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Original poster

breast lump found but no appointment till 8th July

54 replies

MissV · 08/06/2008 21:19

Hi, this is my first real post but have lurked for a good while now.
Whilst washing in the shower on Wednesday night i found a largeish lump in my boob. I made an appointment at my GP's the following day and he checked it out - finding the lump straight away without prompting. He, amongst other things, asked if there was a family history of Breast Cancer and i said no, this isnt strictly true as im adopted so dont know this info but i didnt think about it till later that i had answered wrong.
As there was a problem with the internet connection the GP posted out a letter for the NHS Choose and Book service which i have now sorted and the next available appointment is the 8th July!
Im not sure i can cope with the stress i am feeling for all this time and i'm wondering has anyone had any similar experiences who can put me at ease. Do you think if i tell the GP that i am not aware of my family history that this will change anything?

OP posts:
girlnextdoor · 09/06/2008 12:16

northernlurker- I got the scan results there and then- was passed straight back to the gynae with results in hand so to speak. Blood test results took a few days. I don't know- but maybe if it had been a more serious rather than routine set of blood tests, the results could have been quicker- don't know.

It was all covered by my insurance, and yes, I know that the tests etc are extra. This is made quite clear and I wasn't under any illusion that it was all for £150-ish!

LittleMissNorty · 09/06/2008 13:02

Hope you get an appointment quickly. As someone else said, 80% of lumps (especially at your age) are perfectly harmless but it still needs careful examination.

IMO a GP is not in a position to diagnose a cyst - they should refer you to a specialist breast clinic. Anxious patients are usually "pointed out" and seen quickly.

May not always get results the same day either....they may take a biopsy of tissue and if so, you would need to go back the following week for a result.

Good luck

Winetimeisfinetime · 09/06/2008 13:19

Hi Missy - glad to hear that your gp thinks it is a cyst. My cysts were large lumps so I had a feeling as you had also found a large lump it may well also be a cyst. My gp told me right away that he thought my lumps were probably benign and thankfully he was right.

I went the private route as my dh has health insurance. I initially had an ultrasound scan which is often used { or was then } in younger women as the breast tissue is too dense for a mammogram { I was 35 at the time } and they were able to show me on the screen that the lumps were filled with fluid which was immediately reasssuring. I then saw a consultant who in my initial consultation,aspirated the cysts {drained them with a needle } and sent the stuff away to be tested. The aspiration was virtually painless. This got rid of the cysts there and then and touch wood they have not returned.

kiddiz · 09/06/2008 13:19

From my experience do not assume you will get answers the same day even if you have been referred on the 2 week referral. I had a breast lump investigated 4 years ago and on that occasion my gp did a non urgent referral and it took 3 months before I had a mammogram and us and was told I had numerous cysts. Recently I found another lump and went to gp who referred me to be seen on an urgent referrral. I was eventually seen by a registrar at the breast clinic on the last possible day i.e. day 14! He did nothing more than the gp had done, took a history and felt the lump. I then waited a further 10 days for an appointment for a mammogram and ultrasound. This revealed more cysts and I am now still waiting for a further appointment for these cysts to have the fluid drawn off and sent for testing. I am absolutely convinced that the initial hospital appointment was just to meet their targets and was a waste of time. So much for a one stop clinic and results in one day. I'm at over 4 weeks since I saw my gp and still waiting. What upsets me more is that they give misleading information on appointments. The registrar I saw told me I would get the mammo and us in a couple of days when it was actually 10 and would probably have been longer if I hadn't kept phoning. It's all very anxiety inducing imo.

SubRosa · 09/06/2008 14:28

Sorry for any confusion - I thought I'd stated in my post that the initial consultation would be £150, not the entire round of tests, etc.

I'm only going on my own experience, where I saw the consultant on a Friday and had an ultrasound the following Monday.

Anyway, I'm glad the GP thinks it's a cyst and hope you get it sorted soon.

BlaDeBla · 09/06/2008 19:48

I was whisked through very quickly when they found a lump in my boob. I had needle tests and mammograms and scans and it was all inconclusive. I was pg at the time and they said to wait till the baby arrived. The baby became 1, and the lump was bigger, so back again, and whizzed through a second time. This time they found DCIS. Everything happened so fast. I'm amazed that they think it's ok to wait! Hope you are alright! My team said that there is no point looking things up on the internet or you will just worry yourself

Original poster
MissV · 10/06/2008 09:38

kiddiz - this must be so stressful for you, even if you have had cists before surely NHS shouldnt be complaicent about it.

Bladebla - have banned google for this purpose! whats a DCIS??

Will update after ive been back to GP's today.

OP posts:
Alambil · 10/06/2008 09:48

Miss V Please, please push for an earlier appointment. If they won't - cancel it and ring in tomorrow for an emergency.

It is absolutely unacceptable to make you wait so long.

My friend has cancer all over her body from a slow-going GP with initial breast exam.

