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.

So sorry to hear this and the jnconclusive node is also totally shot.
Not knowing is nearly worse than anything. Treatment has come so far now and success rates are so good but allow yourself a good pull wallow before you start your treatment

So sorry x

I was diagnosed 6 years ago. I remember being in total shock. The nhs were brilliant. The treatment was hard but doable. Reach out if you need some support. So sorry you had this news today.

Sorry for the shock you are under, I know it all too well being a few weeks ahead you. Takes a few days for it to sink in. Look through the info pack when ready, join specialist websites they suggest as the forums there, and info is helpful. You are not alone, lots of it about and it's on the increase. Hopefully you have a ballpark plan in place, treatment goes in different orders, depending on circumstances. Lots of life decisions to make around it at your young age, so I feel for you. Lots of hugs meantime, let everyone keep you busy like you've never been so popular, you need others at a time like this. Forget work for now, get a long term sick note from your GP - everything else is now more important. Take care x

Thank you all. My head is in a total spin. I’ve not slept at all. I have to get up in a couple of hours and tell my manager. I had planned to work today to get some stuff of my desk and feel normal but given I’ve not slept I don’t think I can. I might just do a couple of hours so I can know I’ve passed it all on.
I’ve got a lot more tests incoming apparently before we work out a treatment plan. Next is an mri which should be about a week. I know treatment will be chemo and an op at least.

@Opentooffers sorry you are going through this as well. I’ve reached out to all my family now and several friends and I definitely feel loved. Unfortunately I can’t just get a long term sick note. I think for one if I was to stay home and stare at the walls for the next month(ish) before treatment even gets planned I’d go mad. And apart from driving myself mad I have bills to pay. I get two months sick pay and I need to reserve that for chemo/the op . And if I get sick for to long I’d start to worry about losing my job .i will tell my manager what’s going on and ask if she can take some of the time sensitive stuff of my desk and the bits that require lots of conversations. I’ve got two weeks until I already had two weeks planned annual leave and then I can reassess where I’m at.

I’m really so sorry to hear that. What utter shit cancer is. I hope you get a lot of support from work. Sending a gentle hug.

I concur with what others have said, I've been there, the waiting for the diagnosis is the worst part- everything is easier now, xx

@aodirjjd so sorry for what you are going through but just wanted to mention that this diagnosis gives you the protection of the Equality Act in your employment so be aware of that in discussions with your work - I'm sure you'll be able to get more information about this through ACAS, your union, and the support forums.

I'm so sorry xx

Hi lovely

Really sorry to hear about you diagnosis. Juggling all the work stuff is horrible. Would they be able to extend your sick pay at all? It's probably worth asking the question.

There is a lovely cancer support thread in General Health with lots of breast cancer ladies. They are so supportive and knowledgeable. Do come and join when you feel ready.

I'm sorry you're going through this. Was diagnosed in my late 30s with grade 3 BC. Now 7 years on. It's a tough time but you will get through it. Speaking for myself, it inspired me once I had got through treatment to live my best life, within the confines of finances and general reality. I got closer to many people and learnt genuine empathy. It is totally shit but for me there were silver linings. I hope that will be the case for you too. I found that I could work during chemo, but not for the first week after each treatment (they were 3 weekly) and for me work was a great distraction.

@op

Do you know what type of breast cancer you have?

I’m so sorry op
my cyst has come back with a vengeance so I’m back in the two week wait. We’re all here with you. You’re right, it’s shit.

So sorry to hear that was the outcome, OP (I was on your original travel insurance thread, and was wondering how you were doing). It's crap, but now you know, and there is a lot of support out there to help you get through this.

The NHS will probably signpost you to Macmillan and Breast Cancer Now, and they have lots of useful information, but I have also heard good things about https://shinecancersupport.org/ which is specifically for people in their 20s/30s/40s with cancer, so more likely to be dealing with the kind of work issues you are facing.

Oh I didn’t know that about the equality act. That’s good. Although how strange to suddenly be technically disabled when I feel absolutely fine.

work was ok. I feel like I made the company sound worse than it is. It’s a huge organisation that will follow rules when I have to go on official sick leave etc. it’s just my manager is a workaholic who thinks everyone else is so the “sort of working but need less pressure bit” will be tough to navigate but i probably need to be more selfish and assertive. Which I can do next week.

I did have a cancer nurse at the appt and she seems great so I feel well supported there . I’ve got mri results day booked in. I said I’d rather go to mri alone because my partner is working and I figure I’ll be in a gown for a chunk of it / away from whoever’s come with me so they can’t support anyway and it’s just a scan no results but I’ve had people express concern about that, which is making me doubt myself? Anyone who came would be travelling from a different city so I feel like i want to keep those favours for when I actually need them. But I’ve got a history of going things alone and realising in hindsight I shouldn’t have so second guessing myself.

they did indeed give me some “breast cancer now” leaflets which was helpful because I don’t want to google. I feel a kt overwhelmed with contacts at the moment but it’s good to know there’s lots out there when I need it.

@aodirjjd sorry to see you are going through this too.

I am 36, found a lump a week after my 36th birthday - everyone said it would be nothing to worry about - nope, cancer.

I started chemo in November last year, finished it a month ago and am now recovering from a mastectomy and reconstruction that happened a week ago.

As others have said - you are doing the hardest bit now - it sounds stupid but it's true. The waiting, the tests - the unknown. Once you have a plan in place and start treatment, you feel more in control.

Chemo is doable, shit but doable.

You got this.

@aodirjjd also don't Google - way too easy to fall into a dark pit of horror stories and get yourself into a horrible state - trust me, don't do it. Most info is outdated and people only post the bad stuff.

For the mri you literally turn up and lie in a machine for about 30/40 minutes listening to music and a lot of banging noises. You have to lie on your front with your breasts in two cut out holes. They will probably inject you with a dye halfway through. Not much for anyone supporting you to do apart from driving you home.

I found taking someone to results very important though as I couldn't take much in. Also ask to record result meetings on your phone do you can listen back to it.

Looked at travel insurance today. I’m going to have to ring someone because on the two companies i tried the first question they ask is “has it spread to lymph nodes” and the answer is I don’t know and I probably won’t know before my holiday but that’s not an option on the forms.

Try Stay sure for travel insurance

@marmiteloversunite thank you that matches what I thought for MRI.

Will definitely take my partner to results.

Hey OP when you feel like it you’re welcome to join us over here- the thread no one wants to join! https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/5059016-cancer-support-thread-94-sweetness-and-light-the-two-noblest-of-things?latest=1

Struggling a bit today. Still not had call to book in ultrasound to redo the biopsy they fucked up last time. I’m presuming they’ll end up booking it for a date when I plan to be abroad. Nurse did say I should go on holiday and it won’t hurt to delay things a week but having a bit of a wobble around that idea.

breast hurts today. It’s not unmanageable just really disconcerting.

So sorry to hear they're being a bit rubbish, OP. Not at all what you need when you're going through this. Can you call and annoy them constantly?

Unfortunately with the NHS in the state it's in we have to be really annoying sometimes for our sakes.

Have you had the MRI?

When do you go on holiday? Hope you can disconnect from all of this and have a fantastic time.

Sending love xx

@Delphina17 mri tomorrow results from that a week later. Holiday a week after that. I knew I wouldn’t have ultrasound /biopsy results before the holiday but I was really hoping to have it before I left.