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?

I'm confused. You want mammogram ASAP but not an in-person examination?

Believe, me, they get very close & in person when you get a mammogram! Repeatedly. They can't even figure out how to mammogram you without some hands on. Plus if the mammogram is inconclusive, the next step is biopsy which requires a physical examination. I don't know what the physical exam can reveal, but they wouldn't lay hands on so often if not useful.

You are trying too hard here to micro-manage.

I want to say Decline all investigations for now if you choose -- you're an adult who can take risks. But also accept your understanding of the risks may be poor.

@Phlip

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.

If you rtft properly, I've spoken to 3 people from the hospital, not 4, and one although I found him dismissive was reporting what I now believe was what they were told possibly by the senior nurse. I've found in the past some admin line staff are a bit ignorant and don't really listen. The one who disappointed me most was the senior nurse.

@yeOldeTrout

I'm confused. You want mammogram ASAP but not an in-person examination?

Believe, me, they get very close & in person when you get a mammogram! Repeatedly. They can't even figure out how to mammogram you without some hands on. Plus if the mammogram is inconclusive, the next step is biopsy which requires a physical examination. I don't know what the physical exam can reveal, but they wouldn't lay hands on so often if not useful.

You are trying too hard here to micro-manage.

I want to say Decline all investigations for now if you choose -- you're an adult who can take risks. But also accept your understanding of the risks may be poor.

And I've explained that I'm fully aware but I'm aware also of the severity of the virus. Perhaps if others were as cautious we may be far better off than we are. I've had many years of having to manage DS and his illness, then 3 years back dp was diagnosed with lung issues too. They would, like last time, have stuck a sharp implement in. I was shocked they did that last time as I had been seen at a previous hospital before we moved and they literally just felt it and said no concerns. So it's a recurrent issue. She didn't warn me last time she would do that, when I was asked to undress and lay down I assumed she was looking to feel it but the next thing I knew was agony. The bruising was huge. I do weigh up risk, sadly I don't think the hospital is, they are treating me as a nuisance and entirely ignoring I'm literally following advice to protect others! Would they speak to someone the same way if they couldn't attend due to isolation?

But you don't know it's a recurrent issue. I'm sorry the way you were spoken to but the NHS have been criticized for stopping treating people and cancers getting diagnosed late so I think the staff may be feeling they are trying to do the best for you and get you seen. As I said though nothing excuses rudeness and I find that some hospital staff are quite abrupt having had run ins myself with them.

The clinics are spacious and the surfaces cleaned between patients and precautions are put in place to minimise covid and there is more danger as an inpatient. As a GP I would encourage you to get seen. It probably is a cyst but I never rely on my clinical diagnoses with breast lumps. I have sent a few in over the years convinced they would be nothing and they were cancer. I'm sorry I'm not trying to scare you but do get it seen especially as if it's tender it could get infected.

OP you sound very anxious and overwrought but I’m just not sure what you want.
Do you want to be examined at the breast clinic or not?
You have every right to decline the appointment but surely you understand that to be examined you will be physically touched, either for a mammo, an ultrasound, a biopsy or an examination of the breast.
Did you perhaps think a mammo is like an X-ray where you stand still and a photo is taken?

Oh my goodness. You must make a complaint. That's absolutely shocking but sadly I'm not surprised. I had a terrible time a few months ago with a tricky wisdom tooth that was causing me so much pain and they were refusing to remove it due to the current pandemic. It was crippling me and I spent two months in the worst pain. One particular dental nurse was so rude to me I hit the roof. Im sorry you've experienced this poor attitude of a medical professional

I can maybe understand one member of staff being rude(I know that they shouldn't) but for everyone you speak to are shouting at you.
That's unbelievable or are you the problem.

If you rtft properly, I've spoken to 3 people from the hospital, not 4
I think I did read the thread.
Wed 06-Jan-21 11:41:25 You said 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

This second person then rang you back.

Then today you posted that you got a call from a nurse and later in the same post *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 make that four different people. Sorry OP but I think you are the common factor in all this. Maybe you are coming across as antagonistic without meaning to?