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Original poster

Lumpy breast

60 replies

lillie23 · 09/09/2023 09:12

I went the doctors yesterday as I could feel a lump in my right breast. It's smooth and moveable but he could also feel a smaller one which was next to it. Now this is smooth and moveable. I can't only find it if I press hard into the breast. I've been put on the 2 week pathway for an appointment but I'm worried as hell. Anyone else had anything like this before in one breast? I am 41.

OP posts:
fudgecat · 09/09/2023 09:34

Lots of people go through this, the vast majority are nothing sinister. The great thing is that you have been to the GP and it's going to be investigated. At this point you have done everything you can, try not to worry

Original poster
lillie23 · 09/09/2023 09:39

fudgecat · 09/09/2023 09:34

Lots of people go through this, the vast majority are nothing sinister. The great thing is that you have been to the GP and it's going to be investigated. At this point you have done everything you can, try not to worry

Thank you. It's the worst waiting until the appointment. Imaging all worse case scenarios. I do have lumpy breast tissue in both breasts and I always check them.

OP posts:
DrLouiseJMoody · 09/09/2023 09:39

Hi Lillie,

I thought about name changing for this but since I've tweeted about it (!) I may as well speak as me.

Like you, I've been to the GP (actually, second today as the first one forgot to refer despite assurances!) and on the 2WW (now likely a delay due to the forgotten original referral).

I am 42 and noticed it in the shower about the 20th Aug and saw GP upon my return to the UK. Like yours, mine is round (about 2-2.5 cm in all directions), moves (in fact you can almost grab under it and roll it - you can watch it roll under the skin!), smooth, and it's not attached to the skin. I have zero other symptoms. But I'm perimenopausal (this seems to be coinciding with longer gaps between periods) so desperately praying it's that.

If it's the worst I'll just have to deal with it but the whole thing is massively stressful and I keep fast forwarding to visions of death!

Original poster
lillie23 · 09/09/2023 09:41

DrLouiseJMoody · 09/09/2023 09:39

Hi Lillie,

I thought about name changing for this but since I've tweeted about it (!) I may as well speak as me.

Like you, I've been to the GP (actually, second today as the first one forgot to refer despite assurances!) and on the 2WW (now likely a delay due to the forgotten original referral).

I am 42 and noticed it in the shower about the 20th Aug and saw GP upon my return to the UK. Like yours, mine is round (about 2-2.5 cm in all directions), moves (in fact you can almost grab under it and roll it - you can watch it roll under the skin!), smooth, and it's not attached to the skin. I have zero other symptoms. But I'm perimenopausal (this seems to be coinciding with longer gaps between periods) so desperately praying it's that.

If it's the worst I'll just have to deal with it but the whole thing is massively stressful and I keep fast forwarding to visions of death!

You have my sympathies. I have imagined every worst case scenario. I think as humans we automatically think the worst. Mine is about 1-2cm. I don't have any other symptoms only the 2 lumps. I'm hoping it's perimenopausal too. I hope everything goes well at your appointment 🤞🏼

OP posts:
Cotswoldmama · 09/09/2023 10:16

I've been blessed with lumpy breasts! The first I found in lockdown and because my period was due and my breasts were tender from that the doctor said wait until a week after period has ended and if it's still there she'd refer me to the breast clinic. That lump disappeared so was a cyst as she suspected. A few months later I got another lump but this one didn't go after a period so I got referred and it was another cyst and it went away by itself after a few months. Then about a year later I got another and again it didn't disappear so I went to the breast clinic again and they did an ultrasound scan this time and she confirmed it was another cyst. I also asked her to check where I found lumps before as always seems to be similar area and she said she could see hundreds of tiny cysts! She offered to drain the cyst but said it might just fill back up, so I have left it and it's still there now months later but I know it ok.
Try not to worry. It's hard not to think the worst I do everytime even though I know it's very likely to be another cyst. I'm sure yours will be too, fingers crossed for a quick appointment. I actually a phone all from the breast clinic the day after seeing the doctor offering me a cancellation so it was nice not to have to wait.

TheMountainsCall · 09/09/2023 10:29

Some women just have lumpy breasts, but it's always best to make sure. I have a couple of lumps for years that have been thoroughly checked out and are fine. I've given up worrying about them. Remember that most lumps turn out to be nothing but you're doing the right thing making sure.

Original poster
lillie23 · 09/09/2023 12:21

Thanks everyone for replying. Hopefully it will be nothing. Just need to stop prodding them

OP posts:
rinseandrepeat1 · 09/09/2023 12:29

I also have a lumpy breast (only one though, the other isn't lumpy). I got checked out and when they scanned me it turns out my breast is full of cysts. Most of them super tiny but some that were bigger and which I could feel. I was told it was harmless but to make sure I check regularly.

Always safe to get checked OP. Try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know)

Chrysanthemum5 · 09/09/2023 12:31

Just to agree with the others. I get lumps and they are always cysts but they check them out to be sure. The nurses and scan technicians are all very kind and know it is stressful so they make it as easy as possible.

DrLouiseJMoody · 09/09/2023 15:41

I've seen the second GP this afternoon who said mobile and not hard is good but wouldn't commit to anything else - she said fibro-something / cyst but that everything has to go through the clinic anyway. I did note the previous GPs comments that there were no palpable nodes so that's also good!

Now I wait. Again. What. A. Bloody. Nightmare.

