Breast Lump

[Silkieschickens]

I have a large breast lump since May and have just been referred on 2ww for nhs cancer referral. The doctor referring said to expect bad news and its normally cancer with my symptoms. I contacted a different doctor in June about it and they said it almost certainly was not cancer though did not discuss it much with them.

Does anyone know how long the 2ww referrals are taking in England for breast cancer, just wondering whether to go private. Its quite a large lump 1.5 inches by 1.5 inches roughly, rock hard, rough edges, very visible if lift arm, skin puckering, some white and red spots on breast, does appear to change a bit in size during cycle though that could be things around it.

Dont know if its relevant but since I have it I have felt ill most of the time, I thought it was vaccine side effects and then I had covid but the two could be connected, have a little pain down right side and under the ribs. I am late 40s and I am hoping one of the joys of peri menopause and a cyst or similar. It is very heavy, feels like a lump of metal in there. I think it appeared pretty much overnight though am not that great at checking. I do not think it is increasing in size but hard to tell.

Has anyone had similar and what was it? Thanks.

2 week referrals are taking up to 2 weeks where i am ( NW ) ....your GP cannot know if you have cancer or not...but have referred you under 2 week cancer targets...
Hope all goes well

Thanks hope it will be within 2 weeks. The gp said she expects it to be cancer and to prepare for bad news but I hope she is wrong.

I'm waiting too, SW - the two week pathway is currently 4 weeks.

Thanks Still hope you get seen soon and the all clear. The times seem to vary a lot, think will try and call hospital on Monday and see if I can find out.

Hi, I’m in wales and am waiting too. My two weeks is up on Monday. I’ve managed to get a cancellation for Tuesday morning.

My lump is very hard, movable and initially felt like it had corners. The doctor said it felt the same to him, however it’s changed to be smoother now.

I first felt it in July, but wasn’t really that sure it wasn’t a lumpy boob. I didn’t go to the doctor then.

Now it’s really obvious when i touch it, and there is some skin discolouration on the side of my boob.

I hope you both get an appointment soon, and have good news.

Good luck for Tuesday Blue Mine also feels like it has corners like a flat cube, not really moveable, well if I move the breast it moves with it but does not move with the breast.

Sending lots of positive thoughts and hoping for the best for you

Thanks very much Winter

Thanks, hopefully we will all be seen and know either way soon.

2ww are done within 2 weeks in most parts of the uk. If you haven't heard after a week I would ring your breast clinic.

The appointment is done at a specialist clinic where you will have mammogram, ultrasound and possible biopsy all in the same appointment. You will see a doctor who has all the results apart from the biopsy and will tell you what they think. They will usually know with some accuracy whether it's likely to be cancer but the biopsy confirms it. They will tell you on the day if they think it's cancer so be ready for that. Be prepared to be there 3 or 4 hours.

I had breast cancer 2 years ago. Tiny, firm, moveable lump which hurt. My GP thought it wasn't so I sailed into the appointment thinking I was wasting their time.

Good luck. There is a fabulous, supportive, long running thread on here for cancer. It kept me going all the way through.

Thanks very much Skap that is really useful to know. I was wondering how long it all took, doctor thought I would need all the checks. I think thats why she told me prepare to be told its cancer so it will be less of a shock and also I think she thought I needed to take it more seriously. I do take it seriously but I do keep telling myself it will be a cyst or infected cyst but its rock hard and big.

Silkieschickens I was just referred yesterday as well. I can’t offer you answers but I can definitely offer you a handhold.
The GP found a second lump during the check yesterday which I was not expecting. It’s quite hard to find though so she couldn’t work out if it was actually one big lump or two smaller ones. The tone of the appointment definitely changed at that point, up until then it had been jokey and lighthearted and she suddenly got very serious. I’m very impatient so two weeks feels like forever

Thanks PostmanSplat, hope we get seen soon and its all benign.

After about 3 hours of trying managed to get through on phone to breast clinic and they said at the moment there are a huge amount of referrals and staff ill with covid. At first they said they had not got my referral then another nurse found it but no appointment date yet. Was referred on 4th and told the date they are giving out today is 23rd but quite a few people ahead of me to be booked so likely to be later. She did say there is a possibility will put on evenings as extras but needs staff to volunteer and sickness levels to be ok. She said sometimes a cancellation happens and slim chance of that. She was very nice but been crying a fair amount today especially when could not get through. If you go private she said if it is a consultant who works at hospital can transfer you over, looks about 1800 here with a biopsy. Did find someone there on the cancer thread who said once you are in its fine.

Sorry to hear you didn’t have a great day, I’d been wondering how you were doing.
Is going private an option for you? It may be worth it just to get a diagnosis as the waiting is so brutal. I don’t know what the waiting times are like where I am (Herts) but it’s definitely something I’ll consider

Thanks - I could pay for private out of savings though would prefer not to as not working much at the moment and its intended for retirement. It also seems to be a bit complicated and sometimes you need to be referred by GP and back via GP which may not speed things up especially if private does things in stages rather than 1 stop shop like NHS. Addenbrookes did say though that some people go via Nuffield and Spire and transfer over to same consultant but looked on their websites and one just seems to work there 2 hours once a week. I may ask GPs advice, thanks for your help and hope you get seen soon too.

Just had a cancellation appointment offered to me Friday at 11.30am 😻

Excellent news, it pays to be persistent

Thanks, hope won't be too long for you Postman

@BlueistheNewme How did you get on yesterday. Hope you got good news.

Hi, my appointment was changed and it was this morning.

The large lump was a cyst, which was drained there and then.

There was also a 2cm Fibroadenoma next to it, which I think is the lump I felt in the summer.

Nothing came out with the fine needle, so they did 3 punch biopsies.

They will send them away for testing, results are due in 3 weeks and I’ve got an appointment for 3rd December.

The biopsies were painless, and now just an awareness that I’ve had it done but no real pain. The staff were lovely.

I had the mammogram first, then biopsies were with ultrasound.

The doctor also told me I have a goitre on my thyroid, so will book a GP appointment to discuss that.

Silkieschickens, I’m glad you’ve managed to get an appointment Friday.

I hope yours won’t be long Postman.

Thanks for updating Blue That sounds very thorough. I hope they come back clear for you.

Silkieschickens good luck tomorrow and hope you manage to get some sleep tonight

Thanks Postman, hope you hear soon too. Quite nerve wracking doing this, really hope both get all clear.

Unfortunately it is cancer but go back in a week for biopsy results and treatment plan so moving quite fast, will get staging and type then.

Hope anyone else waiting gets the all clear. If anyone gets cancer I am going on the cancer thread in general health and its nice on there.

I am sorry to read this- I just came back on to see if you had updated after your apt. I am
sure the cancer thread will be a great support X