Lump in breast - first appointment with consultant. What to expect

[VillaVillekulla]

Just over a week ago I found a lump in my breast. I went to GP immediately. She said she thought it could be a "breast mouse" but couldn't be sure and was referring me to the hospital.

I'm trying not to freak out too much and hoping that she's right and it's benign. However, I am still really worried about it and I'd like to know what to expect at the hospital appointment next week. From what the GP said I thought I'd be having a biopsy/scan immediately but when the hospital called they said it would just be a short examination by the consultant.

I'm also not delighted that it's a male consultant due to a bad experience with a male GP insisting on a totally unnecessary breast exam when I was much younger. Will there be a nurse present too if he's examining me?

TIA

I've had umpteen of those appointments! What happened in every case is the consultant felt the lump. He then did an ultrasound and took a needle biopsy.

There will definitely be a breast care nurse with you and they are lovely and reassuring. Where I live you get the results of the biopsy the same afternoon. Occasionally they may do a mammogram or a core biopsy but I would imagine it will all be done in one appointment, although it may depend on where you live!

Oh thank you so much. That's exactly what I wanted to hear - that there will be a nurse and that he'll do all the tests then and there and I'll get the results quickly.

I probably don't want to know the answer to this and I know it's the least of my worries right now but does the biopsy hurt a lot?

Sorry to hear you've been through this lots of times.

You should ideally be seen by a rapid access breast clinic. That means that you are examined by a consultant (you should be offered a chaperone) who will determine if there is a palpable lump. If there is, s/he'll either do a fine needle aspiration, if the lump is soft, where they take a syringe with a very small needle and draw back some of the cells, or a core biopsy if the lump is hard. Other investigations may be ultrasound, mammogram.

Most women are reassured that their symptoms are benign at such clinics. A smaller number of women are told that they need further investigation,etc.

I can tell you about my experience.

Appointment within 2 weeks, had mammogram , core biopsy/scan and examination with consultant who had a nurse with him all the time.

I had to go back a week later for results,but was told they were certain it was just infection ( it was) on the day.

You can take someone with you if you wish.

The needle biopsy will sting a little but it's not something to dread. I only had a core biopsy after a breast MRI scan showed up some abnormal cells (have a strong family history of breast cancer so I get scanned regularly) and they give you local anaesthetic for that. I'd rather have a needle biopsy than have vein blood taken put it this way!

If the lump is mobile it's probably a fibroadinoma - that's what my lumps were! They are completely benign!

I had a core biopsy and can honestly say it didn't hurt( they use local anaesethetic) although i did get some colourful bruising !!

I have also had a needle biopsy where they drain fluid off, again no discomfort.

I went about a month ago (first ever referral) was absolutely petrified but the nurses and doctors were brilliant.

For me it was like this - first you go into a room, asked to undress top half and pop on a gown by nurse. Doctor came in and examined both breasts then just to be sure off to another section to have a ultrasound. After this back to see the Doctor. Did not need a biopsy or mammogram.

After to talking to other ladies who have had to go all said they have had good experiences and the care and reassurance is brilliant. Between us we have been to 3 different hospitals and even the mobile mammogram units, ladies have only had praise.

I found it was just the actual shock of GP saying they were referring me to the hospital and then the wait. Naturally, regardless of what anyone says you will worry and have a few wobbles that will creep up on you when you are least expecting it but hopefully you should as Paddy said, be done in the day.

Thank you all. That's all really reassuring. Yes the GP thought it was mobile. Doesn't feel very mobile to me but I'm too scared to push it or prod it too much so I'll take the GP's word for it. I'm desperately hoping she's right and it's a fibroadenoma.

Let us know how you get on! My fibroadenomas didn't feel mobile to me either but the consutant immediately said they felt very benign but he did the test obviously to dot all the i's and cross all the t's as he put it!

I will. Hopefully I'll be back with good news next week. I can't really get my head around the bad news scenario.

I know what you mean onionrings. I'm generally feeling ok about it and have convinced myself it's benign but then just now I had a bit of a weep on DP's shoulder.

Thanks again for all of your reassurance. It's times like this I feel really grateful for MN. It's not something I want to talk to anybody about in RL other than DP.

Don't worry if your appointment comes through very quickly - mine did and I worried it was a bad sign.

I had a mammogram and ultrasound and needed a needle biopsy. Then I ended up needing a core biopsy as there wasn't enough cells to analyse from the first one. I found both to be fine.

Although I had to wait for the results, the consultant did tell me on the day that they weren't concerned - and this proved right as it was just a fibrodenoma.

I've been to a couple of different breast clinics and the staff have all been really kind - I'm sure you'll be well looked after.

Villa - how did you get on?

It was a cyst. I was so relieved I nearly cried.

TBH, I found the male consultant a bit creepy and wasn't keen on the breast exam at all. I was pleased that a lovely nurse was in the room the whole time. He then sent me off to a different part of the hospital for an ultrasound. I was seen really quickly and a lovely woman sonographer put me at ease and told me almost straight away that it was a cyst (in fact she could see a few small ones which I can't feel) and nothing to worry about.

The consultant offered to aspirate it but I said no - mainly because I was feeling a bit shaken up and wanted to go home rather than wait around to have a big needle stuck in my breast!

The whole thing took about an hour.

My only worry now is that I may get more cysts - apparently they're very common in women between age 35 and menopause and more often develop - and I'll have no way of knowing if a lump is cancerous or just another cyst.

Thanks again to all of you for telling me what to expect

Congratulations

If you do change your mind about the aspiration, it's the tiniest needle and it takes around 10 seconds to do.

The benefit of having it aspirated is that the lump is gone, so if you get more lumps you know they need investigation.

Pleased it all went well, i find my consultant a bit creepy too! you are not in the south are you?

My mum has had numerous cysts but none of them have been sinister.

I have had 2 breast infections and a breast abscess and the second time it happened i was quite laid back by it, so i think if it happens again you will probably not be so anxious.

Oh yes ,the aspiration is very quick and i didn't feel any discomfort from it.

Thanks :)

I am in the South but I suspect there are more than a few creepy consultants out there. Or maybe there's just something inherently creepy about the situation (sitting there half naked in front of a fully clothed stranger who's touching your breasts!).

Now I'm thinking I should have had the aspiration. I definitely don't want to go back to hospital to have it done. Is it something the GP could do or is it a hospital procedure?

It's a hospital procedure, really.

Just a note regarding the "creepy doctor" - you can always ask for a female doctor to examine you. All hospitals should accommodate your request.

Pleased to hear was just a cyst