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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

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Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

General health

have lump in breast - told it will be treated as 'non urgent' as I am breastfeeding.

40 replies

pofacedandproud · 07/08/2009 00:42

Went to gp yesterday about lump in breast I've felt for a few weeks. It is tender around the area too and she said it might be mastitis. I've had mastitis a few times and know how it feels. This doesn't feel like that. She rang the breast specialist at the hospital who suggesting putting a needle in it at the doctors surgery [by gp not by specialist]not quite sure why, but to see if anything came out of it Don't fancy that at all so she has referred me but said 'non urgently' Feel a bit concerned. I know they think I'm a hypochondriac, I've been to the breast clinic before and they found a cyst [same breast] and I've also had palpitations earlier this year and was referred to cardiologist [i cancelled as palpitations went on for 2 months then stopped]

Should I just wait for a non urgent appt? Any way I can push for a quicker referral?

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pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 23:17

big!

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pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 23:16

it is not as bit as a golf ball - a marble i'd say. Quite close to under nipple, slightly to the side..

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poppy34 · 08/08/2009 21:57

Sounds like could be glactaceole (which is blocked duct that won't go) which is my problem. Is it a golf ball type lump near the nipple?

pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 21:33

yes have tried massage etc. Has worked with previous mastitis.

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lou031205 · 08/08/2009 20:01

I take it you are sure it isn't a blocked duct? Have you tried a warm bath or warm flannel on your breast & massage towards the nipple?

pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 18:22

yes i've had the needle in the past [shudder!] I don't mind someone experienced doing it if need be. I just don't know if the lump is painful or the area, iyswim.

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lou031205 · 08/08/2009 18:06

Pain is a reassuring sign, malignancies are often painless. Cysts can be huge, and a large lump which has only appeared very recently is more likely to be a cyst. Tbh, if you attended the clinic I used to work in (Rapid access gold standard breast clinic) the first thing they would do is stick a needle in. Fluid out, lump disappears = cyst. They then send it off to the lab for cytology & the woman gets a result the same afternoon.

pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 18:05

thanks poppy. I'll ring about a private referral monday and see if i can get referred back into the system if so. Glad yours is benign but it does sound a bit scary.

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bigstripeytiger · 08/08/2009 18:03

I had a non urgent referral for a breast lump, and the appointment was 10 days later.

Once you appointment comes through, if it is longer than you think you can wait for you could phone the number on the appointment card and see if they can fit you in sooner.

poppy34 · 08/08/2009 18:02

And sympathies as I worried sick about this til saw doc - if you do get private referral and are in London i thoroughly recommend the breast clinic in Harley street.

poppy34 · 08/08/2009 18:00

Poface I would push for referral to set your mind at rest. I developed a lump when bf with dd and got a private referral as nhs wait was 4 weeks which is long when you are b/f. They did scan and aspiration and found a galactacole. Still being treated a year on (another story) but basically symptom is like slow growing lump (it's not ESP tender so not like mastitis).

pofacedandproud · 08/08/2009 17:48

a breast mouse? Never heard of that! Yes I do hope I get an ultrasound not a mammogram. Can't afford to go private. But will see if I can get a private appt then an NHS ultrsound, don't know if that is possible.

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mummygogo · 08/08/2009 13:43

I would just try and get a referral as soon as they physically can. I was preg and found a lump gp said we could leave it and see what happens in a few weeks but I said I'd rather have someone look at it. It took a couple of weeks and I had a biopsy and ultrasound (I think under 40s have ultrasound rather than mamogram?) Anyway a further couple of weeks and the results came back to say all clear it was a breast mouse.

There are lots of different types of lumps and bumps that you can get in your breast but you are absolutely right to want to get it looked at.

wishingchair · 07/08/2009 22:23

No idea why they are treating you any differently to any other person with a lump. I have a friend who found a lump whilst bf and thankfully her dr did refer her as it was cancer. She is fine now btw ... but possibly wouldn't have been if she hadn't caught it when she did. Not saying this is the same for you but because there's a chance (however slim) I'd push for referral. It's irrelevant how many other referrals you've had ... a person's allowed to have more than one thing going on at the same time!

pofacedandproud · 07/08/2009 21:02

i don't want the needle in the gp's surgery as it is something they are not experienced in doing.

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OrmIrian · 07/08/2009 20:50

They were going to do something though - they offered a needle aspiration. That is clearly the next step. I should just go with that TBH.

FabBakerGirlIsBack · 07/08/2009 20:46

You really ought to have had the needle inserted. I know it isn't pleasant but this is your health.

My friend got breast cancer at 29 with a 6 month old baby. She is fine now, 8 years later.

alardi · 07/08/2009 20:31

I also know someone who was referred for a lump whilst breastfeeding. It WAS examined and initially thought to be benign, but at some point after breastfeeding finished (like a year after the initial investigation), it was realised that it was a very rare (like 0.4%) form of breast cancer. Incredibly unlucky, only risk factor was she had smoked previously.
I still don't know what I would do if I found a lump (I am still bf). Probably not worry because you can't plan life on the basis of very unlikely WhatIfs.

pofacedandproud · 07/08/2009 12:44

glad she is ok now tiredlady.

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pofacedandproud · 07/08/2009 12:44

well obviously that is the worry. I'm trying not to go there at present until I get seen. It is so hard when gps are unwilling to refer you. Originally she suggested me going away for 2 weeks and then coming back But I have had a couple of referrals for other things recently and I think that has gone against me.

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tiredlady · 07/08/2009 12:37

Have thought long and hard before posting as I really don't want to worry you over something that is very probably nothing. But my breastfeeding friend had a lump, was repeatedly told it was mastitis ( even though she said it didn't feel like it) She went back to the doctors on several occasions, eventually someone stuck a needle in it and it turned out to be malignant.
She is fine now, but if you are not happy, either go private or go back to your GP.

Really hope that hasn't freaked you out but, like randomtask, I am now overly paranoid about these things. Best of luck though, and let us know how you get on

randomtask · 07/08/2009 12:35

Do chase them up. It's better to be safe than sorry. If they don't do anything, tell them it's making you stressed and that you might become a 'bad mum' if you keep worrying. Hopefully they'll then push you up the list to settle your mind and not cause you any more stress.

And I don't think you can be over-anxious when it's a lump. Doctors should realise this or there wouldn't be all those TLC adverts....

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Plonketyplonk · 07/08/2009 12:31

I can't remember exactly what they did in the first place. They may have done a needle aspiration, which is a bit like a biopsy but less. There are 3 results, +, -, and unknown. I was in the unknown category. I can't remember if they did a mammogram at that point.

They may be waiting till you have finished bf, as it may well be really uncomfortable having your boobs crushed in the mammogram machine!

They were very very quick when I first went to the breast clinic, largely because I was going away. They were very very quick when I went back too. Please try not to worry about it, and see if you can get an appointment sooner. The tests they do will depend on what they find.

pofacedandproud · 07/08/2009 12:28

thankyou. I know they'll just treat me as over anxious if I go back. But if nothing happens within a couple of weeks I'll have to chase it up or go private.

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randomtask · 07/08/2009 12:25

Go back to your GP and push to become 'urgent'. I know it's probably 'nothing' and that your GP should know what they're doing but breastfeeding is naff all to do with it if it cancerous. If you've got experience of lumps then they should believe you. Could you see a different GP in your practice?

Sorry I know this sounds like I'm paranoid and I don't want to scare you but DH's first wife had that so well, I am paranoid.

Good luck (fingers crossed and prayers said)

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