Would you keep a private breast clinic appointment or wait for NHS?

[Talkmedownplease16]

Hi folks,

Just looking for some advice please.
So 2 weeks ago I discovered a firmish lump/ridge in my right breast, went to gp, she said she couldn't feel it but due to my age (40 in a few days) she would red flag me to cancer team.

I have severe health anxiety, to say im panicked is an understatement. I can't eat properly, my sleep is awful and the physical anxiety pains, especially in my back, are crippling me.

I rang appointments line today who said it'll be at least start of July before I'm seen by NHS. I also rang private clinic today and they have said I can have consultation with Dr on Thursday evening and he will refer me on as private patient if he deems necessary.
My problem is, I'm going away for the weekend, trying to celebrate my birthday (and put on a brave face) and I'm scared appointment might make me worse, or it could maybe help. I don't think he will say its nothing to worry about as he can't really due to not knowing without further tests but he might be able to fast track a mammogram or scan.
Would you take the risk of furthering anxiety for the weekend when it's already so bad or cancel it and wait for NHS?

I don't think you're going to make your anxiety worse, it's already extreme. I'd go to the private appointment. Best of luck

Thank you @Jellyofftheplate I'm thinking the same!

What will the consultation actually involve? Unless it will include a mammogram and biopsy, I’d say there is absolutely no point (keep in mind, you’ll need to pay privately for those too). Just turning up to see a consultant privately at £300 for 15 minutes for him to say, yep, that’s a lump there! You can wait to be seen on the NHS or that will be £3000 for procedures in 3 weeks time with me, doesn’t really get you anywhere. The NHS breast clinic often operates as a one stop shop and you get everything done on the day you’re seen. I wouldn’t want to pay out my ass to be seen privately but not have many answers.

Realistically, 3 weeks wait to be seen on the NHS is not going to make any difference in terms of your treatment plan if it’s cancer. Unless you plan to go private and stay private (and private is often not better for cancer care), I would stay in the NHS and ring regularly to enquire about cancellation slots.

Thanks for your advice @mindutopia I completely understand what you're saying. I think since the GP said she couldn't feel anything I'm wanted to see if a breast specialist can or am I losing my mind altogether? I know there's no way he can diagnose me there and then without follow up scan, mammogram or biopsy so I get that it could be total waste of money!
The waiting is just brutal!

I’d keep the NHS one, if the Dr couldn’t feel a lump it must be pretty small.

My two week wait was nearly 4 weeks so I understand your anxiety but as the pp pointed out you need a mammogram and possibly a biopsy.

My lump was a cyst like the vast majority of lumps are.

If it’s a one stop breast clinic privately then I would go for it but it will set you back about £1000 for an appointment mammogram and ultrasound. I do it annually

Thanks @Girliefriendlikespuppies and @childoftkty. I'm definitely keeping the NHS one but guess I'm thinking maybe of the consultant deemed it as most likely cancerous I'd go get the private mammogram earlier than the NHS one.
Unfortunately not a one stop shop as that would be perfect and exactly what I need x

8 yr Breast cancer survivor.
Size of lump makes absolutely no difference.
My lump was picked up as calcifications with no palpable lump at my first screening mammogram.
The lump itself wasn't visible.
Even the consultant couldn't feel it at the followup.
She told me it was buried so deep that I wouldn't have been able to feel it for around 18 months.
It was only 10mm, but grade 3 and already in two lymph nodes.
With no symptoms.
Please don't assume that too small to feel means not serious and okay to wait awhile.

@Hibernatingsloth I'm so glad to read you are 8 years here after such an ordeal.
My 'lump' is extremely hard to describe, I can only feel it if I push my skin a certain way, it's more like a fatty feeling or a ridge of tissue but it's not there in my other breast so it's definitely a change.
I also guess my thoughts are I can always tell myself I've done everything I possibly can if it turns out to be cancer, by that I mean try and get seen quicker.

I had something similar (well still do). Feels like slightly dried out chewing gum. It is fibrous changes caused by hormones. Hopefully yours is the same. They could tell straight away on the ultrasound, didn't need a biopsy or anything else.

No advice as to what to do but I had a very similar sounding lump/ridge and referral a few years ago and like a PP it was found on ultrasound to be fibrocystic breast changes and nothing sinister. The other PP’s story shows why it’s so important to get checked out of course but I wanted to offer you some hope that not all stories turn out that way either as I remember the panic and anxiety well. fingers crossed for you

Are you sure you aren't just feeling normal breast tissue? Mine feels like long ridges on the sides. I would wait for the NHS to be honest. Its a lot of money to probably get nothing more than you have right now. Remember 90% of referrals to the breast clinic are not cancer.

