your GP can refer you to a different hospital, might be worth asking? Check out stats of nearby hospitals and pick a good one - patient choice comes ito it.

I had this about 5 years ago now . And from seing gp to hospital appointment it was 10 days . It's awful they have not even given you a date .
Mine was a cyst . Again same as others have said they told me it was very common but always good to have them checked .
I hope you get seen soon and all OK.

What hospital are you with? That's really awful :( so terrible that people get such different treatment across the country.

I will ask bur I presume if I switched hospital id lose my place in queue and start again.. I doubt nhs efficiency will let me be on two queues and take the quickest. My hospital trust is rated as “require improvement” and so does the neighbouring one. I’m not sure how to tell queue length from others online.

So I rang the gp today as advised and receptionist there said I should have appt within 2 weeks of referral but there is nothing they can do from their side once referral is sent. I didn’t see point in telling her hospital receptionist said something totally different.

going to have day off hassling that clinic but try sorting private ones out this afternoon.

That really sucks, OP. Hope you can find a private clinic that can see you next week xx

OP you could look at private clinics out of area.

So go to a neighbouring county or a different city. Or if its one of the big ones like the Nuffield or Spire or Circle, ask them to check with their closest hospital in the chain to see if you can be seen faster.

I got a private appt for Wednesday. £600 for consultation and ultrasound. I feel so much better. It’s like having a plan means my brain now believes all the statistics and I am just being sensible getting it checked rather than actually worrying it’s anything. They did say a biopsy would be £3k+ so if that’s needed I’ll go back to nhs.

I'm really glad you got a quicker appointment that will hopefully put your mind at rest as it's awful having to wait,

@Onemorefortheroad thank you. Crossing fingers for you on Tuesday. Hopefully we can both forget about this soon x

Oh you poor thing. I recently went through something similar. Noticed a dent and change in my breast skin and panicked. GP couldn’t find a lump but referred me as urgent anyway due to family history. She said it could be up to 4 weeks but usually within 2 weeks. 2 days later I was going out of mind with worry, couldn’t eat, couldn’t sleep, couldn’t function at all. My husband said no way this is going on for 4 weeks and booked me an appointment for the next day at a Spire clinic. Cost £700 for the consultation with the consultant, mammogram and ultrasound but it turned out it was nothing. Best £700 I’ve ever spent. I was in and out in 45 minutes. I love our NHS but it was 100% the right decision to go private for me, even if it meant just one less day of worrying then it was money well spent and hopefully someone else got their appointment quicker after I didn’t need it anymore.

Oh and the chance of your lump being cancerous is so tiny please try not to worry. Easier said than done as I couldn’t even do this myself but logically it’s likely to be nothing sinister.

@Luxell934 thank you. I think if it puts my mind at rest it will definitely be £600 well spent! I am quite worried they will say I need a biospy and then I am still waiting on nhs but at least I might have a clearer view.

I can’t really say I love our NHS these days, every interaction I’ve had with it has been an administration nightmare! I know it’s not the individuals fault and they all want to do their best. But I am full of fear whenever a loved one has had to use it, my family has endless stories of cock ups.

When I found a lump ,the gp referred me,I got called into the hospital within 10 working days ,had a mamma gram, a biopsy done all on the same day.

The NHS is v quick on this

I had a lump about your age and it was just a cyst but was bloody painful.

When I got to the appointment they aspirated it, that means they drew the fluid out of it and there was instant relief.

The second time I had it, came up on a routine mammogram and it was just a calcium deposit.

Went to a hospital in a nearby city and they removed it in the same day by some weird machine where you live on your side and it was incredible

i keep hearing lots of positive stories of people getting seen very quickly but they are currently telling me they will call me two weeks after I was referred to book the appt and then two weeks after that I’ll get the appt. That doesn’t feel very fast to me.

@aodirjjd glad you got an appointment that's good news.

Likely that if you do need a biopsy and can't afford it privately, whichever consultant you see privately will get their secretary to give you an appointment on their NHS list - fast.

Lots of private referrals get flipped into NHS.

I was told the same and indeed it happened.

@App13 it will be 12 days since my referral when the private appt is (in the evening). If my nhs referral is processed before then I’ll probably cancel the private one presuming the appt is within a week or so of processing. But from what they’ve said on the phone that isn’t likely to happen.