I'm scared - found large lump in breast

[DaisytheStrange]

Hallo. I am 45 with 2 teenage children. A few hours ago I discovered a strange large lump in outer side of my right breast. It's massive - the size of a walnut - and feels like it's just under the skin. Now I think about it, I've had a couple of times recently where this breast has felt hot and itchy - I think it could be related. I've been looking online at breast cancer sites and am now in full panic-mode. I'm obviously going to see the GP on Monday, but in the meantime have gone into a weird state of shivering and crying and imagining horrible scenarios. I can't sleep. Please could somebody reassure me that it is probably something harmless...

[Elibean]

That sounds awful.

I hope ykwim re the GPs - typing far too fast!

[DaisytheStrange]

@Elibean That made me laugh - all those inscrutable GPs

@Wren and @Clairestravelingcircus Sending out positive vibes to you both

I keep lurching from Zen-like calm to bouts of mortal terror. Trying to avoid Googling stuff, but it's hard to resist... I'm currently fixating on the GP's comment that there was flaky skin on the nipple. It didn't register at the time, but now I've googled it and it appears to be a Bad Thing, along with the fact that the lump only had "slight movement" and seems to be hard-ish.

My hospital appointment came through today. It is on the morning of Christmas Eve...

[Beamur]

Your Doctor won't offer any opinion, only proper diagnosis will do. You will be seen as quickly as possible and the results come quickly too, you may even get a diagnosis on the day. I won't say don't worry - it would be like saying 'stop thinking'. I had a lump earlier this year and was practically planning my funeral - however, my Mum has had breast cancer so maybe my anxiety was to be expected. On the plus side - she is still alive! The treatment if you do have cancer is good, there are lots of excellent treatments so even if the news is not good, don't feel like it's the end of the world. I have several friends now who are post surgery/chemo/radiotherapy and doing very well. Fingers crossed it will be something harmless - which chances are it will be.

[Mignonette]

I had a non moving lump (well tethered), irregular, flaking skin and bleeding. My GP said she wouldn't snowjob me and agreed that it looked ominous but may turn out to be fine. The consultant said it matched the criteria for 'Yes I can see why you are worried and reassured me that they would handle it no matter what which at the time made me panic so much that I couldn't actually see- I went blind behind the eyes for a moment.

After extensive tests(and two biopsies) it showed up as non malignant although I still don't feel safe (still bleeding and have a new lump now).

I'm not sure how reassuring I have been other than to say that the very worst case scenario can turn out not to be. My original lump was okay. This new little bastard- I'll wait until after Christmas and get checked again.

BTW I had no pain really at all w/ the biopsy and attempted aspiration so don't worry too much about the tests.

[Elibean]

The odds are still firmly in your favour, Daisy.

They just don't mess about with lumps, and tend to act on the assumption that they could be bad rather than start from the premise (more accurate statistically) that they are probably benign. If that makes sense.

I really hope you get some answers before Xmas

(ps New Year's resolution: lay off the inscrutable GPs )

[DaisytheStrange]

@Mignonette So sorry you had to go through all that - but it's really heartening to read that, despite seeming so ominous, it was benign after all. Wishing you all the best after Christmas - chances are it will also be harmless xx

Elibean Thanks for your post x I hope to God they do let me know the results on the day.

[DaisytheStrange]

My scan/biopsy etc are on Christmas Eve. I have no idea now whether I will be told the results on the day or not. Does anyone know what the norm is? If they drag it out much longer I'm worried I'll have a total meltdown.

[Mignonette]

Daisy

I wish you a very happy Christmas and a negative result for New Year.

I was told by the technician after my second biopsy that the 'signs were good'. But I had to await confirmation.

If your lump is fluid filled they will ask you if you want it to be drained there and then (I would-it isn't painful as the aspiration needle will already be inserted and having the lump disappear is psychologically reassuring). If it is fluid filled, that in itself a good sign.

