McZeba and Turn, so pleased to hear your good news.
I can make it three - my tests yesterday showed nothing to worry about.
I said I would post exactly what happened for those waiting for similar tests, so here it is.
Firstly, met with the breast surgeon consultant (40 minute wait first). She had a good look at my boobs and a really good feel. Confirmed that one is certainly larger than the other and that there are a few suspicious feeling lumps. She marked a couple of places in pen where she wanted the scan people to particularly investigate.
Secondly, sent to Xray department for mammogram. Removed top half clothing (I was given a locker with a key to put it in) and wore Xray gown. Never had a mammogram before, and it was kind of awkward and uncomfortable (it's worst if you have really small breasts, apparently) since they have to squash your breasts down as far as possible to get a good picture. They took four pictures, two on each breast, and each picture only takes a few seconds. The radiologist made no comment, just asked me to go back out to the corridor to wait for my ultrasound scan.
While waiting, the lady before me came out of her ultrasound in tears which was unsettling. I hope that she is ok.
The ultrasound was simple and painless, lie back on a bed, they smear cold gel all over your breasts and take a good look by rubbing the ultrasound thing all over them. They press it down a bit to take photos, including right up into your armpits, but it doesn't hurt a bit. I looked at the screen the whole time but couldn't make head or tail of what I saw. The Ultrasound guy was great and told me that he couldn't see anything to worry about.
Then the Xray/Ultrasound people gave me a sealed letter to take back to the consultant breast surgeon. When I got back to her rooms, she was free so I went straight in and she read the letter and told me straight away that the tests showed normal breast tissue everywhere and that she doesn't consider there to be any need for further investigations. She said that it's perfectly normal for women to develop lumps and bumps, masses of what she called hormonal/glandular tissue, and sent me away with a new leaflet on how to self-examine.
Everyone I saw was totally lovely, very reassuring, very professional, and very kind. I feel very, very relieved of course and I really hope that the others waiting on here for similar tests have the very same experience when your appointments come through.
I echo what someone else has said, if you can get to a one-stop shop, do. I asked what would have happened if I'd needed further investigation and she told me they could even have done the biopsy right there last night if needed, although there would then have been a 7-10 day wait for the biopsy results which is the same wherever/whenever you have it done.
This thread is such a wonderful place to turn to. Thank you so much to you all for your kindness and generosity in sharing stories and hand holding through difficult times. I wish you all the very best of luck as things move on for you all.
xx