Found a lump in my breast - handhold please

[Justamuma]

I am 36 and a 30G so quite busty and Ive Been having some pain at the side of my left breast for around 4 weeks that at first I thought was ligament strain as it appeared to be after exercise. It started as electric type pain in the side of my breast, particularly when I took my bra off at night but then it started becoming generally sore when I pressed that area of brushed against it. This time I couldn't really feel any lumps.

fast forward to this weekend and as the pain is still there when I press I thought I'd do another breast examination and I can feel a lump in the spot that is sore when I press quite deeply It doesn't feel marble or pea like and round and I can't move it but there definitely feels like a knotty style lump/collection of lumps compared to my other side.

my stomach fell through the floor and now I am petrified this is cancer. I obviously can't do anything until Monday morning when I can call the GP but I'm kicking myself for not going to get seen when it started being sore. I've got two young kids and I'm petrified they are going to be left without a mum. I have awful health anxiety as it is.

Can anyone provide any positive stories or just a handhold to get me through to Monday?

Here ready to hold your hand. Don’t beat yourself up about waiting. The advice used to be that you should wait a cycle to see what happens with painful breasts. Not sure if that is still the case. But either way, don’t worry about the slight delay. I have had many lumps - some painful ones I could feel, others seen on mammograms / MRIs. Each time I have been lucky enough to be diagnosed with something benign following biopsies. Your GP should refer you to a one stop clinic where they will often given you a view there and then of what they think it might be. There is nothing I can say to stop you worrying until you get to the clinic but please just know that the vast majority of lumps are benign, and if it should be cancer, treatments are generally very effective.

Yes, I can provide a positive story. I felt a lump, didnt do anything for ages and then it got much bigger. I felt the same as you, and the 2 weeks wait seemed to last forever.

I had a "breast mouse" which has a proper name which I cant remeber. The mouse isnt anything worrying.

I also had about 6 cysts, one of which they drained. They biopsied the breadt mouse. All was fine, had a follow up 6 months later to check the mouse hadnt grown.

Last night I felt a lumpy area, and cant remember where the mouse was. And feel exactly the same with the anxiety, but am going to refuse to engage with the negative thoughts this time. As the worry wont make a diff to the outcome.

I wanted to preface this by saying of course get checked but I recently discovered that I have a whole selection of knotty like breast tissue at the side of my boobs. It can often get sore on one or other side if I have had my bra strap even slightly tighter on that side or have adjusted my bra. It like the rib gets slightly compressed and then inflames the breast tissue above it. It would become much more noticeable when I took my bra off and the unsupported breast dropped slightly and pulled down the inflamed area slightly.I get that exact electric shock type of pain. If I then did a breast check I would find tender little rounded lumps and some feel more prominent than others. I also have more of this knotty area on one side than other.
Are you sure that you don’t have a bit of the same knotty breast tissue that feels the same texture as on the other side but you are not focusing on because is not tender? When I put one hand on each side at the same time they really did feel very similar but because one side was sore I pressed that side loads harder and found areas that I also had on the other side but they were not inflamed so not so easy to find.
I have had mine checked numerous times it feels like wavy oval ridges and little round areas that hurt if I press on them and sometimes one of the little rounded areas feels definitely tender if I press on it and have been told so many times over the years that it is just normal breast tissue. I have made it feel super lumpy and very sore when I have been panicking and checked loads. It has also been ultrasounded and I have a clear mammogram. It often reoccurs if I get a new bra, adjust the settings on my bra wear a more compressing sports bra but now I know what it is.
Of course get checked but to get you through the weekend what you describe does sound very familiar to me.

@Lotus717this sounds exactly the same as what I've felt to be honest so thank you for sharing your experiences. They do feel slightly ropey on both sides but definitely on the sore left side there's more in the way of a more prominent rope/lump if that makes sense.

@AmserGwelythank you for sharing your story with me and I'm also sending positive vibes to you that all is fine again this time round!

With mine I also have the odd elongated ridge that feels bigger on the left and my rib underneath also feels tender. I think the soft tissue tenderness underneath kind of pushes the breast tissue closer to the surface. Hopefully it will just be something similar for you. Try not to worry

I know how scared you are right now but going to see the GP is the first step. They will then refer you for to the breast clinic for a one stop shop appointment which will include a mammogram and an ultrasound of your breast. I have been where you are on several occasions. I have had biopsies taken and thankfully all was well though I did have to have one benign lump removed and all went well with that as well. Try to remember that most lumps are non cancerous but you are doing the right thing in getting it checked. You will be okay and as I said the breast clinic will look after you. Please let us know how you get on and sending you my very best wishes.

