Lump: what will happen?

[MillieVanilla]

On boxing Day, I found a considerable sized lump in my right breast. Like it's huge. I had pain when I woke up and felt to see what it was and yep. It takes up most of my boob.
Theres no sign of a bite or boil, it's hard and painful and moves depending on where my arm is.
I've had blocked ducts before, the last one was 2 years ago now. It was nowhere near as big as this though. At that point I saw GP, GP agreed there was a lump, within 4 days I was at clinic at the local hospital having a bloody great pin stuck in it and all confirmed to be a blocked duct causing a cyst.

However, we are not in 2 years ago territory. Our GP is still only doing phone or "send a pic over a special linky text to you" rather than actual consultations. And I'm not sending a pic of my boob anywhere.
Even if they do refer me back to my local hospital, will they even see me?
I'm pretty sure due to pain it's not something terrible but then again, there is breast cancer in my family and regardless, it's really sore.

Has anyone been in a similar situation during covid?

Didn’t want to read your post and run OP. I have been referred to the Breast Clinic within the last year for breast pain but this was before Covid. I was seen within a week. I hope someone comes along who can provide a more recent answer for you I hope all is okay for you too.

I was in your position in October. I was actually seen by my GP, examined and had hospital appointment within 2 weeks (trust policy). I ended up having a cyst drained, biopsy AND a mammogram. Everything was fine thankfully and I was very impressed by the speed of my breast "MOT". I don't know whether different health trusts have their own criteria for these things though. Be brave and send a pic as you don't want the worry. Hope it's all ok and best of luck to you.

My mum had a mole that turned cancerous over Covid, so slightly different of course, but she was seen. I'd be amazed if any GP would want a picture rather than seeing you in person, it leaves them too open to possible comeback. I bet you're worrying about nothing regarding photos vs seeing a GP. Give them a ring.

Hope it all works out for you. X

Oh and yes, the hospital.will see you. Honestly, the NHS has not shut down as some are claiming. From April, mum was diagnosed, had it removed innhoapital, then further scans and surgery at hospital. She's now fine, but all of this was done while covid was reducing services.

The breast clinics have been running as normal, I was seen in October. Phone appointment with GP first who asked me to come in for an examination, she suspected a cyst and referred, appointment came through for a week later. Mammogram and ultrasound confirmed her suspicions.

Call your GP first thing. They will refer you and hopefully it's all fine.

Thanks everyone, good to know
Will phone first thing

Large lump, firm, movable 2.5 inch by 1.5. Felt almost like two lumps fused together.

GP telephone appointment.

GP saw me same day.

Refered on 2 week pathway.

Appointment two weeks later. Consultant examined. Ultrasound (no Mamo as under 40)

Showed large simple cyst, drained approx 60ml.

Discharged.

Thank you @Skyliner001

Happy to report called as soon as line opened this morning (always know to ring at 7.58 as they open earlier then on website) and got a call back from GP about ten minutes ago. He agreed sounds like a cyst due to previous one and it's painful.
He is seeing me with a nurse at 12pm, he did say due to age I may have a bit of a longer wait then they'd like for a clinic appointment due again to age and previous cyst.
I'm due my period in a week and he said it's likely to be hormones.
He was very apologetic that they've no female GP today as they are sharing staff with the hospital down the road. But it's fine, after children I'm used fine with whoever examines.

Cysts can be absolutely huge - I've spent more time in the breast unit in 2020 than ever before having mine drained. They were taking off 100ml a time every 6 weeks, I finally had surgery to remove it in September.

I had to get a GP referral each time but I was always seen and treated within the 2 week time frame despite the pandemic and the surgery happened 3 weeks after I saw the surgeon. I couldn't ask for better service.

That's no problem! Hope you get sorted out! It sounds very much like a cyst honestly our breasts are sent to try us! Interestingly my period stopped for three months due to stress, and that's when my giant cyst developed, so I'm not sure if it was something to do with my hormones, apparently our boobs are massively sensitive to hormones. Good luck, you'll be fine X

@Elphame

Cysts can be absolutely huge - I've spent more time in the breast unit in 2020 than ever before having mine drained. They were taking off 100ml a time every 6 weeks, I finally had surgery to remove it in September.

