Is this such a thing as a private breast clinic open on a Sunday? Freaking out here

[BatShaped]

As my title really. I found a lump in my right breast last night. It's small ish, smooth, kind of mobile I suppose.
I'm 47 and periods are normal.

I've been awake worrying all night. Never had anything like this before and I'm almost certain it wasn't there last week.

Is there any private clinic that runs on a Sunday? Is that a stupid question? I don't have private health care but I can pay to be seen privately if it's not too prohibitive. I'm not sure my mental health could take a 2 week wait!

OP, the NHS have breast clinics that are first class and you are seen very quickly. In some areas if you start off in the private sector any subsequent treatment will also be in the private sector, rather than the NHS. That is something to bear in mind if you don’t have private healthcare.

How are you feeling now @BatShaped ? I have had a few scares over the years and a good few mammograms, ultrasounds and a lot of prodding about by breast doctors. All cysts and/or hormonal changes. It's horrible at the time but try try not to jump to the worst possible case. Our lovely boobs go through many many changes over the years.

@Rafabella thanks for asking.

Umm I'm ok. One minute feeling fine and the next I'm all panicking again.

I cannot leave the damn thing alone. Fiddle fiddle fiddle. I keep worrying that because I have never ever had anything like this before. It's got to be something horrible. I had a mammogram 18 months ago actually - went private for that. Reason I had it was because, well, I have health anxiety. I didn't want to wait until I was 50 so I went early at 45. It was all perfectly fine

I'm trying to tell myself that small ish , smooth and a bit moveable might be ok

You know, I'd say that most women experience this at some point. It's pretty
much a rite of passage. It doesn't 'have' to be something horrible at all - statistically the opposite in fact.

Me, my mum, my two sisters, my best friend - we've all been to the breast clinic in the last 13 months, all given the all clear.

Thanks Creaky. And I'm glad you were all ok.

Yes I know it's all so normal and like you say, almost a rite of passage.

I really can't stay up until 4.30am again tonight!

@Batshaped - you and me both! It can be somewhat debilitating can't it. I honest relate 100% to your worry and anguish. x

However, I have learned to handle it by taking an involved, proactive approach to my health over the years. I control the controllables. Hands down the best way. I have a very healthy diet with little to no red meat, watch my alcohol intake, limit caffeine, drink 2-3 litres of water a day and exercise regularly. Pilates, spin, yoga and walking are all beneficial for perspective (as well as exercise) too.

Whenever I 'sense' or feel something I talk to my doctor and talk through sensible checks if they are merited. I have used the NHS over the years and equally i have paid either via insurance premiums or directly with consultants for extra reassurance.

We can either lay down to health anxiety or take control of it. It won't go away, but through learning about various issues and making sure you get credible advice (not from Dr Google) you stay in control. Control and knowledge is power. It helps with perspective and curtails anxiety.

I hope all goes well for you at the breast clinic - if you can and you feel comfortable, please let us know how you get on. Assuming, as I suspect and hope, that you are given the all clear, talk to the breast specialist about taking a high dose of eg. Evening Primrose Oil for a 3-6 months period. Research the brands - you want to find one that has a high GLA (gamma linolenic acid) level, approx 320mg / day. This will help with breast pain, fibrocystic breasts etc. It certainly helped me. Helped things settle down.

Good luck X

@Rafabella thanks so much for your message. Made perfect sense and was reassuring

Well I made an appointment for the private clinic which takes place on Thursday. I also rang my own GP and she saw me this afternoon.

She felt it and had a bit of a prod and she's as sure as she can be that it's a fibroadenoma. She says because it's mobile, not tethered and smooth. She obviously can't be totally certain and she refers all breast lumps but she said she's not worried and it's not ringing any alarm bells for her

So I was reassured enough to cancel my private appointment. She said there are many things where private might be better but for this she advised I save my money.

I'll get a call tomorrow from the surgery and be able to book my appointment tomorrow to be seen within 2 weeks.

So right now I feel relatively ok I suppose

You should indeed be very reassured by that @batshaped. All lumps are referred as a matter of course in the UK - at least that's what I have been told numerous times. The breast specialist that you'll see will likely be the same person(s) that you would have seen privately, albeit slightly faster. Within two weeks referral however is excellent. Your job now is to stay reassured for as long as it takes to get in front of the specialist. Try and relax this evening, distract yourself and stop prodding! You'll give yourself a bruise, then the nerves and tissue around the bruise will play up (it will start to tingle) and you'll get worried. I meant to say earlier that you referred to your age (with the earlier proactive mammogram). It is very possible that your smooth lump is indeed fibro related because of your age and quite possibly hormonal related too. All the very best when your appointment comes. Take care. X

Thanks for the update. It sounds like you have a good GP and I hope you get seen soon. Be sure to let us know the outcome, I’ll be thinking of you.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the support

I feel better definitely. Of course not completely fine but better than I did. She was thorough and well, just reassuring

Surgery called me this morning. Offered me an appointment which they could book there and then for next Friday morning, so the 25th. Bit at the closest hospital to me- that hospital had appointments on offer for the 29th - so I took the next Friday one.

