Worried about going to hospital for a 2 week wait breast appointment

[INeedNewShoes]

I'm in the at risk group for Coronavirus.

I've had aching in my boob for a few weeks and then had green discharge from my nipple, though that cleared up so maybe it was an unrelated infection. I've had a lump in that boob for nearly 20 years. It was biopsied and clear of anything sinister at the time I found it.

I have an appointment at a hospital for the urgent referral breast screening clinic and I am very very concerned about going to the appointment.

I feel like its an impossible dilemma.

I can obviously take lots of precautions and not go near anyone in the waiting room, not touch any etc. but there will be no avoiding having the doctor and nurses breathing near me if they are examining me, taking biopsies etc. It seems widely reported that there is a shortage of PPE so masks are not being changed between patients.

I'm just wondering if anyone can say anything that will help me make the decision as to whether to attend this appointment or whether I would most likely be able to get away with deferring it a couple of months and attending the clinic once the coronavirus situation is calmer.

I dont know where you are in he uk but in lots if areas the onslaught has not hit so please go, get checked out. The nurses that you see will not be the same ones that are looking after patients with covid 19 and it is very unlikely they will be wearing masks. Its imperative that you sort this out and have the opportunity to start treatment so I would go

Go - stick to social distancing as much as possible & clean hands frequently, but go. The risk from your breast issues sounds like it outweighs the CV risk (which can be managed). Treatment the sooner the better - and if they say it's nothing to worry about, all the better.

And best wishes going your way

Are you "Shielding" OP?
If so, the advice on Gov website for shielders who have appointments is to talk to GP or the clinic where you are to be seen and take direct advice from them.
It's about minimising risk to yourself and weighing up the pros and cons of attending or not.
If you are a shielder, it would be helpful for the clinic to know this.
Good luck.

Unless you are shielding, please go. I am guessing you are probably not elderly? Your risk from getting Coronavirus is much less than from breast cancer (though hopefully this will turn out not to be cancer, but just in case). 40% of people with Coronavirus have no symptoms at all.

We are rightly pushing social distancing, to protect vulnerable people and society as a whole but, for most non-elderly individuals, Coronavirus is not a serious illness, and should not put you off going to an important appointment.

(NB for the MN coronavirus police: I am NOT saying CV never affects younger people severely, I am just saying that the risk of getting severe CV is much lower than the risk of untreated breast cancer)

Go. For sure.

Wear gloves of any kind to touch door handles and lift buttons with.

If you don’t have a mask make one or do your best with a scarf, it’s better than nothing.

Take hand sanitiser with you. Don’t look at someone face to face at a close distance, turn your head.

Touch nothing
Strip and dump clothing in washing basket bathe well as soon as your home. You should be fine.