Suspect lump investigations, want results in private, advice please.

[fakenamefornow]

Have a breast lump, not been to GP or done anything yet because one thing terrifies me. Can anyone please advise. If I am to get a cancer diagnosis, I want to receive the news in private at home, on my own. Email would be perfect that I can open when ready in the right place. I've seen online that no doctor would ever agree to give me such bad news in this way. That it's an absolute 100% no and the only way they would ever even discuss a diagnosis would be in person in public (ie in their office which feels public to me).
Can anyone tell me if this is really true? The thought of this gives me almost panic attacks. I want to be alone to let news like that sink in and be free to react naturally to the news without having to hold it together in public.
Any know?

If it's the result of a biopsy it may come in a letter, with an appointment to discuss further tests and treatment.

It would still be private when you see a doctor in a medical setting.

Firstly, please don't hesitate, please do get it checked straight away. Chances are it's absolutely nothing but mine was extremely fast growing and delaying too long could have had serious consequences. I do understand the fear.

Mine was done privately due to being in the UK on holiday at the time (I'm from the UK but was living abroad). There was a mix up at the clinic and the receptionist called me to cancel my appointment saying the results weren't back. The consultant then called me at the time of my appointment to ask where I was and, as I was over an hour away, she gave me the news over the phone. She was very reluctant to do so but there wasn't really any option.

You could try explaining to the doctor and seeing if they would do it by phone, if not email. Although you also shouldn't feel you have to hold it together at the doctors, they see all different reactions all the time and depending on where you are there may be a nurse there as well.

Best of luck.

I haven't even been to GP yet. So if they refer me, I guess It'll be to hospital for tests. It's this next step I'm terrified by. Going back to sit in front of people and be told potentially bad news. I'm actually more worried about this than having cancer. A letter would completely solve this if they do send out the news that way.

Sorry, but this isn't really a good reason for delaying any investigation.
In my experience, you'd be invited to a meeting with a consultant who'd want to give you the news and discuss possible next steps face to face, so that you have an opportunity to ask questions.

Yes, I've been told there is absolutely no way they will give me the news in a better way for me.

If I was referred for tests, presumably if I just refused to go back and collect the results in person, eventually they would just post them?

I do understand as well that sometimes it's impossible not to give results in person. Like if you're diagnosed in A&E. If it's a planned appointment though, why can't they just send you the results if that's what you want?

I've just been through something similar myself - with a good outcome fortunately- and it really is designed to be quick and considerate. When I arrived I was taken for a private chat with a nurse so that this happened before I had to put a gown on, have examinations and so on. You could ask if the results of your tests could be given to you in a quiet room by that nurse who welcomed you in, with no one else present. Try that?

I think asking them to let you leave and get a result later is not going to be workable. For one thing, they want you to still be on site to talk to you about next steps straight away. You are potentially making it worse for yourself by delaying.

This could take weeks or months to work through the system. Do you really want to wait weeks or months to find out? And the fact it may have grown or spread in that time. You need to really try and go and get the results. Ask the Dr to leave the room for a while after they have told you. This could be your life you are fucking around with, in the meantime get some therapy for the anxiety and panic attacks to help you through the tests and results.

OP, I've gone through this twice and both times I had the ultrasound and mammogram and consultant meeting there and then in the same session.

Both times it was nothing. But I think you'd find that if you did get sent for a biopsy, they might already know what the outcome will be before that.

I know it all sounds scary, but take it one step at a time and deal with it as it comes. Phone the GP and get an appointment first.

There are a few steps to go before, and even IF, you get a potential cancer diagnosis. Take them first, and if you even get to that stage you can talk about your concerns then. The nurses and Drs at the breast clinics are very supportive, will have seen patients with similar concerns and will help you.

You mean that you want to be completely and utterly alone when you find out the results of the U/S, Mammogram, lumpectomy?

But how, then, do you find out about your treatment ?

Would you expect to be seen at a time of your convenience to receive the details of your treatment (should the test results mean that treatment is required)

Yes, I want to be completely and utterly alone to digest bad news.
I guess I'd then just have an appointment to go to to discuss next steps.

When I had my biospy after mammogram and ultrasound all in same session, they gave the image/ultrasound a rating (can’t remember what it was, think it began with a M then a number) and told me there 60/40 chance it could be cancer. Turned out it (thankfully) was clear. So they don’t always know before the actual results but do rate it.

Please, please don't do this. I don't know that they would and if it is bad news you need to start treatment quickly.

Well I happened on this while sitting in the clinic. I’ve just had an ultrasound & waiting to see the consultant again

I had biopsies back in March, they rang me at home to discuss the results.

There is absolutely no way they will allow you to receive your results by letter (not least because of the time they take to be delivered now!) and not email in my trust because of the chance of error in an address.

BUT PLEASE DON’T LET THIS STOP YOU GOING!

I’m on the 10th lump investigation, only 2 of which needed biopsies. The staff in the clinics are always great & looking after you. They are used to us being scared. And they really look after you.

SO PLEASE PLEASE GO TO THE GP.

I would expect initially your gp would send you for an urgent mammogram (that happened to me and I was told immediately that it wasn't suspicious), you would be told either there or soon after by letter if there was something suspicious (it is unlikely they would know if it was cancer or not), you would then probably be sent for a biopsy at a local hospital, I think these days they can get the result very fast. You can ask the hospital when/if you get the appointment what the procedure will be and what you are worried about. But just take the first step!

@fakenamefornow please remember the vast majority of breast lumps are benign, I’ve been to breast clinic 3 times on a 2week wait . I’m really worried that you are delaying seeking help for something because of a particular fear about exactly how you might receive bad news. Do you have health anxiety or have had a close relative die from breast cancer? Clinics operative differently in different areas of the country so we can’t say what procedures are in your area unless we have been to the same clinic!

Just to clarify ,at my clinic i have had ultrasounds, mammogram and on occasion biopsy and i found out all the news (clear) on the same day….so until you get there you don’t know what exact tests you will get anyway. How old are you @fakenamefornow ?

No I don't suffer from anxiety at all (although practically hyperventilating at the thought of a public/aka in person appointment). I'm also angry. Why do they absolutely insist that they will not give you bad news in the best way for you to receive it? Instead that they know best and you must receive it their way or not at all. I'm actually more worried about the public nature of the message delivery than I am about having bloody cancer.

I hope you celebrate your good news today Tabby

Tbf it’s usually because they sit and start planning what to do next with you, especially if it’s bad news.

But the breast clinic especially tends to all be the same day unless it’s a biopsy, and those come back within 72 hours as well.

I'm in my 50s.
I had a HIV test back in the 90s and I remember back then they asked how you want to receive the results. Letter was an option and the one I ticked. Negative btw.
Why have things gone backwards?

Please don't delay getting this investigated. I found a lump in July, referred by GP on two weeks pathway and got a cancer diagnosis in Aug. I'm still two weeks away from surgery so the last thing you want to do is delay potential treatment further.