Hand hold please...I found a lump...I get married next week

[Millymollymoomilly]

I have been referred for further investigations as I found a lump in my armpit, going for my first mammogram at 60 and I'm scared. I haven't had one before and that's because I have a hospital phobia which I'll have to get over pretty quickly. I know I've been stupid
I get married on Wednesday and we go on honeymoon the week after and I can't stop thinking morbid thoughts and it's spoiling a happy time.
I'm devastated also because I have to put it on hold for two weeks until we get back.
On top of this I have so much to do for they wedding and I can't concentrate.

Yes I was fine thank you, just a harmless cyst. X

Sorry you are going through this, I agree with a previous poster about trying to get a private scan. Have you told anyone in real life?

Have a fabulous wedding day.

Yes, I have tried to lose weight, lost about 12 lbs....hard work too!
I want to thank you all so much for your support, I do feel a little better for this.
I know my fears may hopefully be irrational, I'm going to tell my daughter this afternoon, she knows me so well and I'm staying with her Tuesday as she is giving me away.
I am trying to push it away from the forefront but it won't go away.
I'm trying to stay positive but ended up in bits in Tesco car park this morning, I need to pull myself together. Many people worse of than me.

I had a fibroadenoma (a benign lump) a few years ago and the doctor asked me if I had lost weight recently which I had. I was told that many women find lumps when they lose weight, the lumps become more apparent at that point. Three out of four women referred to the breast clinic will be for benign reasons. Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, opposite breast. The treatment I received was swift and efficient. I cannot praise the NHS enough. Breast cancer is one of the most successful cancers to treat. The waiting is the hardest, waiting for appointments and results but please be reassured that you will be treated with care and kindness from every one you meet. Good luck, I hope your worries will be unfounded and you can enjoy your wedding and honeymoon, I'm sure you will.

Stepping... What a lovely post, thank you for your kind words.
I'm not sure if losing weight attributes, it may I have no idea what concerns me is I can't feel it on showering, I only noticed a mark where it is when I was drying my hair so what else may I have missed? I am sure a mammogram will find anything soon.
I slept a little better last night possibly because I was exhausted from the night before.
My tinnitus is in overload because I'm stressed though.
Lots to do today so that may help, three days to the wedding.

OP I hope you have a wonderful wedding and honeymoon. Anecdotally, my mum (mid 60s) found a lump in her arm pit and was referred for a mammogram. She was very anxious having lost my dad to cancer in the last couple of years. The mammogram came back clear. The lump didn’t go so they repeated the scan to be safe and it was still clear. Lumps and bumps appear all the time and can be innocuous, but obviously a small % of the time they aren’t, and the two week referral protocol is designed to catch those few incidences which will benefit from early detection.

Handholding

Put yourself in the hands of the medical staff - they will treat you with care. They are used to seeing anxious patients.

2 things I’d suggest are:

1 start taking a magnesium supplement to help with sleep and anxiety
2 try some yoga to help with sleep and anxiety. On YouTube both yoga with kassandra and yoga with Adrienne have 15-20 minute sessions specially for either sleep or anxiety.

Hope all goes well for you

Thank you both...I had forgotten about magnesium, I have a spray I'll start tonight again.
Yoga, yes thank you for this I'll check it out.
And Mike.... Thank you it's good to hear positive stories.

How did your wedding go @Millymollymoomilly

I've just realised you got married today! Massive congratulations! 💍💒👰‍♀️🤵🎂🍾🥂

Hi, thank you so much, we had the most lovely day with a few close friends and family.
Weather was perfect, someone was looking after us that day.
We are having a party tonight for the rest of our family and friends which I looking forward to.
I had my appointment through for next Friday when we are travelling back from honeymoon, I called and had to ask to rearrange for the following week, I'm waiting to find out when that is.
I still keep checking the lump and when I wake it's there in my mind. I'm having to push my thoughts aside for now and worrying won't help me.

Best wishes 💐

I finally have my appointment on Thursday morning, feeling really anxious about it all.
Do mammograms hurt a lot?

Yay! Try not to feel anxious, at least it's here now.

I didn't find it painful, just a bit of pressure when it squeezed my skin.

How is the lump now? So glad you had a lovely wedding day.

Your mind will be put at rest, I'm sure. X

Glad that you have got your appointment. No mammograms don't hurt, it's just a squeezing sensation but not at all painful. Good luck.

A mammogram can be quite uncomfortable but I wouldn't say painful. However it is only for a few seconds so try not to worry about it too much. Good luck with your appointment.

The main thing is it has been found now. Have a great wedding.

All I can tell you is that I noticed a tennis ball size lump in my armpit about this time last year.

Had to wait 4 weeks for my urgent appointment where I had the mammogram and ultrasound scan. Following that, they were happy there was nothing sinister going on and I was free to go, just to have mammograms when I'm called for them in future.

So, it may not be doom and gloom ahead xx

Thank you all so much for your reassurance. It's making me feel a bit better.
The lump is the same pea size, I'm now paranoid and thinking that under my other arm I have a massive lump or is it just fatty skin I have always had? Thing is I can't feel this pea size lump unless I press hard and I only found it because it had a red mark initially which has now gone. I'm thinking I could have loads more and this is a secondary, honestly my anxiety is overwhelming today.
I go back to work tomorrow and logged in and saw I have so much to do as well....
Whatever I'm going on Thursday I absolutely have to.

Can I ask, can they see straight away if it's sinister or do they need to do biopsies?

The doctor told me at my first appt that he thought it was suspicious. He told me the size and that it looked like it hadn’t spread further. Also that the lymph nodes in my armpit looked clear. I was told that until they had the results of the biopsy they couldn’t say for certain. When the results came through everything he had told me was correct. I believe they know what they are looking at having dealt with so many and don’t think I would have been told if he hadn’t been pretty certain.

Steppingcarefully how are you now? X

I'm absolutely fine thank you. My first year mammogram was clear. Thank you for asking.

I had my first mammogram recently and I was expecting it to be really painful, but it was much less stressful than I had imagined. Nothing more than slightly uncomfortable and very quick.
Immediately afterwards I had an ultrasound with the radiographer using the mammogram as a reference to give the most information. Then I saw the consultant to talk through the results. It was all fine.

Steppingcarefully so glad to hear that.
MrJi glad all was ok thanks for letting me know your experience x