Breast lump -can I have a handhold please?

[pinkdonkey]

Friday my left breast was very swolen and paiful and I found a lump. The pain and swelling have gone, but the lump is still there. I've seen the GP today and he is concerned. He says it doesn't feel like a cyst, but he's never felt breast cancer so doesn't know what that feels like. He's made an urgent referal an oncologist for further tests, so I should hopefully hear from them soon.

I wasn't really worried about it until I saw the GP and saw that he was concerned. I've known quite a few people go for tests and it be ok, but I've also known quite a few people who have had breast cancer too. All have been older than me (I'm mid 30s) but I dont know if that makes any difference. My imagination is running away with me a bit now.

No experience. Here's a virtual hand.

Meant to say loads will be on with experiences and advice soon.

I had a swollen painful breast with a lump and turned out to be an infection, very scary for you, I remember that feeling well.
You will be under the two week rule so will be fast tracked to the breast clinic, I was very impressed by how understanding and calm the staff were. You will probably have some tests, I had a mammogram and ultrasound with core biopsy, had to wait a nail biting week for results but some clinics can give you them in the same day.

90% of women who attend the breast clinic do not leave with a diagnosis of breast cancer. I suspect this number is much lower for women in their mid-30s that don't have a strong family history of the disease.

I realise that it's probably hard to keep everything in perspective but there are lots of non-dangerous causes for a lump in the breast. I hope your appointment is soon so that they can (hopefully) put your mind at rest.

Thanks guys, I've calmed down a bit now, it was seeing the GP look concerned that panniked me. I'd been expecting him to say that it was nothing to worry about, or even if he refered me on that he would say its probably nothing to worry about lets check. Instead he said "I'm sorry I can offer you any reassurance because It doesn't feel like a cyst." I did get some reassurance from him telling me he'd never felt a lump that turned out to be cancer because I'm sure he must have loads of people see him for breast lumps.

NK thats exactly what he told me to expect, appointment within 2 weeks, mamogram, ultrasound and needle biopsy. DH has said he will tell work he needs time off to come to the appointment with me, so that makes me feel a bit better.

NK did you have a lump after the pain went? Or did it stay painful? DHs first reaction the day it was so painful and swollen was to think it could be an infection, but theres no pain at all now just a hard lump.

I don't have any close family history either so thats something.

I saw doctor at walk in centre who prescribed antibiotics and told me if lump was still there after they were finished to go to GP, lump was still there after swelling went so I was referred at that point. The core biopsy came back as infection and I was prescribed more antibiotics, think it was four weeks worth, it then went away.
A year later it started again and I ended up with a breast abscess, eleven weeks of antibiotics and a needle aspiration sorted it.
So far and 4.5 years later I have no further trouble.
Do get someone to go with you, I didn't and I felt a bit emotional after the tests, even though staff told me they thought it was infection at the time.

Yes, my lump was painless after swelling went down.

Thank you

Hi. Just been through this. Found my lump third week of March. So, you see a consultant who has a feel (you do get rather used to waving your norks at people). Then have mammos of both breasts. Take paracetamol an hour before to combat the squishing. As you are young, your breasts will be dense so you may well not have mammo and just go to ultrasound with biopsy. This sounds scary but really not. I drove an hour to work afterwards.

They won't tell you then. You wait so just get on with your life for two weeks. Forget about it. The results appointment you must take husband or support - more than likely to be good news. Might well be just a blocked milk duct. If it is something suspicious then you have caught it early.

The breast cancer support forum is brilliant.

DO NOT GOOGLE

There are all sorts of different types of bc. Do not THINK about any of this now. You won't know and ten to one it will be nothing. You may need an MRI Scan due to age (no other reason just that you may not be able to be mammod)

I have just been told today that I am now cancer free. Just got radiotherapy to go through. Cancer, particularly bc, is very treatable. I've met some amazing ladies and the support from the NHS is fab. My cancer even got sent to California to see if I needed chemo (I don't). I can't say it's been easy but the surgeries are fine. All have been day cases. I was in a cafe the next day!

The worst bit is the results day and waiting. The anxiety is so much worse than the surgery. I would hold off telling anyone. Sometimes other peoples' fear of the c word makes it more scary but there are many many of us that are getting through this in a relatively short time frame.

