What can I expect from my first appointment to the breast clinic?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

A few days ago I noticed a tiny, minuscule dimple on the side of my left breast. I couldn’t be sure if it was a stretch mark I’d never noticed, or if it was something else. So I made an appointment at the GP and saw the nurse practitioner, she had a good feel and she actually found a lump on the right side of my right breast and made an urgent referral to the breast clinic to be seen within the next 2 weeks.

She’s as confident as she can be that it’s not cancer, but because of my mum, we agreed it’s better to err on the side of caution so I’m being seen asap. I should have heard from them by Tuesday.

What can I expect from the appointment? She said they’ll do a scan and possibly a biopsy. I’m trying not to be too concerned because logically I know the chances of it being cancer are incredibly slim, but still… 😬 Will a biopsy hurt? How big is the needle? I’m not sure if I should ask my husband to take a day off to take me, Will I be too sore to drive if I do have to have a biopsy?

That’s wonderful, I’m so pleased for you!

No I know what you mean, I’ve always been fairly healthy. Well, my whole family has been pretty healthy up until a couple of years ago when everything went to shit. Bad illnesses and diseases were always things that happened to Other People. There is SO MUCH publicity about cancer signs, what to look out for, what to do, and somehow you never think of it as being something that may actually happen to you. My current situation is surreal enough for me, there is a very slim possibility I might have cancer, but it just seems utterly ludicrous

I would ask for an ultrasound as well as a mammogram. Touch wood 🪵 I’m OK now. 💐

I had breast cancer 5 years ago and was initially diagnosed abroad and came home for treatment so my discovery process was a bit different. But I was also young (29 at diagnosis) and wanted to just send you lots of luck and positive vibes. The NHS were absolutely fantastic in treating me, they moved quickly and everyone I came into contact with through surgery, chemo, radio, and all my follow ups since were really lovely and reassuring. I'm 5 years all clear and have regular check ups and an annual MRI. Best of luck to you

l know exactly what you mean OP. Surreal just about sums it up. If and when the diagnosis is confirmed it takes a while to sink in. Hopefully you won’t have to worry and you’ll get the all clear, but I do want to reassure you that even if that’s not the case, treatment has come a long way and the outlook for breast cancer - especially those caught early - is so much better than it was.

Case in point, my mum had her first BC diagnosis at the age of 49. She had a lumpectomy and adjuvant treatment with hormone therapy plus radiotherapy and she was fine until the age of 73, when it returned. She had a mastectomy and more hormone therapy - no radiotherapy was possible because she had had a lifetime dose first time around. She’s now 94 and was diagnosed with the same cancer for a third time in the remaining breast. She is too frail for surgery but hormone therapy and other adjuvant treatments have kept things under control for the last three years. She’s still doing fine with no spread.

I finally got my appointment, it’s on the 22nd. And so begins the longest wait of my life…

Ah mine is the 24th. Could you post back and let me know how you get on please.
Hope you come back with postive news
Waiting is the worst

Yes of course, I’ll try and remember to come back after mine but before yours.

glad your appointment is through, I had this back in July the waiting was definitely the worst. I was checking obsessively to see if there were changes while I was waiting.
my first appointment was long! I was there for hours so take water and something to distract you, a book or phone etc.
I saw the consultant first for a physical exam. Then had 2 different types of mammogram, then an ultrasound where they took a biopsy which was painless and over in a matter of minutes. I then had another chat with the consultant before I left. I was told at the initial appointment they were confident it was something benign and that I wouldn’t need any more treatments. I then had a further appointment 2weeks later to discuss the biopsy results and was thankfully told it was benign fatty necrosis and it would eventually go away on its own which it has done.
I went myself for the first appointment and it was fine. It was nerve wracking just because of the situation but the staff were lovely and the majority of other people there were on their own too. I took my DP for the results just incase the results had shown something different but was confident that wasn’t going to be the case after the conversation at the first.

Can you ring them and ask to be added to the waiting list for anyone that cancels.

