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Original poster

Breast Lump Non Urgent Referral

14 replies

FizzyBear · 26/01/2021 04:17

I'm 29 and found a breast lump. I visited my GP who said it didn't feel too concerning. She referred me to the breast clinic for peace of mind and said it would be a non urgent referral. If they were worried about cancer at all would they be seeing me quicker?

OP posts:
Blue2021 · 26/01/2021 12:09

Yes if they thought cancer you would be on a urgent 2 week referral. A close friend of mine is your age and just had a lump. Turned out to be nothing but no harm getting it checked. Hope all goes well for you xx

Original poster
FizzyBear · 26/01/2021 15:36

Thank you. It's hard to calm the fear and I don't know how long I will be waiting for answers.

OP posts:
Blue2021 · 26/01/2021 17:41

The chances of it being Cancer at 29 is very rare so try focus on that fact. If you do get other symptoms though go back to the doctors ASAP as they can change the referral if needed. Fingers crossed your appointment comes through quick Flowersxx

TheoriginalLEM · 26/01/2021 17:52

They must be really sure , i had a lump that my gp wasnt concerned about it, was still 2 week referral. Would have gone insane with worry otherwise.

In all fairness i think some lumps are very obviously benign but should always check.

Original poster
FizzyBear · 26/01/2021 21:12

@TheoriginalLEM everyone I know who has had a lump has been checked in 2 weeks that's why I'm so concerned partly. I don't want to just be dismissed as low risk due to my age

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 26/01/2021 21:44

When i had mine my dr gave me the option to watch and wait but i caled the next day and asked for refferal that she organised to put my mind at rest.

The odds are very much stacked in your favour.

9/10 breast lumps are benign.
Your Dr isnt concered enough to do urgent referral. They will have felt a LOT of lumps and have a good idea .
You are very young.

I knew all the above. Didnt stop me climbing the walls and needing diazepam to get me through it.

Distract distract distract. Cammomile tea helped to calm me

Annietheacrobat · 26/01/2021 21:47

You are at lower risk because of your age though. Your GP has followed the referral criteria for breast lumps, which does use age to define who should be seen within 2 weeks.

loubieloo4 · 27/01/2021 01:28

Obviously it's good news the GP doesn't think it's anything serious, I would however, question the non urgent appointment. Just because I am currently nearly 4 weeks in to waiting for an urgent referral and have been told I could be waiting for another 4 weeks. Hopefully they are not as backlogged in your area but just in case. I dread to think how long a non urgent referral is taking here.

Original poster
FizzyBear · 27/01/2021 01:33

I just worry about being in the 1 in 10 for my age group for whom a lump is cancer. That doesn't seem an insignificant number to me. @Annietheacrobat if it felt like cancer even with my age would they have seen me sooner or would it still be non urgent do you know? I can't quite work it out from the guidelines. Thank you.

OP posts:
Pipandmum · 27/01/2021 01:50

If your gp suspected cancer it would be urgent whatever your age. I do not know whether the thing you are being referred for, or the delays of that department, is a factor in how soon you will be seen. I've waited up to nine months for my daughter to be seen by a consultant, in pre covid times, after she had been off school for a month, during which she saw the GP three times and taken to A & E once (to be clear i didn't wait, I took her for a private consultation in the end, which in itself required three weeks of back and forth with the GP as they seemed clueless about private referrals, at one point referring her to a gastrointestinal doctor for a head MRI).
If you are concerned call them back and say you need an urgent referral. Squeaky wheel and all that.

Annietheacrobat · 27/01/2021 07:47

Fizzybear the 1/10 figure comes from women of all ages. Your risk at 29 will be less than 1/10. It doesn't mean that it doesn't happen unfortunately and completely understand why you are stressed.

The 2WW referral process is a bit of a tick box exercise. If your GP tried to refer you at 29 it would most likely be 'downgraded' as you don't meet the criteria. Having said that if your GP was very concerned about the lump, am sure they would contact the breast team directly saying she's only 29 but can you see her promptly as I really think it might be a cancer.

Annietheacrobat · 27/01/2021 07:51

But to reassure you, you will most likely end up being seen fairly soon anyhow. In my experience breast teams offer a fairly slick service and if there is space they will slot you in.

Oneearringlost · 27/01/2021 08:09

I think what the GP did is right, what is more at the crux of this is how the GP dealt with it with you. 5 minutes of explaining why they had referred you non urgently would have helped.
A mobile, soft lump in a 29 year old is very low risk for cancer, probably a hormonal cyst ( does it come and go, more or less evident at different times of your cycle?)
I'm sure they asked you about family history, hormonal contraception etc...
An explanation of the type of lump she examined in you and why they referred you non urgently would have helped to allay your understandable anxiety.
I expect all will be well, but I understand your worryFlowers

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