Lumpy Tit

[Nervous1971]

I'm 44 and have had a few symptoms over the last few months: painful boobs before period, thinning pubic hair (wtf!), headaches, anxiety, loss of libido.....last month had a week of cramps before period started (a few days later than expected). Almost as soon as period had finished I found a large lumpy area in left tit. Spent the night assuming I was dying :( Went to female gp who did exam. She said I had a lot of glandular tissue that side and I should go back in 30 days...BUT I'm worried...any advice? I do suffer from anxiety....

[validusername]

We have had 30 extra referrals than normal this week (I work in a breast cancer unit) and I have seen fewer cancers than ever. Clinic today, 22 patients all with lumps, lumpy areas or breast pain. Couple of cyst aspirations but no biopsies.

Someone said it was Eastenders bloody fault or something!

Sadly yes there are women who develop breast cancer, but the overwhelming majority of women I see are completely fine.

[validusername]

We have had 30 extra referrals than normal this week (I work in a breast cancer unit) and I have seen fewer cancers than ever. Clinic today, 22 patients all with lumps, lumpy areas or breast pain. Couple of cyst aspirations but no biopsies.

Someone said it was Eastenders bloody fault or something!

Sadly yes there are women who develop breast cancer, but the overwhelming majority of women I see are completely fine.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I don't think it's great for women to read that staff are mocking them for being checked out and saying it must be because of eastenders. Getting checked out is a good thing.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

However yes a massive number are benign so please be reassured by that

[validusername]

It was quite clearly a joke

We always advise any women that if they have any changes to their breasts then they are to see their GP without question. We would never mock anyone for getting checked out, especially not when I am seeing breast cancer diagnosed on a daily basis.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Yes a joke but it's a sensitive issue. People have often said on here they feel quite silly if things turn out to be nothing.

Anyway an argument won't help the OP

Who I hope can get through the waiting time OK.

[validusername]

Quite right.

I do get a lot of women who apologise for wasting my time. I always tell them it's never a waste of time and never assume that your issues don't matter, because even if it is only peace of mind I can give you then it's worth it.

I hope it all goes okay for you OP, if you do have any questions about anything I would be happy for you to PM me. I promise I won't make any wisecracks

[chewingawasp]

valid presumably all the extra referrals have pushed the waiting times up? I was told that I should be seen within 2 weeks but that it might be longer

[TheoriginalLEM]

judt want to offer a virtual hug. have been where you are now. The waiting is HELL and as i too suffer from anxiety i know how awful you'll be feeling.

i already take anti anxiety medication but was given diazepam to help take the edge off. i also had Bach rescue remedy and camomile tea (tastes like SICK But it works).

when you go to the clinic youll speak to the consultant and then she will examine you. Then youll go for a mammogram (not painful in the slightest) and maybe an ultrasound.

smooth and movable is VERY good news.

you did the right thing getting it checked. for your own peace of mind. try to keep busy. Statistics are on your side!

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Also ..anyone else reading who is worried about an immovable lump...I had one a fee weeks ago..huge and fixed. .it was also a benign cyst :)

[Tanfastic]

Op, i'm sure it's nothing to worry about, I have a lumpy area in one boob and haven't had a referral but I have had two different GP's take a look/feel of it and they both said it was normal breast tissue and I needed to stop worrying. I am having a slight anxiety moment reading this as i'm wondering whether I should have pushed for a referral but the rational side of me is saying two GP's wouldn't risk their reputation, especially as I stated I was seeking a second opinion...who knows! However that was a year ago and said lumpy area is still lumpy, no different, feels like cooked pasta to me with soft beans, ridges and small beads. Other side doesn't feel so much like it which was what took me to the GP in the first place.

Valid, I think your contribution to this thread has been wonderfully reassuring, thank you so much. I think it's great to have insight from someone who actually works in a breast cancer unit - from your experience can you tell us all with lumpy boobs what we should really be feeling for? My GP tells me you need to feel for a distinct lump, something that stands out from the rest of the breast tissue. I assume that is why mine is normal. It all feels bumpy, no distinct lump.

