Breast lump referral and family history, what were others’ cancer lumps like?

[Sandraf36]

Hi,

Just looking to see what others lumps were like. Im in Ireland. Im 30. My mothers sister was diagnosed with BC at 26 and passed away at 30.

Last week I found a small, pea sized, hard, non-mobile lump at 7:00 left breast. It feels deep as I can only feel it properly when laying down. Went to my doctor, him and a nurse had a feel and found it and he didn't hesitate to turn back to his computer and write me a referral for the breast clinic. He didn't say much other than its better to get scans done as I can't diagnose with just feeling it, that's all. And I left. Ive decided to go private as public was 4+weeks waiting for appointment. The private is 2 weeks.

Ive basically told myself theres a good chance its cancer so when I do get my appointment/results I'm not shocked if it is etc as I know it can be treated better these days. I havent told a single person, ny mother would lose sleep over it, my relationship recently ended and we are on good terms as we have a 15month old son but dont think I should worry him either, my best friend is getting married 17th April and I dont want to put this on her either so won't be mentioning it to my friends either. So really I have no one else to chat to about it so decided I'd come on here.

Sorry for the long post, but I'm wondering what other people's lumps were like that did turn out to be cancerous? The lady said i won't be having a mammogram as I'm under 35, it will be an ultrasound.

My lump feels stuck, is round/smooth but it does not move it is definitely fixed and feels rock hard.

Hopefully will get some stories to read to keep me busy lol! Thanks all :)

There are different types of cancer that feel different. They will probably do ultrasound and possibly biopsy to avoid any uncertainty.
Hope it's good news for you.

I’ve had cysts lots of times. They’ve felt hard, round or oblong and smooth. From pea - grape sized. Sometimes they’ve drained them, sometimes just left them (once one popped, and as someone that likes nothing better than squeezing a spot, that was glorious…weirdo that I am!)

My first cyst was when my eldest was about 12mths and I was 29. I’ve had one every two or three years since, I’m now in my 50s. I believe it’s hormones that cause them, which may well be the case for you as you’ve a toddler. Try not to worry till you know what you’re dealing with, I think the statistics are 9/10 lumps are harmless - easier said than done I know. Best wishes. X

Mine felt like a hard pea.

However. 1 in 10 people sent for further testing for a lump in their breast are NOT diagnosed with breast cancer.
Oh, hang on, I've just done a bit of checking. The newer figures suggest 95% of people who are sent for a test, having found a lump do NOT get a diagnosis of breast cancer.

I know it is worrying - particularly with your family history - but remember research and treatment have moved on since your Aunt was your age. I hope you can take some hope from the actual facts as opposed to the (very natural) scary thoughts you are having.

Oh, and even if you do get a diagnosis, your prognosis is still also so much better now than it was a few decades ago.

Hi OP. Sorry you're going through this stressful experience. I had a lump that turned out to be cancerous. I thought it felt hard but was difficult to tell as was in a soft environment and so moved when I touched it! It felt almost like a collection of smaller lumps - definitely not one smooth shape.

It's not automatically alarming that your GP has referred you - I think they always would with anything different in the breast, especially as there is a family history. It's more likely to not be anything but of course I'd be stupid to say don't worry because of course you will be worried. It's really good that you found it and are acting on it. Best of luck with the tests - I hope everything goes well for you. I'm in Ireland too - feel free to DM me if I can be of any help.

I had a lump a bit bigger than yours in my right breast 2 years ago. I’m in Scotland. I was seen at the all in one clinic in 2 weeks. It was hard and immobile.

I had a consultation when the doctor and specialist nurse had a feel, then a mammogram that suggested a cyst, then an ultrasound that also looked cyst-y (can’t think of another way of saying that!!) but when they tried to drain it nothing came out. They took a needle biopsy and I was seen again in 2 weeks when they said it was “suggestive of malignancy” and decided the best idea was a lumpectomy. I had that a month later, and they found a 7mm tumour in the lump - which was mostly cyst like material the tumour had produced.

It’s likely that I was “cured” by that but they also decided I should have 10 days of radiotherapy which was pretty straightforward though getting to the hospital and getting parked was a nightmare!!

So that’s my story. I’ve got a wee dint in my breast by my nipple where the lump was taken out but apart from that no lasting changes. I’m on annual mammograms for 5 years, just had my second recently which was clear! I hope your news is good and that any treatment goes well xx

Wow I wasn't actually expecting so many replies - thank you all so much!! It's so nice to have somewhere to vent and people to talk to. I really appreciate everyone's stories & advice during a worrying time. When you find a lump its pretty scary and then the waiting that comes with it!

Ive stopped checking my lump, I was checking it a lot since I found it I think I was hoping it was going to disappear or something..
It feels like its attached to something and close to my ribs I think but its definitely not a bone. Im just glad I got seen to by the doctor and referred and hopefully won't be too long before I get my appointment.

I'll update this thread incase anyone comes across it in a similar position - and if anyone else would like to share their story please do :)

Thinking of those fighting BC

I am currently having treatment for breast cancer. My lump was at the top of my breast but could only really feel it lying down. It felt hard, uneven, sausage shaped, and tethered, not round or smooth. I had an instinctive feeling it was cancer and was told two weeks later at the one stop clinic that I should expect that diagnosis. It was a 35mm ductal cell carcinoma. I had surgery and am undergoing curative treatment.

