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]

And you would have very noticeable breast cancer by now if it had spread to your bones.

The women I see who are sadly diagnosed with breast cancer most often have very good staging

[validusername]

Oops posted too soon...and now have forgotten what I was going to say

[validusername]

Wasp there are strict 2 week targets for cancer referrals so you may find yourself getting a last minute phonecall with an appointment. Please do chase them if you haven't heard, and ensure that your doctor did send the referral. I hope it all goes okay for you.

[chewingawasp]

Thanks Valid
Doctor has definitely sent the referral and I am 'in the system' apparently. I was hoping to get seen before the weekend ideally but can't see that happening now.

[Nervous1971]

Thanks Valid. I know I may be a tad irrational at the moment . I'm going to phone the clinic tomorrow and try and explain what I'm going through although I'm sure so are a lot of others.

[validusername]

It's perfectly understandable and totally okay to be feeling anxious. I'm sure the staff at the breast clinic will look after you and hopefully will be good news

[Nervous1971]

I've just been reading the macmillan forum and a lady had the exact same lump/symptoms as me and yup she had cancer. I'm not going to google or use my laptop until I have had my tests because I can't cope. dr has prescried diazepam.......I'VE WASTED MY LIFE WORRYING ABOUT SHIT THAT DOES NOT MATTER IN THE END. LESSON LEARNED TOO LATE FOR ME, GOODBYE AND GOOD LUCK TO ANYONE DEALING WITH CANCER

[Tanfastic]

Nervous, Please stop looking at the Macmillan website. If you look hard enough you can easily diagnose yourself with anything. You have a lumpy boob, your other symptoms are just age related I assume. I am a similar age and have all the symptoms you describe.

your GP has said its lumpy glandular tissue, I expect she's referred you to put your mind at rest only. Re read what valid has said. She would have referred you immediately had she thought there was anything obviously pointing to cancer.

When is your appointment at the clinic? Have you got any support at home?

[fanjoforthemammaries7850]

Lots of people online seemed to have same symptoms as I had and had cancer. I had a cyst. Please stop googling

[wineandsunshine]

I had the exact symptoms and V flat chested too. GP felt the lumpy area and said come back in a month, I did and told her I was still worried so she referred me. 2 weeks later I had a ultrasound - they said all looked fine but to go to the follow up appointment. This was 2 weeks later with a consultant who examined me again and said I just have 'lumpy' breast tissue. It could be as I'm getting older it's changing (I'm 33) but no worries over it.

Please try not to worry I'm sure you will be fine

[TheoriginalLEM]

((hugs)) ive been tnking about you today OP.

glad the dr gave you some diazepam.

You'll feel better when you get your appointment through.

nothing any of us say will stop you from worrying but you WILL get through this.

get some camomile tea - it was what got me through

[Nervous1971]

thanks folks...went slightly doolally there for a bit ! I phoned the clinic and they told me they triage the referrals and told me mine was 15 days from the day the dr referred me...actually this made me a little calmer..I guess the dr didn't think it was mega urgent...still shit scared but am coping better...wine helps....

[Iknownuffink]

Nervous, I'm not well endowed and they managed fine to give a mammography.
There was a bit of a palaver when it came to further tests and I can honestly say that the nurses were fantastic.
It is natural to worry.

Stay off of the BC forums for now. They are fabulous for support once diagnosed however you will not read much from BC patients who did not undergo chemo and or radiotherapy.
There are many of us about.

Chin up and try not to worry.

[bluetongue]

I completely understand anxiety about lumps and bumps. Mine wasn't in my breast but a lump on my thigh which started off small and colourless and then grew and became darker. Dr Google of course suggested it was nodular melanoma which is the worst kind. Nearly made myself sick with worry I did. Turned out to be completely benign.

