Breast lump but scans showed nothing - still very anxious

[Ellier2025]

Hi, guess I am just searching for some re-assurance although I think it actually does the opposite trawling forums as you see lots of worse case scenarios.

Around 2 weeks ago I found a small lump on the top of my left breast. I was actually on holiday for a few days and so made an appointment with the GP as soon as back and was referred to the breast clinic. I was seen on Friday and had physical check (doctor could barely feel it as its easier to feel when sitting or standing) but sent for mammogram, ultra sound and 3D mammogram.

All were clear apparently and I was just told it's fine, you can go. But there was no biopsy (maybe they could not see anything on scans to biopsy, even though can feel a definite lump) and no real consultation or explanation. The consultant just came to me in waiting room and said you can go. I did ask what it could be, said it was not a cyst and they could not say what some lumps were. I wish I had pushed at the time for a biopsy or explanation as to why not given one. But head was all over the place. And to be honest he seemed in a hurry to be off.

Of course initially felt relieved that not bad news - they had done all scans.

But since then anxiety and frustration at not knowing got the better of me. At times it aches (although that could be more in my head) and I just want answers and to stop worrying. I think I probably suffer from anxiety and especially health anxiety as my dad died of cancer 10 years ago - was healthy and then dead in a year and initial signs were all ignored/fobbed off by doctors. And of course all you see and read about it someone being young healthy and then bang.....few weeks to live.....

I think I will go back to the GP tomorrow although it will probably take a couple of weeks for her to get the report back from the breast clinic. Also considering a private secondary opinion.

Internet searching has of course meant I have found many cases where people were told all was fine only to get cancer a short while later and told something was missed initially. The rational part of my brain tells me this is because the hundreds of women who get given 'clear' and are all fine, don't post on forums and only those that are diagnosed do but struggling to concentrate on anything and let it go.

Anyone else had similar?

It's natural after the traumatic loss of your dad that it's difficult for you to feel safe again after this scare. Especially as you didn't receive as much time or information as you would have hoped. It's clearly set traumatic alarm bells ringing from what happened to your dad - it will take some time to regulate your central nervous system to feel safe again.

I think the best thing you can do is step away from Google and go to your GP to talk it through. They wouldn't put you through a biopsy if they couldn't see any cause for concern, but it would probably help you to have the chance to talk it through with your GP.

You say it aches. How often are you prodding it?

Do you have any strategies to help you feel safer or calmer? How do you pass the time in the evenings?

Try a castor oil pack on it! It’s magic for dispersing lumps and bumps, honestly.

I had a similar bump and it turned out to be an infected cyst. Breast cancer lumps don’t usually hurt.

while I don’t think it’s cancer or anything like that your GP really should’ve said what else it could be. You need to go back to them and push them to examine you again properly

Also, you probably know this already, but 90% of the referrals on those pathways turn out to be nothing to worry about. It's just that they have better imaging and expertise than your GP and they investigate to be very serious and careful.

You were seen really quickly and had 3 different types of scans which were reviewed by an expert, so they did take you very seriously.

I don't know if it helps to reframe it that way to differentiate this experience from what happened to your dad?

I've been to the breast clinic a few times with cysts and each time the consultant had written to my GP with a copy sent to me explaining the outcome so you might get something through the post that may give you a little more info. If not, do you have the NHS app? Because there are also a copy of these letters on there.

If there was any concern at all they would have e biopsied the lump. I have had two biopsy’s and honestly they are not backward in coming forward in carrying out biopsies if there is any worry. You gp will get a letter with your copied in which will hopefully explain in further detail what they saw. Hopefully this will put your mind at rest.

Hopefully it will have more detail in your notes. I have a small lump too, I was seen very quickly, and told it was a fatty lump. But also told I have fatty breasts (or something like that) which show up white on scan, so I was a bit hesitant they could full know it was definitely a fatty lump. Especially as I was called back a week later, but saw a different consultant who said I didn’t need to be seen again, and no notes or anything. At 50 i’ll get a mammogram on the NHS, which is 18 months away but i’ll keep monitoring in the mean time.

Do speak to your GP for more info.