Thank you flying its good to know what will happen. Glad to hear that you are now cancer free. I'm hoping that its something like a blocked milk duct, but as I've not had kids yet I'm not sure if I even have any?

I've talked to DH and my Mum, I've also told DHs CPN as he has mental health problems and stress can trigger a relapse, he's also told his Mum so she can support him too. Other than that I've told a couple of people at worķ who will be affected by me having to take a day off at short notice. Both Mum's and one of my collegues have been through this themselves and have been reassuring.

I've just been through this too. The worry is so scary! My lump turned out to just be glandular tissue. Still have a bit of pain but apparently that can be a variety of reasons, from normal hormonal pain to muscle tension. Fingers crossed all is ok with you xx

Try not to panic. As PP said, the majority of ladies who visit breast clinic are reassured that what they feel is nothing to worry about. It could well be an area of glandular tissue that has become a bit more prominent this cycle. It could be a cyst which is within some breast tissue, so doesn't feel like a 'normal' cyst.
You will probably see a surgeon, and then be sent to radiology. You probably won't have a mammogram if you're under 40 (though some places don't mammo under 35, but do between 35 and 40) but have an ultrasound scan. That's the same sort of scan that pregnant ladies have. If everything is normal you'll be told straight away. If you need a biopsy, then you'll probably wait up to a week for results. Bear in mind that not all biopsies are done for cancer. If a lump looks harmless it is still usually biopsied to prove that it's nothing to worry about.
That's how it works in South Wales anyway.

Thank you, I've got my appointment next Friday afternoon, DH is coming with me. It is with one of the breast surgeons. I think the lump is getting smaller and DH now agrees with me, so hopefully thats a good sign. I've been worrying today that it will go before my appointment and I will be wasting everyone's time. Although obviously I would like it to go away on its own, so thats a bit backwards! Keep reminding myself that my GP wouldn't have refered me if he thought it was a waste of time.

Breast clinics are really well set up: you are examined, have your mammogram/ultrasound and any other tests like a biopsy that they need to do all in the slot that you are there.

Painful breast lumps are unlikely to be sinister. Hopefully it is a cyst and sometimes the breast surgeon will pop a thin needle into a cyst there and then in the clinic, so it's gone! It is definitely not a waste of time to be seen at the clinic with a breast lump though, so please don't think that!

Almost every lump in a premenopausal woman is benign, so although I'm sure this will be an anxious week for you, please please don't google!

All the best for next week.

I had this OP, the lump vanished of its own accord over a few days but I was really scared at the time.

You won't be wasting anyone's time! Even if you think the lump has gone, still go to the appointment. They will see what the problem is likely to have been, and will give you advice on self examination as well. You will continue to worry, even if the lump goes. You will get reassurance from the appointment, and more advice.

Thank you, today the lump is very much there, maybe I was imagining it getting smaller. I know my GP was concerned and wouldn't have refered meif it he thought it would be a waste of time. Not being at work today is not doing me any favours, too much time to think about the what ifs. Trying to rein myself in. DH is trying to appear positive but occasionally says something that reveals he is doing the same.

Just an update. I've been to breast clinic today and thankfully it's nothing serious, just an infection. The sonographer drained most of it there and then. I've been put on antibiotics and have to go back for a check up in a few weeks to make sure its cleared up. Thanks to everyone for all the support.

Oh what a relief for you! I'm so glad.

Thank you

Great news

If the lump is painful it is very likely to be a cyst. Cancer initially
is not painful. Benign lumps in the breast are usually painful due to hormonal fluctuations when the breasts swell a bit before periods.
Also, cysts tend to move under your fingers, whereas a cancerous lump is usually rigid and does not move.
But always check them out to be on the safe side.

Glad all is okay, OP.

I had this when I was 31. It felt like a thickening of the muscle. I had two needle biopsies, two ultrasounds, one surgical biopsy and one mammogram. Then, as it was cancer, a double mastectomy and reconstruction.

The consultant I saw right at the start said, 'I'll be very surprised if this is cancer' (due to my age). I didn't see him again until the appointment where they confirmed that it was cancer. I don't know how I managed to restrain myself from saying, 'Are you surprised then?'

I'm fine now, that was 11 years ago.

My lump was hard and immobile, my GP was confident that it wasn't a cyst, but not sure what it was. It turns out it was an infected cyst which was why it was so hard and also accounted for the initial pain and swelling.

Glad you are ok now