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?

Mine did yes. If they call, even better. You can negotiate an earlier appointment!

If it helps this is how the breast clinic works.

In July 2019 I found a lump which turned out to be cancer. I had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy.
The breast clinic is a one stop shop. They have doctors, radiologists and specialist breast care nurses. You will probably have a mammogram first and then see the doctor who will have the results in front of her. The doctor will examine you and then arrange an ultrasound. They may do a biopsy at that point as well.
Then you go back in to see the doctor.
Their expertise is such that they often know at this point whether it’s cancer and they will tell you if they think it’s likely, they won’t send you home without a clue.
This can easily take 3 or 4 hours but at the end you have a good idea what’s wrong.

I had been twice before with a painful breast and it was nothing serious. Pain isn't usually a symptom of BC but it can be.
I would ring the clinic a few days after the referral and they will confirm they have it and give you an idea how long it will be. Take someone with you.

Thank you everyone for your information about how the clinic worse, it gives me a good idea to know what I'm going in to.

The hospital called today and my appointment is next Friday at 9:30am. Nothing earlier than then at the minute 🥺

I don't have a positive story I'm afraid. I had no lumps or anything and scans were clear, but after exploratory surgery it turns out I have invasive breast cancer. Booked in for a mastectomy on Monday. I'm scared. I hope yours turns out to be benign.

I saw the GP with breast pain and she told me that cancer doesn’t usually present with pain so fingers crossed it’s just a benign lump

@FekkinFedUpim so sorry to hear this! Sending you so much love and strength for your op x

Yes, my consultant told me that if you have pain, it's highly unlikely to be cancer. I had no pain. I have cancer.

So sorry to hear that

Fun fact that I found out last night - did you know that if you have cancer, then from the day you're diagnosed and for the rest of your life, you're classed as disabled?

I’m so very sorry to read this.

Handhold please - My appointment at the breast clinic is tomorrow and I just feel so anxious and sick I can barely function. I've just convinced myself it's going to be BC and that they won't be able to treat it and I'm going to leave my children 😭 today is going to feel the longest day.

Just to say I had a lump and it turned out just to be a cyst. It’s the most likely outcome. Even if it is BC (unlikely) it sounds tiny and treatable. Try to distract yourself -easier said than done I know. What are your plans today? Try and keep busy. Practice some breathing exercises too, to keep calm.

@Tryingtobegreenfingeredthank you for responding xx I'm at home with my 6 year old today, it was her birthday yesterday so we will be spending the day setting up all her presents I suppose 😆

Have a lovely day with your wee girl 🤗. Maybe try and meet up with a friend -distraction!

@Tryingtobegreenfingeredthank you xx

Bless you. The overwhelming likelihood is that it is just a cyst. And even if not, then it will be sorted out. You have acted quickly. Hang in there for the remaining 24 hours.

@loulouljhI can't help but think leaving the pain for a month before noticing the lump and booking a GP appointment isn't acting quickly 🥺

Thinking of you ❤

Thank you @Pinpanpin. I'm home now- I had the examination with a breast surgeon and then an ultrasound. The ultrasound did not show any defined lump or any cysts/fibroadenomas but fibro cucstic glandular tissue was found. The surgeon afterwards still wanted to do a biopsy however just for 100% certainty (although I don't know how they biopsy when there isn't a lump). I had 4 core biopsies done and now just need to wait for the results.

The surgeon told me he is not worried but my health anxiety hates the uncertainly of waiting for biopsy results and I question why if there was no lump I needed a biopsy. Is there something else to worry about 🥺

Hi @Justamuma- this sounds like great news. I have had biopsies before when they are not worried. I think it is so that they can a) be absolutely sure to give you peace of mind and b) be able to diagnose what is going on. In my experience and my wider circle, if they have any concern at all, they will voice it so as not to mismanage expectations.

@BoilingHotand50somethingi really appreciate that insight thank you so much

I have health anxiety too, so I understand how it feels, but I think even if the waiting is not great, at least the "what ifs" will disappear because you know they really checked everything.

I think the news today is great, and I don't think you should be worried. The surgeon won't say that if he was not 99% sure. They don't want you to come back and say, "But you told me..."

Try to distract yourself, and you will see how soon you will have good news :)

It really does sound like great news. I don’t think a breast surgeon who is looking for this specific thing day in day out would say he wasn’t worried unless he was really confident it was nothing. I would agree with a previous poster than they tend to really err on the side of caution in giving any reassurance if they are uncertain. His weight of opinion coupled with the ultrasound carries so much more weight than any reassurance we could ever give you. The biopsy will give you 100% confidence which will matter alot if it’s painful again and your health anxiety takes over. I am saying that as someone who has terrible health anxiety too.

Thank you ladies- I really want to feel relieved that the ultrasound didn't show anything and that the consultant wasn't worried but I just can't shake the feeling of 'why biopsy if there's nothing there' . If the biopsy came back positive, would that mean early stage because there isn't a lump or would it mean another type of cancer. Health anxiety is horrendous :(

From the ultrasound they have a pretty good idea of what's what - this is their area of expertise. The biopsy really is a precautionary measure - you're already at the clinic, so they may as well tick every box and then you can be certain there's nothing there.