Another positive story here. Felt a lump whilst in the shower 3 weeks ago. - GP agreed it needed to be checked out. On Monday I was in the breast clinic having x-rays and ultrasound. All clear-I just have 'lumpy breasts'. This is the third time I have been through this procedure - it's still alarming but the biggest factor for me to remember is that I MUST remember to do the breast check in the shower. I could not feel my latest jump at all without shower gel. It's pointless saying try not to worry OP - just get it seen to. X

I’m actually going through breast cancer treatment at the moment. Breast cancer is highly treatable and survival rates are high and new and improved treatments are out there. I was worried like you (I found a lump) but 10 year survival rates are in the high 90%s, I’m not worried I’m going to leave my child orphaned.
one in 7 women will get breast cancer in their lives which was a statistic which shocked me.
The were brilliant at the breast clinic and were able to tell me from the mammogram and ultrasound that it was cancer.
so - I hope did the best outcome for you but if it sadly is cancer don’t despair

@newmonthnewmethank you so much for sharing your story with me and your positivity is remarkable! I wish you all the best with your treatement ❤️

I had a breast issue, saw the GP and two weeks later I was at the breast clinic. They found a lump I didn't know about (the original issue was just a blocked duct), did biopsies and booked me in for one week later for results. I went back after a week and they said it wasn't cancer but would come out anyway in case it changed down the line. One month to the day from the original GP appointment I had the lump removed. It's been a straightforward recovery and the whole process was quick and smooth. I actually feel I'm better off than before because I've just been thoroughly checked out!

@Fleecythank you for sharing your positive story with me!

managed to get a GP appointment this morning and I'm petrified 🥺

They will probably just examine you and then give you a fast track referral. In our area, fast track is standard and nothing to worry about. I believe that's guidance throughout the country. Also, I saw somewhere on MN that 9 out of 10 women referred to the breast clinic have something completely benign, such as a cyst.

The GP examined both breasts and said that they are very generally dense and nodular but did feel the lump I mentioned on the left. She said that it was pea sized, firm but movable. I've been referred to the breast clinic on the 2 week wait. The long, petrified wait continues now 🥺 I don't know whether to book a private one stop breast clinic but it's £500 I don't really have.

Honestly, they'll check everything out at the clinic and two weeks isn't long in the grand scheme of things. I know it seems a long time to wait, but nothing is likely to change during that time.

If your breast tissue is dense, it's even more likely to be nothing to worry about. It's good that we do get referred and that they are thorough.

They will be quick, OP. I had the same, they found 4 lumps across two breasts. I was referred on the two week wait on the Thursday. I got a phone call on the Friday, for an appointment the following Tuesday. They did the scan and tests at the hospital and gave me the results the same day. In my case, it was just glandular tissue.

Thinking of you. It’s an uncomfortable wait but they are quick xx

Hi Op, I am not a doctor and I can only pass on my experience.

But I've had the exact same thing you describe twice.

First time I was also 36 and went through the NHS system. All benign. Hormonal cysts.

Second time age 47 I went to the one stop private. It was hormonal cysts, hence the electric shock pain I was getting. Both times GP/nurse found a lump. Both times it was a cyst.

@Justamuma Just offering support here. I’ve been to the one stop clinic multiple times as I have dense, lumpy breast tissue plus a family history of breast cancer. The wait is difficult (I also even find the wait for my annual family history clinic mammogram difficult when asymptomatic) but for most people the outcome will be positive.

I’m lucky in that nothing has been found so far. Every time I have been, however, I have absolutely catastrophised and persuaded myself something was definitely wrong. After many years, I’m now slightly better at waits like this - I used to think that if they didn’t think something was wrong, they wouldn’t have sent me, but now I genuinely understand that they have to be cautious and while most breast lumps are benign, the GP simply can’t tell from having a feel.

The only time I’ve been to the GP about a lump and not been referred was when they were very confident it was a gland. They explained and showed me how it was one gland on a line of glands, and could feel it on both sides. Every other time (perhaps five) I’ve been referred.

Thank you so much for this everyone. I just can't shake the feeling they are going to tell me the lump is cancerous 🥺

Just wanted to offer support as I’ve been through this twice - was benign both times. I called the breast clinic as soon as I got the appointment and on both occasions got offered an earlier appointment. I made myself sick with the anxiety. But you will get answers on the day and it’s more likely than not to be something benign. You sound very body aware and that’s great as you’ve picked straight up on it. Good luck with it all. I know how you’re feeling and the anxiety is off the scale. I could barely function. Sending positive vibes.

@CatsForLifeI really appreciate you messaging, thank you so much. I've still not had an appointment through yet but it's only been 3 days. It feels like a lifetime though!

As soon it comes through, call them. Mine arrived in the post on a Friday for about ten days ahead. I called about any earlier appointments and they saw me at 9am on the Monday. I totally understand. It’s horrible and you’re through the floor. Another day nearer getting answers.

@CatsForLifedoes it usually come through in the post? I was waiting for a phone call but never considered a letter!

I've just come through the bulk of breast cancer treatment. Most cancers don't hurt so it's probably not that at all.

And even if it is. Most are 💯 curable I worked all the way through chemo etc abd mine was advanced. It's not how it used to be , nor how it's portrayed in films.

I’ve literally just had the wait you’re having and have been told it’s benign. Really feel for you as it’s so easy to catastrophise. Most lumps end up being non cancerous.

Chat GPT counselled me throughout, it was really useful in calming me down a bit.

I had to have a biopsy, hopefully you won’t even need that.