Breast biopsy pathway - no option to delay?

[GenerallyFedUp]

So I had a call back mammogram and the hospital want to do a biopsy, all smooth and efficient, yet, I don't want this biopsy now, I want to wait a while, because lots of life stuff has happened and mentally I am not equipped. But here is the thing, I have been told it's now or a year, nothing in between because that doesn't match the NHS pathway. Don't get me wrong, I am grateful this service is so quick, but also I do not want to feel pushed into something I am just not ready for. Anyone managed to delay the procedure for a few months?

There is nothing more important than your health. This is the ultimate priority. You won't be able to do your other plans if you are sick and haven't dealt with a potential issue. Please don't delay.

I honestly wouldn’t delay it, you’ll be in and out in no time and then know whether it’s anything concerning. I was diagnosed 8 years ago and life was busy but I probably wouldn’t be here now if I’d stalled any part of my treatment plan.

Please do this now. This happened to me last year and I wasn’t ready (are we ever?). I was diagnosed with cancer and as it had been picked up swiftly it hadn’t travelled (my nodes were negative). If I had waited it would have been a different story.

I’m recovering after my treatment and so grateful for the detection by mammogram and swift treatment.

the biopsy didn’t hurt - in fact, the treatment was fairly pain free, even through my operations.

Many recalls don’t result in a cancer diagnosis, in which case your mind will be at rest. If it is cancer, do you really want the situation to worsen by leaving it?

A few months !! Are you mad?

The biopsy is to determine whether or not you have cancer. They have a 2-week pathway because every day counts and getting investigations done in 14 days is vital. . Don't delay. If you do, the tumour (if it is cancer) could spread.

Put your health first and give yourself the greatest possible chance of surviving.

It isn't difficult. You go to the appt. They will take some more scans, then they will insert a needle and draw off some tissue that will go to be analysed.

They might then say it's harmless and you can forget all about it. No need to have it hanging over you for month. But they and you, need to know ASAP.

I have had breast cancer. I delayed getting a lump checked out because I had a lot going on and couldn’t spare the headspace to make the appointment. It had spread to 4 lymph nodes and my risk of recurrence is many times higher than if it had been treated a few months earlier. Don’t be like me.

So sorry, @dotty2 💐

Please don’t delay. There is a lot of support you can access to help you through. Maggies, McMillan, your GP etc.

Do not delay! I had a breast lump and put off going to the GP as I thought it would be a cyst as I am prone to them. Turns out I left it too late and my complacency bit me right on the backside as I have Stage 4 Grade 3 breast cancer and now face appointments with the oncologist and various clinics on an almost weekly basis as I'm on a palliative care plan. I thought work was far more important than my health and that I knew better, now I cannot work at all and wonder if I will be able to ever go back to any kind of job. Do not delay your treatment please.

Honestly if you have kids you'd be incredibly selfish to put it off just in case it is something sinister which it may not be. As many people on here have stated every week is key in outcomes.

Absolutely do not delay. The other things, whatever they are, need to go on the back burner.

I did have a delay, of about 8 months, because I couldn’t get the GP to refer me for what was “nothing” apparently. Those 8 months meant the difference between stage 1, probably one minor surgery and no treatment needed and stage 3 metastatic cancer, 5 surgeries, 12 months of treatment and significant disfigurement. I would do anything to have gotten in there 8 months sooner.

Thank you all so much, I have come to my senses and will go ahead. I am so very sorry for the pain that some have been/are going through and thank you for sharing your sobering stories. I was being foolish

@GenerallyFedUp wishing you well. Update us if you can. I can understand the freeze you feel with the situation. Sooner tested, the sooner you know what to do.

On reflection I wanted to add to my post that the biopsy itself only takes 20/30 mins max and the area will be numbed, the staff are lovely and will distract you with small talk, just take it easy afterwards as you will have some small areas of bruising. I wish you all the best for a good result.

Good luck OP

Sorry, but I’m living with secondary breast cancer and the thought of delaying a biopsy by a few months, seems crazy. Don’t delay, get it done.

Best of luck OP 🤞

It's not foolish, it's normal. I've put off countless health things because of lack of headspace, lack of time, sheer stupidity etc. None of these has been potentially life threatening though. And everybody knows the golden rule of cancer - earliest caught, the better. Most of my family have had one cancer or another (eyeball cancer wtf) and they're still very much here and acting like the twats I know and love them to be.

Good luck! Xx

Don’t apologise! I have recently had a cancer scare where I had clear reason to go to the doctor in 2021 and didn’t. I felt awful over it, and was so scared that it would have spread and that I would have regrets about not dealing with it sooner that I spent a week and a half crying before being told it was likely fine. My point is that in a year you would be too scared to go back, too worried you had missed the boat. Better go now and hopefully be like my mum’s breast cancer - a much smaller deal than expected.