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.

@aodirjjd yes it is true that mammograms are not used in routine screening for younger women because breast tissue is very dense; however I assume that this would not apply if a lump has been found.
I know it's easy to say this, but try not to worry if you choose to wait for the nhs appointment. Fingers crossed it's something benign.

I think at the private appointment they would tell you exactly what they think it is. In the unlikely case it was concerning, you would know there but would have to wait until the 13th knowing it's probably bad. Would you be able to deal with the wait if you knew that?

But if it's just a cyst which is far more likely then you could forget all about it on Wednesday.

Hope you can forget all about this very soon!!

I would go private. I found a lump a couple of months ago, but couldn’t get an NHS gp appointment for weeks. So I paid £120 to see a private gp the following day. She felt the lump and described it as “concerning”. I came out of the appointment with a referral to the breast clinic, but I was obviously white faced and shitting myself because the lovely ladies on reception who book the breast clinic rang about 4 different hospitals to see if I could get into one that day. I couldn’t, but there was one the following day. (My private health kicked in then and covered that). Saw the consultant, had a mammogram and ultrasound and thankfully discovered it was a cyst (and also discovered one in the other breast too!)
In all likelihood, your lump is nothing to worry about but, in my experience, the worry itself can make you unwell. If it is at all possible for you, go private. It’s worth it to put your mind at rest. Good luck xxxx

I’m going to chat it through with my partner and then I think whatever decision I make I will need to delete this thread or I will read back with regret, either for not listening to the people who said peace of mind is worth £600 or those who said nhs would make more sense. I feel like I change my mind every time someone posts.

But thank you all so much for sharing your stories and advising me. I’ve had a really tough week and it’s really helped to have some strangers agree with me that the wait is shit and reinforce statistics for me. Particularly as I’ve not felt able to lean on my own family about it.

I hope you make a decision you’re happy with
I swing between totally shitting myself to not being worried at all. I just want it over with however like you say if you need a biopsy then you will likely be 600 down plus have another wait

Iv been following/commenting on this thread as been going through similar. Had my app today and it was a cyst - drained there and then. Just thought I'd share as these responses kept me slightly more sane/positive when I was absolutely fearing the worst. Keeping my fingers crossed for you xx

If you went to your appointment today I hope it went well OP.

Hope if you went to the appointment it went well, OP! And if you didn't, hope the time is passing quickly and your not worrying too much xxx

@aodirjjd followed the thread, how are you getting on?

Hey everyone also had a cyst drained- it’s left behind a little lump. Does anyone know if this is normal?
Also had some bleeding from my nipple so feeling anxious all over again. Hoping for a call back today.

Thanks for your thoughts. I had my nhs appt today and had to have a biopsy. So still in limbo. Was really hoping to be done today but have another ten days wait now.

So sorry to hear that @aodirjjd . Did they tell you what to expect or really didn't know?

Wishing you all the best and hope you get results super fast xxx

I can’t lie I am quite worried particularly as they took a biopsy of my lymph node that was apparently also lumpy . but they did say they arent sure it’s cancer. The implication was it could be though.

So sorry about your biopsy- most aren’t cancer even with a biopsy so hopefully they are just being cautious. I’m sorry about the wait too it’s excruciating

I hope your results come soon and are clear 💐. I’m heading to the breast clinic on Weds to review an irregular lump that doesn’t move and am also supremely worried 😟.

@aodirjjd Im so sorry. They did say with my mum the first time that there was an area of ‘concern’ and the implication was cancer.

Frustrating that you have waited so long and still so long to wait for results, the hold up is usually the multi agency meeting where they all discuss the biopsies and agree on action and treatment so they can arm you with information. The good news is they always have a plan no matter what.

Keeping everything crossed that you are ok xx

@DrawersOnTheDoors let is know how you get on x

Hi op.
I was where you were in feb. Found the wait for appointment bad but the wait for biopsy result the worst part.
Mine came back clear which my gp had said might be the case as no family history and no other risk factors.
All I can say is fill every waking hour to distract yourself and hopefully you'll be out the other side in ten days time like me.

So sorry about the excruciating wait. I hope you can fill the next 10 days with lots of activities and forget all about this. Fingers crossed your results will be clear next week!

my partner is going away with weekend with his mates for something that’s been planned for ages so I’m going to visit family to keep myself busy.

I am swinging between thinking it’s definitely fibroid and doctor is just doing due diligence to thinking if it was that my lymph node wouldn’t be bigger and it’s going to be cancer. But there is no point speculating because I think the doctors have been totally honest with me. I’ve got a lump that could be cancer or could not be. from what they can see the odds are in my favour and the only way for them to know which side I’ve landed on is to analyse the biopsy.

I am finding it quite hard to work at the moment. I had a few planned things which means I’ve had a few long weekends in a row and I really need to knuckle down at work but my head isn’t in right place. Due to other peoples absences there isn’t anyone to pick up my slack at the moment.

I think I will feel better once the appt letter comes because I am finding it difficult to trust that it will actually be 10 days after I was told two weeks last time. They told me to call if I’d not had an appt come through by Tuesday next week.

I got my appt letter through the post about 36 hours after the appt! Very impressed.

Biopsy has been quite sore. The armpit one just seems to be in worst place for a bra!

How long until your appointment @aodirjjd?

I had a biopsy a few years ago in a lump under my arm and I remember it being really sore for a good few days.

Have everything crossed you. 🤞

Next Wednesday.

I am bouncing between feeling quite positive about it (I’m young, doctor was optimistic etc) to thinking the lymph node biopsy was a really bad sign. I feel totally unmotivated at work which is hard because I lead a lot of people and I feel like I’m letting them down.

they did say I might get a phone call before the appt in which case I won’t need to come in. So on the one hand that’s good because it might be over sooner on the other hand im sure they only call you if its good news so if I don’t get the phone call I’m obviously going to think the worst which might be not be necessary!

That must be so hard. Have you already had the biopsy? How was that?

Don't worry about work. If you can tell anyone there they'll probably be really understanding. I told my manager when I went to the breast clinic and she was great. At least you don't have long to wait xx

@Delphina17 yeah I had the biopsy after the ultrasound so at least that’s done. It was a bit more hardcore than I expected but I think I was a bit naive thinking it was similar to blood test. I was still a bit surprised today when I took the dressing off to find a steri strip!

I cried a little when they said I needed a biopsy and I think they thought I was scared but I was just upset that i knew it meant I wasn’t leaving that day with all clear.