Breast clinic referral downgraded

[worriedmum8686]

Posted over on AIBU too just trying to get opinions if this is normal

Went to GP at start of October I felt a lump in breast
GP wasn't convinced it was a lump she said it felt more fiborous but for my peace of mind said she would refer me
haven't heard anything from hospital so chased it up last week and I have been down graded by the consultant who triaged to routine which is a 4-7 month wait I asked what my GP referal said and was told she had written:
Left breast Change in tissue
Pain sensation in breast
Felt lump thinks new change no puckering no change no dimpling
Right side no lumps no lympho pathy
no definite lumps (I don't know if she meant this about right or left side)

I thought any breast changes over 30 (I am 38) would be red flag

Anyone?

I’d expect that to be a 2ww referral yes. Get your doctor to re refer you.

I'd both as the GP to escalate and complain to PALS at the cancer clinic. If the consultant is wrong four months may be life changing/limiting.

Definitely complain and go back to the GP. You need a two week referral. I don’t want to panic you - most lumps are benign. But I had a similar issue - GP thought fibrous lump above breast so wasn’t sure where to refer me. She did put me on the two week pathway and it was breast cancer. I am fine now! This was 13 years ago. But every lump needs checked. 4 months is simply unacceptable and how dare a consultant downgrade you without seeing you. Oh and I was 34.

Yeah this is wrong! I'm 37 and had the same symptoms and was seen 2 weeks to the day after finding the lump. I had a mammogram and an ultrasound, and got the all clear that day. 9/10 lumps are nothing worrying, but for that 1/10, catching it early is everything!

i rang my GP this morning she is going to put the referral in again for two week at another hospital and hopefully they won't downgrade it

I have also emailed the complaints manager at the hospital lodging a complaint about why u was downgraded.

also I don't know why she wrote pain sensation on the referral I don't have any pain. She asked me what made me check and I said I had felt a twinge in that boob that day so decided to check that night but there has been no more pain and I told her that.

the lump feels squishy she said it's not what they would classify as a lump it's more like gristle.

I have got in with the other hospital for next week the GP emailed them right away... she had changed it to red flag they have accepted it she could tell I was very upset on the phone this morning

my anxiety is sky high keep crying just so so worried I had calmed down last week as I was on my period and it felt like it had gone away but period went away and there it was back again

@worriedmum8686 mine changed with my cycle as well. It probably won't put your mind at ease but it's a good sign - likely to be a cyst if it changes with your cycle. Glad you're being seen next week, hope you come back and tell us you have the all clear.

I'm more scared for the kids than me they are just so young they need me to be at full health. I will know this time next week hopefully thanks so much for your reply

Push Push Push for that 2 week referral, if anything for your peace of mind.

I was the other end of the spectrum where I wasn't taken seriously because of age (30 at the time) they just said it can change with my cycle and not to worry. I asked multiple times and got pushed back and it took me a long time to get taken seriously. Unfortunately for me it wasn't just fluctuations in my cycle and because of all the delays ended up with breast cancer with spread to my liver. I'm still here nearly 7 years later however things could have been a lot different had they detected earlier.

Oh thank god you have beat it! It's shocking how they try to palm us off with genuine concerns

The lump can also be hard to find sometimes I lose it or feel
another part of my breast and think that's it . Feel like drawing round the area with a marker so I definitely find it next week at the clinic

Me again ughhh the lump is hard to find today my boob seems to have got more lumpy overnight but that one I can't fully distinguish worried they won't scan me if they can't find it now

I had a lump similar within fibrous tissue. The doctor couldn’t felt it but I knew it was there. They found a small cyst on ultrasound, nothing to worry about. Good luck.

Just an update ultrasound done normal breast tissue they were lovely today