I did this and got the call today and offered an appoitment 10 days earlier...
Always worth a go

I thought of that but I need my son to be booked in to afterschool club for the day of my appointment and we’re already past the booking cutoff for next week, so I may as well just stick with the 22nd.

Good luck @WannaFOffOnHoliday I am sorry you have to wait so long.

Got my appointment through today, the 29th 🫤

I haven’t really told many people in rl, no one in my family just a couple of close friends. I don’t want to cause any worry but it’s obviously playing on my mind…

Keep thinking the lump feels bigger as well, it’s going to be a long couple of weeks.

@isitmytimehad you told many people other than your partner?

I’ve told my husband a few friends. I’m not going to worry my siblings and the rest of the family until I know what’s going on for certain.

I found a lump last year and attended my gp followed by the one stop breast clinic in the hospital. They were very sure it was cancer from the mammogram and also did ultrasound and a biopsy that day, and also told me I’d have to have an mri as I had dense tissue and they needed to check there was nothing else lurking. MRI found spots on my liver which thankfully were cysts.
Hard thing at the breast clinic was realising I had breast cancer without being given the sit down diagnosis with support there. It was very obvious to everyone straight away what it was, the wait then was long to get my formal diagnosis and treatment plan.
id say if you can get anyone to go with you please take support, there are lots of people who would have come with me but I was too proud to ask for help.

How are you doing now @Daisy03? I hope you’re beating it 🩷

Thank you. It was a long road. I was found to be triple positive, I had a lumpectomy, followed by a second when they didn’t get enough out.
12 weeks chemo, a week of radiotherapy, and I’ve just finished a year of herceptin, and now just on tamoxifen.
I’ve just had my first mammogram and it came back clear so it seems everything’s worked as it should. I was lucky it was caught early and would really just advise anyone to get on top of things and get checked out as soon as you have any worries.
There were be mental scars forever and major anxiety over every scan, lump and bump, but really all we can do is be positive and enjoy life. I feel so grateful how far medical science has come regarding breast cancer, treatments I’ve had probably wouldn’t have been available to me even 20 years ago.

Hi @Rosscameasdoody I remember you posting about it at the time. Im pleased to hear that you are now cancer free

Fantastic, here’s hoping for clear scans for the rest of your days!

Small, happy update. DH phones me everyday on his lunch break, today he asked me what time ‘we’ had to be at the hospital next week. I asked what he meant by that and he said “Well you didn’t think I was going to let you go on your own did you?” 🥰 He said his boss doesn’t mind, he’s a hard worker and his boss likes him so he’s quite lenient. (He is self employed but is sub contracted so still has a boss, he just doesn’t have the protection of being employed)

Appointment day tomorrow 😬 I don’t think I’m going to get a lot of sleep tonight, I’m far too anxious.

I went a few months ago.

Firstly a doctor physically examined my breasts, and identified the lump I came in for.

Then about ten minutes later I went into the mammogram. This was a bit painful as they squash your breasts into a big metal press thing. I needed that twice so was called in again as I have extremely dense breasts.

Then a few minutes later I went in for ultrasound. This doesn't hurt at all. The doctor then declared that I could be discharged as the lump was nothing serious. My extremely dense breast tissue was mentioned again as it took a while to find anything.

If the lump was more suspicious I think they would've then taken a biopsy.

That was it!

Wishing you the best of luck. 80% of first breast clinic appointments don't find anything malignant.

@AintNobodyHereButUsChickensi hope you managed some sleep and your appointment goes ok today.

Good luck today OP.

I’ve been twice. First time was in my 30s and found a hard lump. Had ultrasound and core biopsy. No pain. Was a private hospital. Scan said 99% benign but biopsy was to confirm and yes it was a fibroadenoma.I left it and it disappeared after meno.
Then in my early 50s another lump. Went to hospital clinic and had mammogram as over 50. Then told it was a cyst and offered to drain it there and then which I did.
Both times I was terrified as DM had BC and no doubt there’ll be a next time. Try to distract yourself, you’re in good hands.