I had to get a GP referral each time but I was always seen and treated within the 2 week time frame despite the pandemic and the surgery happened 3 weeks after I saw the surgeon. I couldn't ask for better service.

What a relief that must've been for you! Hope 2021 is a cyst free year X

I found a big lump in mid-November. I saw a gp the same day (they’re doing telephone triage first, but she got me in within a couple of hours). I was referred under the 2 week wait, but as they were running a reduced service due to covid it ended up being about 4 weeks till my appointment at the one stop clinic. Hope you get it sorted quickly op

Went to lovely GP I've not met before. He was so lovely and apologetic about the lack of lady GPs, apparently they were all at a different surgery helping out.
He did have a look and he reiterated it's very very likely a cyst, probably the one I mention in my post from 2 years ago that has filled up again. He said that was common, but the fact it moves and the shape and feel is pointing to cyst. He said there is a little wait time but not too bad, and best to get it double checked as there is a history of breast cancer in my family (but at a lot older than me).
He gave me some anti-inflammatory tablets for the heavy feeling and they're working already
The boobs are indeed a blessing and curse. I can win any argument with DP with mine but being a D they also have their annoyances (when running for instance)

Little update and I have to say I'm so unimpressed

GP told me in his opinion it wasn't concerning, basically it's same cust as last time that has filled up again. He did refer to breast clinic but said with the current crisis it was unlikely to be treated as urgent but not to worry as the way it presents is not in the least bit worrying.

Got a letter for an appointment tomorrow the day that lockdown was announced, which I was surprised at, so rang yesterday to say I would imagine not being urgent would be cancelled. I'm also quite worried of going to the hospital now- a local woman posted about her poor mum who broke her ankle and is now on a covid ward having caught it whilst having treatment for the ankle at the hospital. Queue more horror stories of others in same situation. What also worries me is some people may have no clue they are ill with the new variant.
So I got told no, it would go ahead, I asked would it still require close contact from someone as it's already been examined, and could I not just have a mammogram instead. The guy I spoke to was so off, he said either go to appointment or cancel and be sent back to GP as Did Not Attend. I asked to speak to someone else and was put through and explained I have two vulnerable people at home who could end up very ill if I bring c19 into the home. He said he would speak to a consultant and see.
He phoned back about 5 minutes ago, apologised and said no, he explained the situation, they will not mammogram people under 40 (I'm 39) despite him explaining my concerns with vulnerable people it's literally of I come I will have someone in my face, jabbing it with needles.
How absolutely ridiculous. Is it any wonder women go without even half decent treatment? We are told to protect the NHS, surely my requesting the mammogram option over close contact that could reasonable end with my transmitting the virus to two vulnerable people is sensible, and them saying no due to 1 year age difference is an utter disgrace?
I will be writing to PALs but I felt I had no choice but to decline the appointments, I've also been told I won't now be offered another at any point and will have to go to a hospital outside the borough as they are "sick of time wasters".
It's just so upsetting, how on earth would I have it on my conscience if I caught the virus and gave it to DP or DS and they got severely ill as a result?

I really don't know what to do now.The second person was as confused as me but said they would not cancel just yet to give me time to think about it.

Just go - I spent most of last year attending the local breast unit every 4/6 weeks to have a recurrent cyst drained. They take all precautions necessary and I never felt unsafe.

They don't like to use mammograms on younger woman like you as they arent terribly clear. If the consultant thinks you need imaging on the day they'll probably do an ultrasound there and then. If it's clearly a cyst and it's coursing trouble they will probably drain it at the same time.

I do get that I really do, bit when you know two of the 4 of us in the house could end up incredibly ill if they catch it it's a worry. And the new variant as Whitty said 1 in 50 have it and don't know just really scared me.

