help! Feeling very anxious about lumpy area in breast

[f1chick]

Hi, just over a week ago a pain developed in my right breast and it seemed to get harder, went to the GP straight away who confirmed she could feel a thickened area and thought it could be the start of an infection. Took antibiotics for a week and although not painful anymore there was still a thickened area. Went back to different GP today who could also feel this but didn´t think it was anything sinister but said she would refer me anyway just to be sure. There is a 6-8 week wait in my area for refferals so asked if I could go private, this will probably take 2 weeks but haven´t got the appointment yet. Does anyone have similar experience of this? The last week has been a living hell, I have been trying to get on with things but i just feel like I am on auto-pilot....the thought of another 2 weeks is so depressing. I have 2 young kids (3 and 5) and every time I look at them waves of panic come over me....google has not been my friend but I can´t seem to stop myself. Any tips for surviving the next couple of weeks? I am usually such a positive person but I can´t stop thinking the worst :-(

Waiting for breast screening is the pits, I totally understand!

That said, if the pain has gone it sounds as though the antibiotics made a difference - which (I'm no medic, but going on common sense and lots of breast surgeon visits for lumpy bits) sounds very reassuring. Thickened bits after an infection sound par for the course, because it would take a while for tissues to go back to normal even once the actual infection was nixed iyswim.

Other than that, my own sanity saver when panicking about lumps and staring at my kids has been to pop over to the Tamoxifen thread and ask the ladies there to hold my hand...they're brilliant, and always willing to encourage and hand hold and give sensible advice, and in the very unlikely scenario of anything nasty they have all the experience to help, too.

That, and remembering only 1 lump out of 10 is likely to be anything other than benign - and thick/lumpy bits probably have even better odds

Hang in there, and post anytime you feel the panic taking over x

f1chick, you've done all the right things so far. You've been to two doctors, got their opinions and a referral.
When you talk about the worst I assume you mean breast cancer.
Even if it is that, these days the treatment is second to none and has a high success rate, so don't dwell on the "what ifs?" I know it's scary, especially since you've got young children.
First thing- you probably haven't got it.
Second thing- even if it was, for a high percentage it's not the awful disease it was, say, 20 years ago. It's highly treatable.
I had it in 2008, and a load of treatment and I'm clear now, and a complete pain in the arse to my family, friends and everyone who knows me, and no intentions of bidding farewell just yet!

I'm surprised at the wait or are you not in the uk ? Referrals usually are within 2 weeks, I couldn't even wait that long and went private and got an appointment the same day
I'm sure it's just precautionary though I agree the waiting is just horrid

I had something similar, I also paid to have a private scan but luckily only had to wait a few days before I was seen- in my case I had a cyst there. I agree the 6 week wait would have had me a total nervous wreck! My consultant said that by far most of the news he gives is good, most lumpyness has some benign cause. I hope you get a scan very quickly as I know the wait is horrible, even more so with young children. Good luck.

malteserzz - i was told it was a two week referral if cancer was suspected, longer if its a reassurance, belt and braces referral? At least that is what the dr told me when i was climbing the walls after being referred. I think i waited 6 weeks, she told me it wasn't a two week referral as she was pretty sure it was nothing to worry about - pain in my breast.

That was about 6 years ago though so it may have changed by now

Wow- thank you so much for your replies. Maletserzz - yes I am in the UK, northern Scotland and the 6 weeks is for an emergency appointment apparently. My GP phoned the breast unit at the hospital to confirm what the likely wait would be. To be honest the frame of mind I am in just now even 2 weeks will be a challenge! We recently lost a family member to cancer and I think because that is all still so fresh it is making me think the worst. Helza - sorry to hear about your experience but reassuring to know that even if it turns out to be "the worst" there is still light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks again for all your replies x

I'm hoping this will help you. This time last year I had an area of thickening - over a couple of months it didn't go away and just got denser until it kind of felt the size of half a sausage!

It did turn out to be cancer - been down the surgery, chemo, radio and hormone treatment route.

But the thing I want to reassure you about is that my lump was not painful at all. When I was initially being assessed I was frequently asked this and clearly from reactions it was a concern because there was no pain.

I was treated at Aberdeen RI - was referred within 2 weeks and told within 3 hours of being at the hospital that I had cancer.

Good luck - I know it's difficult not to worry!