Advice while I wait for 8 week red flag referral

[NoLTBplease]

Don't know if it will let me post pic

Shortened story - found lump & was referred red flag on 17th Dec. Wait is currently 8 weeks, soonest provate appointment i can get is 2nd Feb so not really any sooner.

I'm in Northern Ireland and new system has made red flag referral for breast cancer atrocious

Since I've found lump i notice my skin dimples (cant think of better explantion but its texture above lump, its not always noticeable) and nipple retracts were areola is close to lump when I raise my arm - have tried to attach pic

My nipples sag anyway but I dont think it has ever pulled back like this. The one without the pump doesn't pull back.

Anyone had similar and its turned out to be nothing?

*ignore name.. was from a long time ago. DH is great lol!

im obviously no doctor but unfortunately, all those things combined along with inversed nipples don’t sound great.

ive recently been diagnosed with bc, currently sat in a chair doing chemo, and the good news is you have been referred and they can look into it.

im in England but my timeline has roughly been 2w pathway, had scan, biopsy, had to have secondary scan, mammogram, pet, mri, all took about another 2 weeks. Then chemo started 2 weeks after that (was a bit of a backlog and wait and felt forever bur was 2 weeks on the dot). Now on my 6th round of chemo. I’ve got a long old slog, but I’m just giving you an overview of my experience.

I won’t tell you not to worry, as that’s all I did, and all I have been doing, driving myself insane. But there are treatments out there. For me; it was expect the worst and be pleasantly surprised. I hope you get the answers you need soon.

Thankyou for your reply

It usually is only a 2 week wait or so over here

But they have implemented a new system and since May the waits have been horrendous. The GP wasnt even aware the wait was so bad but I called the clinic and have let them know I can travel anywhere on short notice so hopefully I can get a cancellation sooner than the 8 weeks.

Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Good luck with your treatment xxx

Hello, I’m so sorry you are going through this. I was waiting to start breast cancer treatment 13 years ago and the waiting around during diagnosis is horrendous and absolutely terrifying.
It’s awful that the wait is 8 weeks. Is paying to get a private diagnosis a possibility? I did that and then was moved into the nhs for treatment. It was pretty seamless.
if not, I would email your mp and MLA tell them how bad things are and the effect it’s having on you. They need to know!
Sending hugs xxx

Thankyou,

We could go private but the soonest appointment is in Feb and I dont really have the money - just shows you how bad the wait is over here.

If it was this week or next I could be seen i would consider it but for the sake of an extra week of anxiety I dont think it's worth it.