However, as others say, 95% of women who find lumps don’t end up on the route I took. Breast clinics are excellent and it’s the right thing to get something looked at. Blooming scary, but necessary. Wishing you a positive outcome!

Mine was similar to yours, although larger. Not painful.

I also had ultrasound. They biopsied it while I was in the ultrasound (they will numb it first).

It turned out to be a 5cm stage 3, triple negative tumour.

All of that was 15 years ago. Stage 3 aggressive cancer and I'm here. The best part of my life has been post cancer. The things I've done!

I found a lump when I was two weeks postpartum and breastfeeding. The breastfeeding complicated things and I saw my GP twice before I got a referral as she just wanted to make sure it wasn’t changing due to that.
When I went to the breast clinic they said they’d do an ultrasound initially and when they did there was absolutely no difference in the breast tissue where the lump was so she was happy it was just lumpy breast tissue.
That was nearly a year ago, the lump is still there but I have no other symptoms and it does feel more obvious if DS hasn’t fed for a while so I’m happy to accept that it’s nothing sinister.
I hope yours is nothing as well!

I’ve had breast cancer twice and neither time were there any lumps. The second time I had several tumours of several centimetres each but no lumps.

I got a call on Friday afternoon from the public clinic I was referred to. The lady said she has just posted me out an appointment for the 13th April, but has just had a cancellation for this Monday! Im so grateful.
Part of me wondered why she offered it to me when im sure theres others waiting longer as my referral had only been sent that Tuesday, and Wednesday morning the lady said she had scanned and printed it for the nurse to triage it. Instantly I said yes to the appointment, then afterwards of course my mind started thinking was my referral triaged as red flag urgent because it sounds like cancer...its crazy what our minds can tell us!
Either way I am delighted to be seen so quickly and feel very lucky.

Will keep this thread updated.

Thank you for sharing your stories I am really enjoying reading them. (Not enjoying the diagnosis of BC etc just like reading...)

OP, I'm sorry you're going through this. It's natural that you're worried and scared but most lumps are not cancer, and if it is something that needs treated then you have done the best thing by checking yourself and seeking medical help at an early stage.

I haven't had a breast lump but have had annual mammograms since age 40 due to strong family history. I do understand the feeling of trying to mentally prepare for bad news - of the 6 I've had so far, one showed an abnormality and I thought 'ok, this is it' but after biopsy that turned out to be nothing of concern. An emotional rollercoaster.

I know easier said than done but please don't worry additionally about being offered an earlier appointment or read any meaning into it. For a non-breast related issue, after a scan I was told I'd have a follow up appointment within 2-3 months. I then got a voicemail left at 5pm a couple days later (a Friday) telling me to come in on the Monday - I spent the whole weekend worried sick - it turns out it was just that they'd had a cancellation 😅

Wishing you all the best.

Update:

I went to the appointment on Monday. The consultant asked a few questions then examined my right breast, I had marked my lump on my left breast with a pen that morning as it is quite deep, and now that im nearly due my period there are rubbery balls beside the lump so wanted to make sure she felt the right one. I explained i had to use some "pressure" to feel the lump as it is deep, she felt the lump by just about barely touching my breast, I genuinely didn't feel like she could of felt the lump, she immediately took her hands away and said "I reckon its just glandular tissue but because of your family history I will send you for an ultrasound, the wait time is around 8 weeks".

I left feeling deflated. The next morning I got a call from the private clinic I was previously in contact with, they offered me an appointment for the Wednesday morning and I just said yes because what harm is it to get another opinion? Anyway, I went yesterday and felt rushed in and out. He asked me to point to the area where I feel a lump. I did, he felt near the area and said "that little thing" and stopped the exam. Told me to get dressed and then said im not too concerned, your left breast is swollen, Id like you to come back next week for an ultrasound (yesterday was day 25 of my cycle - period comes day 29/30) so not sure if he wants me to come back due to the swelling/cycle and not beinf able to see the lump on the ultrasound? He also said if it needs a biopsy he will send me to the public clinic he also works in as i dont have health insurance etc. Ive read lots of stories were people had to push to feel heard. I feel like neither of them actually felt my lump as when I feel it I rub around it with just ine finger because it is small and I feel I get a better "feel" of it like this, but they are the professionals so im sure they know what their doing? Anyway, that's the update not sure what im feeling now- part of me wonders am I being dramatic, but I know on day 12 of my cycle it was as clear as day a small hard pea/marble that felt stuck. Hopefully after the ultrasound I will have an answer to exactly what it is. The private consultant never gave any opinion on what he thought it might be or what it felt like, like the first consultant did. Mind you I paid €300 to see him i thought i would of got a hint of what it might be LOL.

Gosh neither of those experiences sound like best practice for a one stop breast clinic. Sorry you are still left with uncertainty and upset, I hope there’s some means you can feedback. I don’t understand why the NHS appointment didn’t ultrasound you on the same day as per best practice guidance.

Thanks cancerycaramelbear.
Im in Dublin, but I was wondering the same thing. For a 'one-stop' clinic I've been turned away twice, especially at the Beacon Breast Clinic which is a private clinic, the receptionist told me previous to my appointment that it would be consultation and ultrasound/mammogram, but because I am 30 they said they wont do mammogram just the ultrasound. Curious why I have to go back next week and he couldn't do it there and then? He never said why. This shows me i need to start opening my mouth and asking questions!