Breast lump

[pinkchampagne1]

On Monday I noticed quite a large breast lump while examining myself. I felt extremely anxious and barely slept at all that night.

yesterday morning I managed to get a doctors appointment. He examined me thoroughly and said he felt the lump and a smaller one and the same breast but that both felt mobile which is often reassuring. He has referred me to the breast clinic on the 2 week pathway. I initially felt more reassured after the appointment.

Today I received a call to book me into the breast clinic next Thursday and I am feeling really anxious again. I do suffer with health anxiety - it is even on my doctors notes!
My head keeps going to worse case scenarios and I am so scared. 😟

I’m fine now, thank you. No, it wasn’t picked up on a routine mammogram. Mammograms don’t see my cancer, even though large - this happens particularly if you have dense breasts and/or lobular cancer. I was identified at first because I was part of a randomised trial in my area where instead of offering normal routine mammograms, they offered 3D mammograms instead. Half of people got the normal mammogram, half got the 3D. I happened to get the 3D. The normal one, which I also had at the same time, showed nothing. This was my first ever mammogram. Second diagnosis- nothing showed on mammogram at all again, but ultrasound picked up something.

Oh my goodness, that’s scary! I am so pleased to hear you are ok now.

I wish you good fortune for your appointment. Remember, the likelihood is that it won’t be serious. But if it is, then they can do something about it. Neither outcome can you control. You’ve already done everything you can.

Thank you. 😊 I want this horrible wait to be over but at the same time I know I will be an anxious mess on Thursday!

So pleased you are well now. It sounds like you were very lucky that you were offered the 3D mammogram.

Wishing you all the best at your appointment, OP. I'm in the same boat and mine is tomorrow. Does anyone know how long it takes to find out the results??

If it's a non routine mammogram, usually it's a one stop shop where they try to give you a diagnosis that day. If they need to do a biopsy then you will have to wait a little longer but the consultant might be able to give you his/her thoughts or suspicions.

They are usually very good at breast clinics with breast nurses on hand for support too.

9/10 lumps benign said my consultant - you are in good hands if different.

I read an article on US women and scanxiety as they have lots of checks. One woman who was diagnosed with Breast cancer said if you find a lump you've got to acknowledge the fear but take a run at the problem - that is face it head on and get yourself seen.

You're all doing that so well done. The staff put me at ease: mammogram first if over 40, breast exam with kind consultant with chaperone ( you are given a cape to wear before this). Then for me and ultrasound. Then wait for results.

Being an anxious mess is really common. I specialise in this 🏆. It's not fun to go to these appointments and it wrecks my head. I'm trying to be more balanced in my approach but medical situations make me so nervous.

I do breast exams every month and try to be breast aware but as I get older (52) I'm worried that my number will come up! What can you do?!

Hi @pinkchampagne1 I don't know if this will help you, but I've had my appointment and thankfully all was well. I was examined, scanned, had a mammogram and got results all within 2 hours, fantastic service. As other pp have already said, the nurse at the initial exam reassured me that 9/10 lumps are no cause for concern. Mine is some type of tissue that just feels that way, plus a small cyst, it doesn't need draining but will need an eye keeping on it just with me doing my own checks, and they've prescribed Ibruprofen gel for the pain as they suspect inflammation in the chest under the breast tissue. I know this is me, and not you, and of course you'll still have lots of worries, but I hope these stories everyone is sharing can reassure you somewhat. Good luck and hope your appt goes well too x

I have two cancerous tumours in my left breast. Even if it is the worst-case scenario. It's easily treated. I'm partway through chemo having virtually no side effects and will have a great boob job at the end. With a great outcome

Stop worrying

Oh I am so pleased for you. 😊 You must be so relieved. X

I am exactly the same in that I get so anxious in medical situations. Cancer absolutely terrifies me. I am 51 so I also feel age is not on my side. 😕

I am sorry to hear you are going through treatment for breast cancer. Good news that you aren’t having any horrible side effects from the chemotherapy though. I hope you soon get the all clear. 💐

I am finding today difficult. I think it is because it is the weekend so I don’t have the distraction of work and I can see that DH is feeling worried.
I keep feeling the lump and panicking in case it is something nasty as it is pretty large.

Large doesn't mean anything Pink. Your reactions are normal. Scanxiety is normal.

Deep breaths. Don't meet trouble half way.

Keep on keeping on. You will be in good hands with experts in their field. You have done the right thing going to your GP and getting it checked out.

💐

Great that your dh is coming with you. Other partners will be there too.

On both occasions I had dh there. It was helpful as I'm a bit deaf and panic makes me forget info.

Thank you for taking the time to reply to me.

I know I need to try to remain calm but seeing DH look concerned seems to trigger me. Also I have had more time to overthink things with it being the weekend.

My IBS has really flared up which will have been triggered by all the stress. This waiting period is awful. 🙁

You may even feel a little better as the day approaches, paradoxically.

But yes, the time does drag on. You feel like everything is on hold.

You are doing the right thing by yourself - hold on to that.

At least your wait is under a week. Each time I've gone it's been up to 18-20 days (I'm in Scotland). Second time I had COVID and had to postpone. That was head wrecking.

The week before is wobbly but I'm the sort to get really nervous and then just before I reach resignation stage and just want to go and be seen!

Sorry to hear about the IBS Pink - I hope the flare up won't last long.

Don't google. I know it's almost impossible not to, but I had a 2WW for dimpling, and managed to find an old medical article saying that in a study every woman referred for dimpling had cancer!

Guess what - I didn't, and the consultant said lots of things can cause it, and also lumps. She went through loads of things I had never even heard of, all way more common than cancer.

Good luck OP.

I'd the same coloursquare. It was a deep cyst where lymph was pooling and the cyst was causing a pull on the surface. Couldn't be felt at all. They asked me if I'd lost weight as that can cause dimpling too.

Don't assume a dimple is due to any recent weight watching though. Always get it checked.

Oh goodness, I hadn’t realised you had to wait longer for your appointment in Scotland. That must’ve been torture! 😕

I have tried to stay off Google today as I just get myself more anxious.

Might not be everywhere in Scotland but it was longer than the two week target in England.

Hold onto the 9/10 lumps benign, keep off Google as you said. And don't beat yourself up about being nervous. 💐

Thank you. 😊 I have kept off Google and been round to my parent’s for dinner which helped distract me a bit today.

Just to say I had a breast lump last year which the docs were very concerned about and thought was cancer. Turned out it was something quite rare but benign.

Nearly all lumps are benign and it's not cancer till they confirm it is. Hold on to that.