If you can afford it OP then I’d go private. I’ve recently had a dramatic change in periods (triple the heaviness and lasting twice as long as before). My GP referred me for a scan and the waiting list is up to 18 months, so I decided to go private. Was told 2 weeks to be seen but actually they called to advise me of a Saturday clinic they’d added so 4 days from first enquiry. They found nothing untoward and have set my mind at ease in that respect, so money well spent for peace of mind.

Thank you all for your input, I really do appreciate it.
@jellyofftheplate I really hope mine is something similar. I'm glad it was all good for you.
@lemonlolly89 so glad yours was OK too, the worry is like nothing I've ever felt before. My best friend passed from breast cancer less than a year ago, it's so heightened for me.
@titsywoo I would love it to be normal tissue, I'm hoping the specialist might be able to tell me more, the GP said nothing.
@CheeseWisely I'm glad all was well for you in the end too, I hope it brings me peace of mind that I need and not make me worse! Fingers crossed.

I think if the GP had felt the lump, I would say go private.
But the fact that the GP couldn't feel it makes me wonder how you would feel if you shelled out all that money, and it was nothing.
July is not all that far away and maybe you could check for cancelations.

Hi, think I’ve name changed since but I started a remarkably similar thread only a month or so ago - think it was in general health, I’ll see if I can link it….
I was also told it would be up to 4 weeks to be seen on NHS but in the end it was just under 2. Unless you have private health insurance it’s not really worth going private (unless you have lots of £ and have a ‘one stop appointment’ that does the mammogram/ultrasound/biopsy too). No consultant will say anything with any certainty without a mammogram and ultrasound. And even then it’s not 100% till they get the results of the biopsy. All these tests rack up. Then if you need to be referred back to NHS because you can’t afford treatment you do not get seen any quicker (& they’ll want all the details from the private consult as won’t want to mammogram again etc). I know it’s really hard and scary but my advice would be wait! 🌷

I just spoke to a private clinic and if it helps- price wise it was £170-£250 for a consultant who would send me to radiology there and then if needed for mammogram £200 and/or ultrasound £475. I’d then wait and get the results there and then. That’s a one stop clinic and I’d say it’s what you want!

Ideally it would be good to go to a private 'one stop shop' breast clinic - is there one anywhere near you? You will see the doctor for a physical exam, then a mammogram and likely ultrasound too. If you need a biopsy they will do that then too but you will have a good idea of the result by the end of that appointment.

Hope this is helpful too…
www.mumsnet.com/talk/cancer/5515193-pay-as-you-go-private-one-stop-breast-screening?reply=151928952

I think your anxiety sounds quite extreme so given that I would keep the private appointment. Given other posters comments there is a good chance the doctor can put your mind at rest if it is only normal breast changes and allow you to enjoy your weekend as it sounds like you will be worrying no matter what . And if it is potentially bad news at least you will have started the ball rolling.
Good luck I hope it turns out to be nothing

Hi @Orchidacea July definitely not too far away when I calm down and use my rational brain.

Thank you @Totalmayhem again like the others you are right, they definitely rack up! I would want to be transferred back to NHS if treatment is required. A lottery win would be helpful 🙈I will have a read at that thread now.

@CRbear Thank you for that guide, extremely helpful.

@Cheerfulcharlie there's not a one stop shop near me unfortunately, it's see consultant first and then they say if I need further tests which I'm referred on for anyway through GP. Have appointment booked with consultant to see if he could shed any light on lump just before the tests. Try and ease my mind a bit.

Thank you @Puravida23 I really appreciate your reply.

I was in a similar situation a few months ago. I found 2 very different lumps. One in each breast and one of which was really big. I was terrified. The 2 week pathway was going to actually be 6 weeks. There is breast cancer history in my family and my anxiety was through the roof. I went to the private appointment where if its needed they also do mammogram, ultrasounds and biopsies. I was ready to pay ££££. The consultant examined me and said he could feel what I was feeling but in his experience they felt like normal breast tissue and that I was now feeling it because of (intentional) weightloss. He said he was happy but to keep my NHS appointment just for belts abd braces. He could have ordered a mammogram and ultrasound and made some extra money but didn't. NHS appointment saw me have a mammogram and ultrasound and was given the all-clear. The private appt was the best £200 I've ever spent. The way I was treated means I'd do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to.

I'm so happy your news and experience has been positive @worldsgonemadnow At the moment I think I'm still going to go to the private one and see what happens. When I rang nhs appointments line they said it wouldn't effect that one so I know it's coming up eventually. I hope my news is as good as yours.

@Talkmedownplease16good luck with your appointments. 🤞that its nothing nasty.

Thank you so much @worldsgonemadnow I appreciate that.