You should of gone. I had a mammogram in November the clinician wore PPE. In mammograms there is someone close putting you in position.
I was called back for a biopsy again I felt very comfortable. All staff had masks, shields and gloves which they changed for each person.
The rooms were wiped down between patients. I've been diagnosed with breast cancer and had a lumpectomy etc last week.
This was a day case in an area away from the wards. Again it felt safe.
Please, if you can get seen by the hospital.

I've not missed it, it's tomorrow.
I'm just really scared of catching the virus and passing it onto DP and DS. I've done so much to avoid that happening. I feel like I'm putting them at risk going into one of the worst places to go at the moment

We are all scared of going to hospitals at the moment. I had to go regularly last year for breast cancer treatment during lockdown one.
You have to weigh up the risk. Your GP has referred you on the 2week wait which is the fast track for possible breast cancer. He doesn't think it's cancer but without tests he cannot know.
The breast clinic consultant will have a much better idea than a GP about what he is feeling and if he thinks it suspicious he probably will do a mammogram as well as a biopsy. They are tricky in younger women as hormones make breast tissue harder to view on the xray.

Wear your mask, don't arrive until your appointment and keep a good 2 meters from anyone in corridors. I know it's scary but you should go.

Just go. Wear a mask and visor. They should have PPE on. I know you say someone you know got it but we're they an inpatient?

You could be kicking the can months down the road by declining.

If you’ve had a mammo you will know that you are in very close contact with the radiographer as they physically manoeuvre each Breast into position. Try not to worry I had bc 4 years ago and due to changes in the affected breast was at the breast clinic this week. I was physically examined, ultrasounded, and mammo’d and all the time the staff were masked and wearing aprons.

On arrival my temperature was taken with a infrared thermometer, a new mask provided and all seating was 2 metres apart, people were actively discouraged from bringing companions with them and there was a young woman cleaning everything several times an hour.

A few months back I had a lump come up that ended up to he the size of a golf ball. I was terrified. Especially with current conditions getting seen. I was seen within two weeks. To cut a long story short I had to have an ultrasound and biopsies and draining of two cysts.
Try and not worry too much. I know its hard but its not always the worst. I have had to attend hospital a few times during the last 9 months and I have to say every time I have felt very safe there

Well I got another call just after posting and this time was a senior nurse apparently. She was extremely rude, saying she was "willing to give me a second chance" to attend to rearrange after which I would not be offered again at any stage. She kept speaking over me to the point I had to move the phone from my ear as she was shouting. She kept going on about the pandemic and I was "stupid" and "selfish". I tried to say that it was exactly due to the pandemic I was worried and that she and her colleagues weren't exactly reassuring me with their appalling attitude and lack of empathy. She then said "err, empathy, because you're scared of a virus that won't even effect you". So she clearly wasn't listening or hadn't fully grasped the situation.
She then said I was a child and "good luck getting appointments again in any part of the hospital" as she would "block it".
The fact is, two weeks ago a child the same age as my Ds, same underlying illness, died of the virus. That was on the news literally just after I saw the GP. My nephew also now has tested positive where he is and he has type 1 and has been extremely ill. I'm so aware of how dangerous this is, how hard this all is for the NHS, but that is not an excuse for the behaviour I've explained and the lack of respect.
I emailed the hospital trust and explained and have had no response as yet, I did however get a call asking why I hadn't attended the appointment and once again was shouted at for timewasting, I had to explain that I was anything but a timewaster and had tried to sort it out, she said oh so you don't want an appointment anymore and I said I do but my hands are tied and your staff are rude.
I've contacted my GP who is appalled at the way I've been treated, he said I cannot be blocked from the hospital and he is contacting the NHS standards team who GPs can whistleblow to. He is now sorting some antibiotics and speaking to a colleague about next steps.

I'm so disappointed. I know they're cross with the current climate but don't take that out on patients trying to do their best for their families.

One person having a very bad day I could understand, but it's odd that four different staff in separate phone calls have shouted at you, been rude and unhelpful.