[validusername]

Any referrals that come to us HAVE to be seen within two weeks. So we run extra clinics, usually late clinics (which mean we often finish after 10pm) to fit all the women in. We may be able to squeeze one or two extra in a day. So you shouldn't be waiting longer than two weeks.

[chewingawasp]

Thanks valid I shall be chasing this up today then as it is now 10 days since referral was made.

[validusername]

Tan most women do have lumpy breasts. The breast is made up of two things, glandular breast tissue and fat. It may just be that in this lumpy area you have, you may have more of the glandular stuff which does feel more lumpy and will respond to changes to your cycle so you may feel pain there too. It could just be the pattern of your breasts.

Try not to check yourself too often, maybe once a month around the same time. Always with a the flat of your hand, if you poke with fingers you will always feel lumps.

Any new changes you notice or anything that worries you, don't hesitate to get yourself to your gp and get yourself checked out. Be reassured if they say it feels like normal breast tissue, a breast cancer lump is quite obvious if you can feel it. It's the ones you can't feel that are often detected by mammograms and ultrasound.

And even if a diagnosis ever is breast cancer, the treatment available is incredible.

[Nervous1971]

thank you for the replies. they help. I had a night from hell...tossing and turning and not sleeping one bit. I actually thought that I was going to have a complete mental breakdown. I can't stop feeling the lumpy area either. Once this is resolved either way, I need to see my GP about my anxiety issues. I know almost all women are gonna be scared by a breast lump, but this has poleaxed me totally...

[Tanfastic]

Valid - thanks for the reply, that is very helpful and reassuring.

Op, I can really relate to how you are feeling. I have health anxiety to a degree and have in the past actually been so obsessed with my lumpy bit that I made it bruised by all the prodding and poking. I've even been known to nip to the loo at work just to feel it, bloody ridiculous I know. I'm sure I need CBT.

Lots of hand holding from me and try your hardest not to fiddle, in my experience it just makes it worse. I actually cannot feel the lumps in my breast by feeling with the flat of my fingers, only when I press quite deep with the pads of my fingertips and wiggle around. It's the wiggling around that makes it sore so try and avoid doing this if you can.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I don't really have health anxiety and this made me very worried so go easy on yourself a bit :)

[Nervous1971]

by the way...i'm very flat chested and am wondering how the hell they are going to do a mammogram....

It quite easy to feel any lumps in my tits as they are soooo small

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

I'm sure they manage with all shapes and sizes :)

[Nervous1971]

i must stop googling....I've had neck pain for a few weeks with shooting pain down left arm....I had this 3 years ago (worn out disc I believe) and have had neck problems for 20 years BUT now I'm thinking I have secondary bone cancer....ohhh christ.

Do you think its worth me getting in touch with gp and saying i'm cracking up? would they be able to get me breast clinic appmt any sooner? I'm really struggling to keep it together..

[TheoriginalLEM]

give them a ring. i was climbing the walls and i called the breast clinic . They obviously had me flagged up as an anxious patient as they were trying to call me and i was given a cancellation the following day. They might also prescribe some diazepam to help you through.

Its so horrible waiting but you really are likely to be given good news. try and holdon to that. don't allow yourself to google it is sooo destructive.

I promise you, if you had bone cancer you would be in agony. put it out of your mind.

my friend had breast cancer. She felt a lump. her sister is a gp and pretty much told her to expect bad news after feeling the lump. Your dr has been quite reassuring really. My friends gp (not her sister) was pretty blunt in as much as he said lump was sudpect from the first exam. yes they want to reassure you butthey wont tell you its likely ok if they don't think it is.

my friend is fully recovered now btw.

[Nervous1971]

thank you

[chewingawasp]

Don't Google!!!
I totally know how you feel. I was suffering from anxiety before I noticed the lump so have been prescribed Prozac while I'm waiting for results. I have had to chase my referral and they have said to chase again in a couple of days if I haven't heard anything
My doctor has said she is concerned about the lump so that has made me even more anxious
Hope you get your appointment soon.

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Definitely don't Google. Had myself diagnosed with all sorts then all was well

[validusername]

If we can mammogram men then we can certainly mammogram you