Breast lump, keeping calm while waiting for appointment

[whydoIhavetodoeverything]

I found a large apricot lump in my breast (near to armpit) last week. Suddenly appeared, doesnt hurt. Went straight to doctors who thought it may be a cyst but has referred me to breast clinic under the 2 week referral scheme. I have an appointment next Tuesday but the ultrasound is not working that day so will to go back to have any certainty.
I have 4 young children, work and my salary is more than my husbands, and feel physically sick about the worst case scenario. I keep having mild panic attacks and crying, I can't act normally around my dc and friends, how do I keep calm? Any techniques? I have told dh and dm, dh approach is pragmatic and "wait and see", dm looks emotional and worried. Know that there is nothing more I can do at this stage but would appreciate hand holding.

Remember that 9/10 breast lumps are nothing to worry about. Also you have lymph nodes there also that can swell when fighting infections. You can get swollen lymph nodes even if you don't feel poorly as it is there job to fight it before you actually get ill. You also mentioned that it has appeared suddenly which is typical of a cyst also as they fill up with fluid very quickly. (My dh went to bed fine one night and woke up with a tennis ball sized lump on the back of his knee, it was a cyst and they took it out).

As for keeping calm techniques try and say to yourself out loud (even if you feel stupid) right, right I have this lump, I've been to the gp, they're confident it's a cyst. Yes they might be wrong BUT the odds are in my favour. IF they are wrong we can do something about this. So basically you are acknowledging the problem that's there but you are not focusing on the negative, try to push through your mind that it's most likely everything else.

Also don't keep fiddling with it cause it if it a cyst fiddling with it can make it grow bigger and then you will end up panicking more. Also cysts can go up and down also so try to leave it alone for a few days and have a check again

Hope this helps a bit and let us know how you get on xx

I know exactly how you're feeling right now...I'm on a 2 week referral for something found on a lung x-ray and it has been hell. I can't eat, I keep crying and it's all I can think about. I have got a few mild diazepam which are helping me a little bit. I have a CT scan Saturday so hopefully not long to wait.

There's no advice I can give you on how to cope as I've not figured that out myself but a few years back I found a lump on my breast and for a fast track referral. I was terrified but it turned out to be a harmless fatty deposit. Just try and remember that most lumps and bumps found turn out to be nothing of any concern xx

Thank you, just nice to be able to get this off my chest (excuse the pun) as am usually a "sharer" and feels unbearable keeping this to myself. Am trying to work in the office but utterly distracted so really welcoming to hear back from you out there with logic and coping mechanisms which I will try to follow. Hope you are ok Evizza x

The fact that it suddenly appeared is a good sign. The nasty ones are slow growing. You'll be OK.

Thank you GladAllOver, I hope so. I have always had a very overactive imagination so have already the worst in detail, and worry that I have such small children, and lots of them, and a job that our family income relies on, so worrying about practical consequences too. Will have to put these out of my head but never been so scared in my life

Quite literally, every single woman who has found a breast lump and been referred will have felt exactly as you are feeling now. That's a lot of anxious women. And 90% of them will have come away from the clinic with a non-scary diagnosis. Try to focus on that. But that's easier said than done.

Have a look on the cancer support thread and one of the opening posts is a list of facts about breast lumps and also breast cancer that will hugely reassure you.

And if you're still in a tizz, speak to your gp. Mine prescribed me beta blockers for the two week wait for the clinic appt and they were an absolute godsend.

I was exactly the same. Found a lump 11 days ago, 2 week referral and was seen yesterday. I cried everyday, convinced myself it was the worse possible outcome and when alone with my baby would talk to her about her future without me and how I was sorry for leaving and would always be proud of her.

I got the all clear but absolutely nothing or no one could convince me it would be fine, I saw positive stories online to match my symptoms then would read 10 others with cancer as the outcome. I honestly think it's human nature to worry and thank god for the 2 week referral system.

I know you will want to be seen straight away but can you ask to go on a day the ultrasound is working. (Or self refer to another health authority) The nurse who examined me said it felt fine but I only got confirmation with the ultra sound and was given the option to drain the biggest cyst. Mentally I'm not sure I could have waited.

From my experience The breast clinic was amazing and As the appointment got closer it got "easier" as I felt i would know what I was facing. The not knowing was hard. Be kind to yourself, what you are feeling is normal and if you can take someone to the appointment, do.

Google is excellent but will also scare you as I believe there are more negatives than positive stories. Stay away if you can (I couldn't) My Health authority had a video on their website that explained the process for the appointment and that really helped me on the day. If yours has that great, if not try Chorleys breast clinic video.

I have my fingers crossed you all will be the 9 out of 10.

Hi I don't know if anyone is still posting on here but I need adevice and someone to talk to, I am 24 i found a lump in my armpit 5 months ago I went to the nurse as soon as I found it she gave me antibiotics and 5 months later it's still there and a lot bigger in size, I whent to see my gp yesterday she did an examination and found 2 lumps in my breast also I thought that was normal but clearly not, she had a concern with how long I have had the lups for, she got me an emmergency appointment with the breast surgary clinic for Monday, i told the doc i had been suffering with pains in my chest and rib cage also, I am terrified because there are only 4 days till I have to be at the hospital and with how quick the appointment was made i was also called by my dr today to have prolactin blood test, things are moving that fast i dont know what to think i am just wondering if anyone could tell me what they might do myou Doctor said there maybe biopsy involved and mammograms and injections I am frightened.. sorry about the paragraph xx

Bless you jesslily
I can imagine how frightened you are.
I would suggest you start your own thread where you may get more response?

My daughter had a lump at your age, it turned out to be a harmless cyst. There are other benign conditions it can be too.

I won't say don't worry as it's impossible not to! I've been referred to the breast clinic twice and went once with DD. The waiting is terrifying isn't it?!
Take someone with you. I was allowed to watch the ultrasound with my DD so she was never alone.

Wishing you tons of luck

I will do and thankyou so much and this is the First time I have been on here so I don't know very much about how to do my own thred I am giving it a go but thankyou for your advice and lUck

Hi, the appointments can be very quick, as they may have cancellations. Also those clinics process a lot of women everyday for these breast checks. You will probably have a mammogram (a kind of xray of the breast), then a doctor will physically examine your breasts, then you might have an ultrasound where they just move handheld ultrasound thing over your breasts. If they find a lump they may do a biopsy to take some fluid.
The staff are very friendly and they know how frightened every one is, so they reassure you along each stage. I find the mammogram a bit uncomfortable as it kind of presses your breast like a sandwich maker. I took 2 paracetamol before I went the last time, and it was fine.