Breast lump referral - 6 month wait??? Is this normal?

[Flump007]

I have had a small pea sized lump since July. I took myself to the GP beginning of Spetember (I have been advised in the past to wait a cycle or 2 to see if the lump stays/goes) and she could feel it but asked me to go back for another check 2 weeks later. It was still there so she referred me to the breast clinic on 22nd Sept. GP said she would refer me urgently but it was upto the consultant how urgently I was seen.

I have had lumps before and was referred in 2013. I had a date for an appointment within 10 days and was seen within 3 weeks. Thankfully all was clear.

I am worried sick. This lump is very different to any other I have had in the past which were diagnosed as glandular tissue. This lump is small and hard.

I chased my appointment at the end of last week as I had not heard anything. It came to light that the hospital had never received my referral. After many phonecalls lat Thursday and Friday between myself the GP surgery and the hospital, my referral was re faxed through and dealt with today.

I called today as advised to do so to be told my date for my appointment. Apparently I have been put on the routine breast clinic list , which has a 6 month waiting list.

I can only assume that because I have had benign breast lumps in the past they have decided that this lump is too (with no tests) and that it is safe for me to wait 6 months.

Half of me is relieved. I am dreading going but then I think how can they be sure this lump is nothing.

Is it normal for lump referrals to wait 6 months to be seen? I just cannot help thinking its a pointless referral. I will either be riddled with cancer in 6 months time (almost 9 months from first noticing the lump) or I may as well just ignore this painless lump that is causing me no issue what so ever and not bother the NHS.

I have really worked myself up about this lump and am worried I am not being rational so asking you lot what you think and what you may be inclined to do in my situation. Wait the six months or ask to be seen sooner - but can you even do that and if so how?

I thought I would give an update incase anyone is interested.

I called my GP last Wednesday asking to be referred to another hospital in the hope they may not keep me waiting 6 months and perhaps class me as urgent. We live right on the boarder of 2 different health boards/authorities, so use both but for different things usually.

GP was away so I left a message and she did call me back late on Thursday.

She said it wasnt the done thing to refer patients to 2 different hospitals for the same thing but in this case she would. She said she would refer me straight away to our other local hospital.

I chased the new hospital today and the staff were lovely. They found my referral but it was still waiting to be processed. The lady on the phone assured me it would be processed this afternoon and apologised because the earliest booking was now for the first week in November. Once she said that I was so relieved. At least this hospital were classing me as urgent.

The hospital lady called me 10 minutes later to say she had a cancellation for this Thursday if I was able to come at short notice. Obviously I snapped her hand off with that offer .

I was so relieved I cried when I put the phone down. Then cried because I am scared and can now properly think about what this lump may be.

DH has booked Thursday off work to come with me. I am now worrying about having to face upto what this lump is but oevrall I am just so relieved I finally have an appointment.

Thank you so much to those of you who helped me last week gather the strength to fight my corner on this. It's frankly disgusting that I had to. Also thanks to those who messaged me with kind words.

Roll on Thursday.

Yeh - well done!

You will probably be examined and then may have a mammogram, possibly more tests. This is common, and is done for cancerous and non-cancerous lumps to determine what they are, so don't panic if this happens.

Let us know how you get on.

How did the appointment go? Hope everything was ok

Sorry for the delay in update.

Thankfully it was all good news. Its nothing sinister They think it is uneven thickening of the breast tissue and nothing to worry about.

The hospital were lovely and very reassuring.

Me I am so relieved its unreal. I have actually been sleeping at night.

Thank you so much once again for your support through this

That's great to hear. Very glad for you. The relief is huge isnt it?!