Health anxiety/breast clinic

[Snoopysimaginaryfriend]

Hello everyone.

I am aware that my anxiety around health issues has spiralled a bit over the last twelve months, so this is probably just my anxiety talking but bear with me.

I have always had dense breasts with ridges or harder tissue under both of them, just about where the underwire is and I always understood this was normal for me.

About three weeks ago I noticed that the ridge under one breast had disappeared. Of course I turned to dr google blush Everything I read talked about the appearance of lumps and thickening rather than the disappearance of harder tissue but also said any changes should be discussed with GP.

So I waited for my GP appointment and went along expecting her to say I was being foolish. She examined me and said she couldn’t feel anything sinister but I was right that the ridges were now asymmetrical so she was referring me to a breast clinic and they would do an ultrasound (due to my age) just to be on the safe side.

I went along to the breast clinic today, prepared for ultrasound etc. However, the consultant who physically examined me said he couldn’t feel anything but ordinary breast tissue and was confident that I didn’t need any further examination.

So I skipped out of the clinic, happy as Larry, but now that I am home I’m finding myself worrying that I should have had some sort of further investigations.

Logically, I know the GP was being overly cautious and the consultant does this day in day out. I have no reason to doubt his confidence, but has anyone else ever been referred to the breast clinic and had nothing more than a physical examination?

I was also there yesterday for a non lump reason - pain and oddness really. GP was very meh about referring me in the first place. Consultant did physical exam, told me they felt very normal but there was a slightly different area where the pain was and 99% of the time pain is not sinister BUT because I'm over 45 and was there they'd do mammogram/ultrasound. Both of which were fine and the consultant did say 'well I was just being very conservative'.

Whilst I was in there a number of people came in, saw consultant then went straight home. I have been once before and consultant said he was bemused I got referred, told me it was a blocked duct and he'd show me, popped the portable scanner on to exactly the right place and showed me said duct (my point here being it was reassurance only).

They see boobs all day every day. They know what they are looking at and feeling. They are cautious. So please don't worry, they wouldn't have sent you home had they had any concerns.

Thank you funtimefrank, that is exactly what I needed to hear.
Thinking about it now, I noticed a couple of women before me who seemed to leave without any further examination after going in but I obviously have no idea what they presented with. I guess I had geared myself up for something more intrusive after the GP.
Now I know it’s perfectly standard procedure I’ll stop worrying.