Original poster
lillie23 · 11/09/2023 12:46

I've just seen my referral letter which says suspected cancer. Is this on all 2WW letters. I feel physically sick with the worry

OP posts:
TheMountainsCall · 11/09/2023 13:32

I'm sorry you've got that worrying news. As hard as it is, try not to panic. I'm assuming it's suspected based on imaging? Not all suspected cancers turn out to be cancer. If you haven't had a biopsy yet, that will give you the answer. It's still possible it's not cancer. How stressful for you. I hope they see you soon.

Original poster
lillie23 · 11/09/2023 14:06

TheMountainsCall · 11/09/2023 13:32

I'm sorry you've got that worrying news. As hard as it is, try not to panic. I'm assuming it's suspected based on imaging? Not all suspected cancers turn out to be cancer. If you haven't had a biopsy yet, that will give you the answer. It's still possible it's not cancer. How stressful for you. I hope they see you soon.

Thank you for replying. I haven't had my appointment through for a scan but this is the referral letter. I didn't know if they put this on if it was just to fast track

OP posts:
TheMountainsCall · 11/09/2023 14:12

lillie23 · 11/09/2023 14:06

Thank you for replying. I haven't had my appointment through for a scan but this is the referral letter. I didn't know if they put this on if it was just to fast track

Show quote history

I guess they need to suspect possible cancer for the fast track, but possible cancer covers so many symptoms. I know it's hard but try not to worry if you can.

In my case, I have a very definite lump and the GP referred me to a breast surgeon as the first port of call. That lump is still there but nothing at all shows on ultrasounds or mammograms in that area. I've had it for years and finally come to just accept it's part of my anatomy.

Original poster
lillie23 · 11/09/2023 14:58

I went over a lump but he found a tiny lump that he wanted to get checked. He didn't even check me properly, more poked his finger in my skin I don't know how he found it. It feels like it's part of the other lump which both are moveable

OP posts:
EUmumforever · 12/09/2023 22:02

OP, I’ve been there twice. The moment you go to a GP because of any lumps, you’ll be put through on the two week pathway to check for cancer. Vast majority of cases are cysts.

Original poster
lillie23 · 13/09/2023 09:52

EUmumforever · 12/09/2023 22:02

OP, I’ve been there twice. The moment you go to a GP because of any lumps, you’ll be put through on the two week pathway to check for cancer. Vast majority of cases are cysts.

Thank you for replying. I have calmed down a bit. It was just a shock seeing it wrote down.

OP posts:
Healthfreak95 · 13/09/2023 19:19

Going through this right now but my doc isn’t back for 2 weeks on holidays… and I’ve health anxiety 😟

Original poster
lillie23 · 13/09/2023 21:12

Healthfreak95 · 13/09/2023 19:19

Going through this right now but my doc isn’t back for 2 weeks on holidays… and I’ve health anxiety 😟

Oh no really. Can you not see another Doctor in the meantime?

OP posts:
Healthfreak95 · 13/09/2023 21:15

@lillie23 unfortunately only male docs and seem always so reluctant to do those checks I really don’t know why so I’d prefer to wait for my own Gp who knows my history & is so so good at dealing with me & my health anxiety

weegiemum · 13/09/2023 21:32

I got my referral to the breast clinic through today. Only a week on Friday so just within the 2 weeks which is good. My lump is quite deep and is hard and doesn't move. I'm really worried, but trying not to show it to my dh and grown up dcs. Worrying won't make a difference. Though my dad said he'd worried about a tiger walking up the local high street and mauling people, but it never happened. So clearly his worrying stopped it from happening 😜

DrLouiseJMoody · 14/09/2023 08:01

Same here @weegiemum, r.e. Fri.

One thing I've learned from mentioning it to friends is that a trip to the clinic seems a rite of passage. Every other woman I know has said "oh yeah, been there", another friend had a prod and said "that's like my fibroadenoma!" Another has reassured me that cancerous lumps aren't the sorts of things you can grab and roll around like a stress ball. Yours might be feeling hard on account of being covered by more tissue.

But until we're ultrasounded there will always be the OH GOD ME TITS MIGHT BE MURDERING ME feeling.

And, then, if they are, I try to reassure myself that there are clearly defined NHS pathways that move at speed with this.

Original poster
lillie23 · 14/09/2023 09:16

Those last two posts gave me a laugh this morning. I haven't told anyone because I cannot cope with what they will come out with. Obviously my other half knows. But until I know for sure on Monday, I'll keep it to myself 🙈

OP posts:
Original poster
lillie23 · 14/09/2023 09:18

Healthfreak95 · 13/09/2023 21:15

@lillie23 unfortunately only male docs and seem always so reluctant to do those checks I really don’t know why so I’d prefer to wait for my own Gp who knows my history & is so so good at dealing with me & my health anxiety

Yeah I felt he just prodded the top half of my breast with his finger. He did look uncomfortable while he was checking. I would rather stick with a female gp for these types of checks.

OP posts:
Healthfreak95 · 14/09/2023 20:09

@lillie23 yea exactly and I have no issue at all with whoever checks me but I’ve not had great experiences with male GPS in that area so will wait on my lady GP, she is also very thorough and always errs on the side of caution! Are your lumps tender or sore? Mine feels more like a hardened part of my upper breast but tbh I’m so bad with anxiety I’m probably making it worse.