I have then had a wobble and I'm still considering the private clinic this Thursday. However, that's £220 just for the consultation (basically what I had with my own doctor yesterday in which she reassured me that I ticked all the boxes for a fibroadenoma and she wasn't worried) - and I'd pay extra for any scans or biopsies - so I can see this quite easily coming in at £5-600 quid.

I can pay this but I'd be taking it out of our savings and I just can't work out whether I can justify this

My DH thinks I should wait as the dr has been reassuring and I should try not to panic. He'd obviously pay this happily if I really want to but ... oh I don't know!

I was feeling fine yesterday and now I keep feeling not fine

Bat try not to panic, I know it’s easier said than done! I’ve had this happen to me 3 times, the first one was a fibrodema, the second I found when I was 40 weeks pregnant and turned out to be a complex cyst (had milk and Christ knows what in it so was solid as a rock!) and the third was just a few months ago, that turned out to be a lump of ‘dead fat’ (it has a name but was a solid ball), I’ve had needle and punch biopsies and I shot myself for every single one of them, I wrote a note to myself though after the third one so if it ever happens again I can calm myself down and remember that it’s probably nothing and there are SO many things it can be

Most women I know have been through this it’s so scary but you’re not alone. You’ll be fine! Sending lots of hugs and a good night sleep your way xxx

Ps. Fwiw the gp guessed my first two perfectly (I don’t think anyone could’ve guessed ‘dead lump of fat’ for the third

@Widget123 thanks so much for the reassuring words! Really means a lot and im glad you were all absolutely fine each time!

Trying to distract myself with work. As I work for myself and from home, I keep giving myself time off

Hi @BatShaped. Sounds like you're having a wobble today - which is completely understandable. You'll go up and down with this and that's normal. Try to remember what the GP said though. She feels confident that what she is feeling is most likely fibrocystic. She will have felt many many lumps before and would instinctively know what wouldn't feel right. At one of my breast specialist appointments they were very clear that mammograms / ultrasounds etc aside often the best indicator was the physical touch and feel test. That GPs and specialists are so tuned into what feels normal and what doesn't. . Try and take some comfort from that. Could It be that you see the opportunity of Thursdays appointment within reach and you don't want to miss that opportunity and that's making you panic a little?

If you simply can't settle between now and next Friday and you can afford it you should put your mind at rest and take the appointment. My gut is telling me you are absolutely fine, but I know exactly what health anxiety can do.

Sending you a big hug this evening. X

Thanks @Rafabella - all makes perfect sense

Oh I gave the doctor a bit of a grilling 'how do you know it's ok? How many lumps have you felt and can you definitely tell the difference?' She definitely thought 'who is this bloody clown?' but humoured me nonetheless!

I have not taken the private appointment on Thursday. I either have faith in my GP or I don't so I just have to get through this. I'm usually 'ok' because alongside the mental HA shit I'm very logical and practical but all women feel like this I suppose don't they? It was just a shock.

Oh and an even bigger shock? My dad is currently entering into end of life care - he's actually absolutely FINE and nothing is imminent - but I was actually googling EOL nurses late Saturday evening to bring myself up to speed on it all - and I idly prodded myself at the same time. Hence why I had such a freak out.

Yes @BatShaped - I do believe women suffer like this more than perhaps is realised. Apparently, you are more likely to suffer HA if you are intelligent, practical, logical and an all round in control person. My Gp told me that - to be honest I think he was right!

So sorry that your dad is nearing EOL. My DH lost his mother recently - the nurses and overall care she received was excellent. We couldn’t have asked for or expected more.

So decision made - wait until your scheduled appointment next week. X

Hi @BatShaped, I’m sorry to read about your dad.
I hope you’re keeping busy.
My wardrobe needs a clear out, and the linen cupboard if you’re at a loose end 😉

Thanks @Rafabella and sorry to hear about your MIL. My dads ok for now - doesn't seem very EOL to me that's for sure!!! He's recovering from a chest infection at the moment but he's been out and about driving and shopping today so there's life in the old dog yet

@Littlebighorn how did you know I'm addicted to tidying and cleaning? Ok there already! I love decluttering

I'm ok. Just plodding on until Wednesday - and thankful really that I've been offered this appointment as it seems quite quick I suppose. Well quick AND slow

I'm constantly having a little prod. Still there, still slipping about all over the place it seems.

Here's a weird thing ..

I woke up last night at 2.30 am. I'm full of cold so keeps waking me up. I automatically went to have a prod. Couldn't find it. No lump. Nothing there. I tried lying down, sitting up, sat up. Tried all over the bloody boob It just was not there.

I could find it this morning however. But almost in a slightly different place and it feels smaller.

So it disappears. It re appears. It then feels smaller.

I'm a bit confused

I thought I'd update just to 'close the thread' I suppose

I was at the clinic today and had a mammogram and ultrasound. It's nothing. Literally that. Nothing. So although I can feel it it's considered just a normal part of the breast tissue

So I'm obviously relieved and just need to put it behind me now

Thank you again for any support given

Fabulous news @BatShaped

Whoop, Whoop! Great news

Yes! Glad to hear it OP!