[Nervous1971]

I have been struggling so badly that I had to see my GP again. Obviously there was nothing she could do or say to help. She didn't examine me as there was no point as I've only got 2 days left until breast clinic appointment. She said from the symptoms and the notes the first GP had made that it could be a cyst. I sat there and thought "that's 3 GPs I've seen and you are all wrong"...not that any of them have said " you do not have cancer" but they have tried to reassure me.
I am mentally finished. Not quite sure how I'm even going to make it to the clinic. This has been the worst time of my life and I'm expecting it to get worse...The agony of waiting to be told you have cancer is just hell, torture, awful. I'm never going to get over this.

[chewingawasp]

I have 2 days to go too and am dreading it. Have had a 3 week wait which has been dreadful but I just want to know one way or the other now. I am expecting the worst as the doctor said she was concerned and I'm sure she wouldn't have said that if she thought it was nothing. Best of luck to you nervous
Will you have someone there with you?

[Nervous1971]

yes my partner....it's so hideous, really I can't begin to explain how scared i am...best of luck to you

[validusername]

Good luck to you both for today.

[Nervous1971]

Thank you Valid. I have just returned from the clinic. Firstly I'd like to say everyone there was lovely, kind, and understanding. The doctor first examined me and she was lovely. She said what would happen next and handed me the form. She had ticked P2 on the form which I knew meant benign. But I was still bricking it. Then I was quickly whisked away for a mammogram done expertly by another lovely lady. It was fine and did not hurt one bit. Almost straight away I was whisked to the ultrasound room and another doctor (male ...but ..you guessed it lovely), very rapidly did the scan and said "cysts...lots of them...no solid mass...I'm not worried". I could have kissed him . He them disappeared rapidly and I was returned to reception (no needle biopsy required), where very shortly I saw the original doctor (consultant I guess) and she said I could go, but to return if I ever found any other lumps (most likely to be cysts)...Basically several cysts had formed into a large palpable lump.

I am soooooooo happy and will NEVER take anything for granted again. I was one of the lucky ones and for that I am so grateful. I want to thank everyone on here who tried to help with kind words of reassurance because I was so very close to losing the plot over this lump.

[chewingawasp]

That's great news nervous
I have not had such a good day. First of all saw the consultant who thought it was nothing to worry about and put a needle in the lump to see if it was a cyst - it wasn't. Then had mammogram and ultrasound and went back to the consultant.
The scans showed another 2 lumps which are smaller and further back so the consultant can't feel them. I now have to have 3 biopsies but they have to be done with x ray staff so have to wait around a week now. He wouldn't say one way or another what he thought they were but the nurse said that I was under a good team

[validusername]

I'm glad it all went well for you nervous and that the team you saw looked after you. So pleased it turned out to be okay.

Wasp I'm surprised that if they could see the lumps on ultrasound that they didn't biopsy them for you there and then. Usually they only do stereotactic biopsies when the ultrasound cannot detect lumps, usually we use it to biopsy microcalicifications. Try not to worry too much (I know that's easier said than done), in my experience the radiologists or the surgical consultants will tell you if they suspect it is cancer. They just have to biopsy everything to completely rule it out, they can't just guess. Hopefully you have a good team looking after you.

[chewingawasp]

There were some calcifications seen as well valid so maybe they're going to do everything together. I had already mentioned that I was off with anxiety at the moment and he said he didn't want to add to it so that makes me worry a bit tbh.

[validusername]

Ah yes, it's probably the calc they are trying to get to biopsy then. The vast majority of these turn out to be benign, normal breast change. Hopefully that will be the case for you too.

The team I work with are one of the best in the UK, if you have any questions then don't hesitate to ask and hopefully I can be useful to someone!

[Nervous1971]

thinking of you chewingawasp. The anxiety and waiting is really hellish. But to me it just sounds like they are making doubly sure it's benign. Take care and please keep posting here.

Valid you are a star

[chewingawasp]

Thanks nervous
valid yes, you are a
Is it normal to get lumps as well as calcification then?