I don't say that to scare you - all the numbers go in your favour for it to be a cyst but it is SO important to move quickly.

NorthernLurker · 10/06/2008 11:03

sorry Lewisfan but the last thing MissV should do is cancel her existing appointment! If you did that with us then rang up claiming to be an emergency - remember the staff on the phone can't see you or your condition - then the only thing we would tell you to do is ring your GP. If you present at A&E then the likely thing is that they will refer you on to the breast clinic having given you hopefully the same level of reassurance and info that your GP could and you will still have a short wait for an appointment. I do hope you get on well speaking to your GP today.

themildmanneredjanitor · 10/06/2008 11:09

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

girlnextdoor · 11/06/2008 09:30

let us know what has happened?

BlaDeBla · 11/06/2008 09:50

Hope all's well, MissV. DCIS is a localised form of breast cancer. I'm glad to hear you've banned googling stuff. I hope you've got a better appointment time!

trace2 · 11/06/2008 09:52

hi i went for a lump 8 weeks ago my gp said come back in 6 weeks to recheck it, i told on here and everyone was great saying i should contact them again( i didnt) went back to an other gp in same surgery yesterday for some thing else and he noted about the lump asked if it as gone iv not checked so he felt my breasts and he found it befor i had chance to tell him where it was anyway i got an appionment there and then for tuseday 17th( now i am scared ) i hope you get seen earlier

Original poster
MissV · 11/06/2008 12:16

thanks for all your messages - great support!

I went to GP's yesterday, my appointment was with a diffrent doctor. He read my notes and i told him of family history mistake. he took my contact number and said he would get the secretary to sort out an earlier referal and they would lt me know by phone

No call yet tho!

Will hastle them tomorrow if ive still not heard anything.

Bladebla - thanks for explanation re DCIS.

Trace2 - good luck for tuesday, hope everything is ok, i know what you mean about being scared at looming appointment. please let me know how you go on.

x

OP posts:
trace2 · 11/06/2008 18:14

missv please ring back tomorrow if you not heard anything! i will keep you imformed to so will keep this thread on watch,

Original poster
MissV · 25/06/2008 23:14

Hi Trace2,
Just wondering how your appointment was?
Hope you had good news.
My appointment is on Tuesday (changed but only by one week due to volume of referals!) The nerves have kicked in well and truly now!
x

OP posts:
BellaLasagne · 02/08/2008 14:48

How did you get on MissV?

I'm currently waiting for my 'fast-track' appointment to come through having been referred by my GP last Thursday (30/7).

My areola has become very sunken and GP thinks she could feel a lump just above it even though I couldn't

I've a family history, hence the fast-track approach.

I'm trying too hard not to think about it, because when I do I'm so scared.

My mum had a full mastectomy and radiotherapy last year, and her mum (my late gran) died of BC, albeit at a grand old age.

I'm trying very hard not to get anxious, and after an initial trawl of the BC websites for information, have decided to keep away from them until I know more, i.e. have been to the clinic.

LovelyDear · 02/08/2008 15:02

Bella i just didn't want you to go unanswered. I think you're doing the right thing to wait until you've been seen before you read things! Hope you get an appointment quick though.

BlaDeBla · 03/08/2008 10:24

I was told not to look at cancer websites at least until I had a diagnosis.This is the bc support thread There are lots of people all going through different things to do with boobs. I hope your appointment goes well.

BellaLasagne · 03/08/2008 13:17

Thank-you both.

I've had a quick look at the BC support thread but it looks way too scary for now. I'm definitely going to keep off here until I've been to the hospital.

Going to see Mama Mia this afternoon to help take my mind of it!

BlaDeBla · 03/08/2008 19:04

I know what you mean about the bc support thread. It's far better to know exactly what is the matter before you look anything up!

BellaLasagne · 08/08/2008 18:23

My appointment has come through for next Monday, so only 3 days to go. That will have been 11 days since I saw my GP so not bad.

Keep your fingers crossed for me!

dannyb · 11/08/2008 19:32

I also wanted to add my bit about being seen privately. I found my lump on a monday night, saw the GP Tuesday morning, had an ultrasound and mammogram on Tuesday lunch time and saw the consultant and had a cyst aspiration on tuesday afternoon. The whole thing was diagnosed and treated within 24 hours of discovery. I have since had a number of other lumps and have always been seen the same day and had an ultrasound as part of my appointment. When I had a needly biopsy the consultant called me with the results 24 hours later.

It did cost more than £150 but was more than worth it 100 times over

BellaLasagne · 12/08/2008 09:05

Not good news. Will be joining the other htread when I feel up to it.

To all those waiting/deciding whether to go to their GPs, please do it now.

BlaDeBla · 12/08/2008 09:23

I'm sorry to hear that Bella . Everything happens very quickly once they have decided that there is a problem. Please remember that everyone is different and the treatment you recieve will depend on so many variables! Have you had a diagnosis yet?

You don't have to read the whole of the other thread!