The aspiration needles really did feel like a teeny little pinprick. it isn't as scary as it sounds.

[SparkleSoiree]

Fingers crossed for your Daisythestrange

[DaisytheStrange]

Thank you Sparkle and Mignonette and anyone else who has posted on this thread.

I will give you an update after my scans/biopsy tomorrow x

[ThermoLobster]

Good luck. I have been in your shoes, with a large painful lump, and all turned out ok. As others have said, if they can drain the lump, it is probably good news and just a cyst, as mine was (although I had a hard lump behind which caused a major scare but that is another story). Even if they can drain it, they will almost certainly send the results to the lab so you might not get a definitive answer tomorrow. And the stuff they drained was greenish black - just to warn you! Definitely sounds like a cyst - really hope it is.

[GimmeDaBoobehz]

I wish you the best of luck for tomorrow Daisy.

Can certainly understand your concern but think the chances of it being something sinister are relatively low.

Hope they let you know on the day so you don't have to spend Christmas worrying.

[chickydoo]

Good luck

[TinselinaBumSquash]

Good luck Daisy, I had a scare with a lump in my armpit but after a scan and biopsy it was just a cyst.

[ClairesTravellingCircus]

Good luck tomorrow xx

[catchingzeds]

Thinking of you today, and hoping for the best x

[Mignonette]

All the best for today xx

[FiscalCliffRocksThisTown]

Good luck!

9 out of 10 lumps are benign.

Just went through the same myself, it was a big cyst shich they drained on the spot. 20ml ( yuck).

Anyway, you will probably know straight away (as if a cyst they will drain it).

It is horribly nerve wrecking, so sending Zen like waves your way.

Xxx

[Elibean]

Good luck Daisy, thinking of you! xx

[SparkleSoiree]

Thinking of you Daisy, good luck!

[DaisytheStrange]

I've been offline for a couple of days, so only just able to update.

Panic over. It was a massive great cyst. No biopsy needed - the mammogram & ultrasound were unmistakable. They drained off 16ml of green fluid (nice...) and the thing is now gone. I'm now a whole bra size smaller on one side.

I'm so relieved, obviously. The whole experience has made me feel differently about many things, e.g I have a greater appreciation of the positive things in my life and I feel a strange kind of urgency to change the negative things and stop procrastinating.

However, one very annoying result of all the panic googling I did before the scans is that I'm now much more paranoid about my own body, e.g worrying about possible effects of the radiation from the mammograms, wondering whether random freckles on my skin could be cancerous etc. I never used to be a hypochondriac, but the experience seems to have triggered this off. Hopefully this is just a temporary thing

Thank you to everyone for your posts and support over the past week - it helped to keep me sane and I appreciate it so much

[Mignonette]

HOORAY!!!!!!!

and .

Have been thinking of you and hoping.

YAY!

[EnlightenedOwl]

Hiya
The paranoia thing is normal. I was treated for melanoma and have just finished my five year follow up. Now I'm looking at a freckle on my left boob thinking it looks "Different" actually I don't think it does, its the old paranoia creeping in but I will keep an eye.
But very pleased for you what a massive massive relief.

[radiatormesh]

Great news.

About the paranoia. I had (a rare) cancer over two years ago now, and I still get the odd bout of panic: a twinge somewhere is always caused by a tumour rather than having pulled a muscle for example. But it's getting better with time. Because I've been 'through the system' so to speak, it's a known entity and not something remote: it's therefore easier to imagine being put back into the system again. Before you have a run-in with cancer, it's something that happens to other people or on the telly. Once you do though, you realise how easily you could be back in the waiting room/consultant's office: you've broken the seal if you like.

I try to limit my concern to one day a month, where I check my breasts and my moles. Everything else I imagine advising a friend about and that often helps.

[ClairesTravellingCircus]

Great news!

Soo glad it was just a cyst!

Paranoia totally understandable but hopefully will subside soon!