Breast check - what am I looking for?

[Username9020]

Boobs are lumpy - can someone explain what I'm actually looking for when checking?

Visited GP due to persistent itchy feeling on one breast ongoing for several months. Not urgent, waited 2weeks for an appointment. Expected to be told this was normal - perhaps hormonal, maybe peri. GP asked to examine me, during which we had a conversation something like this;

GP: Do you check yourself regularly?
Me: Yeah, but I'm not really sure what I'm looking for.
GP: Lumps...
Me: They're lumpy by nature, I'm not confident I'd recognised a bad lump.
GP: There's one just a bit larger than a pea behind your nipple that you should have noticed.

She asked me to get dressed, pulled up a 'suspected cancer' window on the computer and started tapping away, asking about medical history (none). Told me I'd be contacted within the month for further investigations. Before sending me on my way, she looked at me earnestly and told me to prepare myself for the possibility of a negative outcome.

I've checked myself again several times since my appointment and I cannot feel any lump that seems out of place. She also referenced lack of symmetry and skin changes. I wish I'd asked her to help me feel the lump and explain what she meant about symmetry.

A GP is more knowledgeable than me - if they say there's a lump, I'm sure there is....but how can I feel what they feel?

Can you make an appointment with a nurse at your surgery and get them to show you how to feel the lump?

That's a really good idea-thank you.
The referral the GP made is to the breast clinic so if that comes through quickly, I'll ask them to show me while I'm there.

If it looks like the referral might take a while, I'll ask for an appointment back at the surgery. Wary of wasting time by making an extra appointment-they're difficult to get at the best of times.

I've had breast cancer.
What you are looking for are changes to your normal.
If you are premenopausal it's much harder to check your breasts because they vary throughout the cycle. You need to pick a day and set a reminder so you do it once every 28 days if that's your cycle or monthly if post menopause.
With a flat hand feel all angles of your breast and armpits. If they are lumpy get to know where the lumps are. You are looking for something that's different to what you felt 28, 30 or whatever days ago.
Look in a mirror. Look for a change in the way they hang or change in the skin, puckering or dimpling. Again look for what's different from last time.
Hope you have got your appointment through. When you go to the breast clinic ask if they can talk you through a self check.

@Bothy Sorry to hear you had breast cancer but thank you for your response. Really useful to hear from someone with experience in this area.

I was seen by the breast clinic. I was examined then sent for a mammogram and an ultrasound. At every step, they confirmed to me that they could not see or feel anything untoward. The breast Dr was surprised that the GP had been so adamant that there was a problem. He checked the referral notes and told me he would respond to the GP directly. He didn't say the GP was wrong, but he did say that whatever they felt did not present during examination and was nothing I need to be concerned about. The nurse chaperone was more candid and told me the GP was talking nonsense and should know better.

I asked about how to check properly, and was told similar to your own advice and that if I check regularly, I'll become confident in what I'm feeling and being more aware of changes if they develop.

I asked them what the initial itchiness could be caused by and they referred me back to my GP. After the stress of the last visit, I think I'll just live with it for a while, keep moisturising and hope I don't end up absent mindedly scratching in full view of anyone.

https://knowyourlemons.org/