Breast clinic (?) referral.

[Cauliflowershower]

Hi, sorry-this is long-I haven’t told anyone including my husband so nice to get it all out!

Went to the drs the other day about an ache/tenderness/tingling in one breast that had been there for over a month and therefore didn’t seem to be related to hormones. No change in bras or exercise habits so reluctantly (I don’t do drs unless I really have to!) thought I should get a check.

Dr I saw was a (seemingly) inexperienced registrar who examined me and without any reassurance or apparent thought that she could cause distress declared she could feel ‘a mass’.

She asked if she could fetch a more senior gp to check she was completing the referral form correctly and described the mass to him as being 6-8 INCHES. My entire breast isn’t that big so I assumed she meant cm (still fairly horrific) or mm.

Senior gp offered to examine me too and I agreed. He couldn’t find what she meant until she showed him at which point he said ‘that’s her muscle’ . She showed him again and he sort of ‘hmmmed’ and said ‘probably ....(I missed what he said-possibly gland?) and didn’t a seem concerned.

Anyway-she completed the referral while leaving me sitting in silence for about 10 minutes.

Appt has come through today for 10 days time. Lady on phone said I would be there 3 hours and not to wear deodorant . I’m sure this is the least of my worries but I work in a very warm room and will stink by the time of the appt.

Can anyone tell me what to expect and can I conceivably get through this without telling my husband -he will worry-I’m not that worried at this point-partly due to age (mid 30s, no family history etc and partly because I didn’t trust the registrar but who knows-when could be right and the more senior one be wrong)

Sorry to hear you are going through this. You sound confident that all is ok and it definitely sounds like the senior doctor wasn’t worried so that is reassuring.

The deodorant thing is due to them possibly doing a mammogram. At my hospital, they say no spray deodorant but roll on fine so I wouldn’t worry about that.

Given the older doctors lack of concern, in all likelihood they will either do a mammogram or ultrasound and send you on your way. There is a chance of course that they don’t and for that reason, I would urge you to speak to your partner.

Good luck. Hope you get a quick all clear.

I'm sorry that you have had such insensitive treatment from that doctor. She should have known better.
I hope your appointment comes through soon.
My experience of staff at these clinics is that they are very kind and caring. Don't worry about perspiring: baby wipes may keep you comfortable?
Let us know how you get on xx

I’m glad you agree she didn’t seem great.
I’m not prone to panicking (overtly) and didn’t get upset but did have tears brimming until the other dr made me laugh with the ‘that’s her muscle’ comment.

I really don’t want to tell husband-he will make it into a big deal and heaven forbid mil gets wind of it-ugh! I hate fuss.

Obviously I’d have to tell him if there’s something sinister and I guess it would be awkward to explain that I’d already been for the appointment but hopefully it won’t come to that.

I am grateful to her for doing the referral however and that it’s come through pretty quickly-hopefully they may be able to find out what’s causing the pain even if it’s nothing to worry about.

All referrals to breast clinics should come through quickly as they have a two week target so don't worry about the fact that it's come through so fast.

Take a book or something with you as there are likely to be waits. You will probably see someone from the Consultant's team. They will do a breast examination and then decide what to do next. This might be an ultrasound or a mammogram. At my local clinic this involves putting back on your clothes, going and sitting somewhere else, waiting again, then taking off your clothes again. So don't be surprised if it's like that. If you have an ultrasound they'll tell you there and then if they think there is anything to worry about.
It may be that the doctor thinks there is nothing there but they might do the ultrasound anyway just to make sure.
You'll then have to wait again to see the doctor they'll have looked at your initial results and then can tell you what happens next. Hopefully they'll just send you on your way.

I was in late 20s/early 30s (can't remember which) when dh found a lump in my breast. Went to the GP expecting to be told it was benign, got referred to the hospital.

I saw a consultant.

Whilst we were waiting for a chaperone, he explained that depending on what he found I would either be sent for a ultrasound/mammogram that day or discharged. He said that the GPs do a lot of referrals when it's nothing obvious like ingrowing hair etc to be on the safe side. Nurse turned up, was told to take my top off behind a curtain and lie down. He examined my breast. Said it was a benign cyst and then checked the other one since I was lying there just in case (which came as a total surprise).

He had cold hands and Christmas pudding cuff links.

I was in there for no more than 30 minutes.

THanks-a letter has come through today detailing what will happen and covering all eventualities which is excellent.
I’ll treat it as a rare opportunity to read my book for a few hours without feeling guilty!

Just to update for anyone in a similar position-
Went to clinic yesterday. It was exactly as described above-saw consultant who had a good look and feel and said it felt like cysts and ‘benign breast changes’, sent me for ultrasound (loooong wait), then back to consultant to discuss results-as expected-just cysts. He gave me some info and was really nice.
Whole experience was very impressive even though there was a lot of hanging around. Well done nhs