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....

[chewingawasp]

nervous it's interesting that you saw P2 ticked on your form. All my results that I took back to the consultant were in brown envelopes that had been stuck down with sellotape so maybe that's not a good sign.

[validusername]

Wasp i wouldn't worry too much about that. The patients I see don't come into contact with any of their information. Their notes etc are passed straight into the hands of the next professional who sees them, be it a surgeon or a mammographer. That would have been done to protect your patient confidentiality.

Calcifications in the breast are benign and completely harmless. We all have calcium in the breast because it gets added to the milk whilst breastfeeding. Microcalicifications on the other hand can be a sign of pre cancerous change in the breast (in about 20% of cases), especially if there is a cluster of them or they follow in a line. They are detected by mammogram only. If they are seen they will biopsy them to tell you for definite which kind they are, and whether they can be left alone or not.

A cancerous lump would usually be p5 on examination. And would certainly be seen on the ultrasound as like a black shadow with uneven edges. Anything that is circular or rounded in shape with smooth edging is usually benign. They are usually seen on a mammogram too.

Do they have a breast care nurse that you could contact if you get worried?

[validusername]

Sorry that didn't answer your question did it?

Yes we do see lumps and calcifications, as essentially they are different things. Not all that often but we do see it.

I would be much more worried if they had biopsies your lumps today. If they looked suspicious then I have no doubt that they would have done it via ultrasound and then had you back for the stereotactic biopsy the following week. That would be our protocol.

[chewingawasp]

Thanks valid
I watched as the ultrasound was done and saw there were rough edges on a black shape but obviously I'm no expert.
My letter does have a contact number for the nurses but I'll try not to worry any more than I am already and wait until the biopsy which should be in about a week they said. Would I then have to wait again for those results or would I be told there and then do you know?

[Nervous1971]

I must admit I was a little surprised to have been handed the consultants initial findings on a sheet of paper. She had written down the size of the lump. It's a good job she didn't tick p4 or p5 or I would have collapsed I think! I guess most people would not know what that meant, but one quick google and it's there in front of you. I did tell her I was absolutely terrified so perhaps she would not have given it direct to me if it had been bad..

[validusername]

The results take a minimum of 72 hours depending on how urgent if is. We usually tell patients they take a week because they need to be discussed in multidisciplinary team meeting first which we have once a week, so we can make a plan of action with the whole team.

They should give you an appointment after your biopsy to go back to the clinic and give you the result, usually about a week later. Although that's how it works here, I'm not sure about other hospital trusts protocols and policies.

[chewingawasp]

Thanks valid. It's really helpful having you here to 'chat' to

[validusername]

You're very welcome wasp.

[Tanfastic]

Nervous, I'm so relieved for you, that's brilliant news although I never for one minute thought it would be any different.

Good luck chewingawasp.

And again, thanks to Valid's fabulous Input on this thread

[chewingawasp]

Biopsy is on Tuesday so not long now. I'm so worried

[Nervous1971]

I think over 80% of biopsies are benign. I know how hard it is though and it's hard to hold on to rational thoughts.But please try not to do what I did and think the worst because the chances of it being malignant are low...I guess you will have to wait a few days for the results?

I really am thinking of you

[chewingawasp]

valid
My appointment letter says I am having 2 ultrasound guided core biopsies and a marker inserted
Any info or advice would be helpful? Can pm if it's easier.
nervous thanks again

[validusername]

Sorry wasp I've only just seen this.

I will pm you.

[SmellTheGlove]

Hi, sorry to gatecrash your thread but I've been following as I am also lumpy of tit and waiting for my breast appt - just wanted to wish you luck today wasp, you must be desperate to know that everything is fine, I'm sure it will be.

[chewingawasp]

Thanks glove
Hope your tests go well.

[Nervous1971]

All the best wasp...

[janthegran1]

Hi this is my first time on this sight ,I got told by my doctor she felt a lump 3wks ago and was referred to the breast clinic she put it through as urgent which has got me so worried like most of the people on here,i also suffer anxiety and im on diazepam ,I phoned the breast clinic and asked could I get an earlier appt since I have already waited 3 weeks ,she said u can wait up to 12 weeks for an appt I said even though my doctor put urgentshe said because they are very busy I got a new appt in a few days later ive got another 5 weeks to wait so that will be 8 weeks waiting no one has any idea unless they are going through this what its like ,its on your mind every minute of the day u don't want to talk to anyone u cant sleep its so bad and ive been through a lot ,and still attending hospital with my other illnesses but this is the worst worry yet ,im a 63 year old woman and ive heard the worst age to get cancer of the breast is between 60 and 70 is this true ? and why are they always telling us to check our breasts and go to your doctor right away which we do and then we have a 12 week wait for the breast clinic or a few weeks earlier if we are lucky this dosnt make sense

[chewingawasp]

jan that wait is too long . You shouldn't have to wait longer than 2 weeks although I had to wait 3 as they were busy. Have you gone back to your doctor about this?
Come along to the Tamoxigang thread on the General Health board. There are loads of lovely ladies there who are going through or have gone through similar.

[janthegran1]

Just to say I went to the doctor with pain in my left breast and got told u very rarely get pain with cancer ,she then said I may as well check your right one while we are here so she checked the right one and she kept going back to the same bit about 3 times this made me think oh oh something not right ,so that's when she said I can feel a lump in your breast I will send u to the breast clinic and put u through as urgent ,so I asked why urgent do u think its cancer she said im thinking more of your anxiety we don't want it to get worse ,im thinking that was just an excuse as she didn't want to say ,but this waiting is a killer ,I have phoned and asked if they can let me know if theres a cancellation and they said yes I will put u on the list ,so there is even another list for people looking for cancellations as well as a waiting list ,so looks like I will just have to wait on my turn like everyone else, and worry myself sick along with everyone else I think its terrible we have to wait so long .

[janthegran1]

Chewingawasp thank u ,I have an appt with my gp on Fri to see if there is something she can do the 3 weeks I have waited have been hell and the thought of another 5 is killing me esp when I have lots more illnesses to contend with its so hard thanks for your concern.

[chewingawasp]

The waiting is horrible - I know how you feel. I am suffering with anxiety and my GP has put me on some medication to help.
Do you have regular mammograms?

[janthegran1]

Wasp ,yes always up until 3 years ago when I had my gallbladder out and with that I had complications ,which led to pancreitis then a pancreitis cyst lots of stomach problems and I had to phone and let them know I couldn't make my appt, and ive now got ME now as well so I was due my next one round about now but I never missed up till then .whereabouts do u live Wasp as im thinking the waiting times could be different in different areas im in Glasgow SCOTLAND .
.