29 weeks - found two lumps?

[whatthehek]

Hello

So yeah, as title says really. Looking to see if anyone else has had a similar problem.

29 weeks with my third child. Last week found a lump in my armpit. Started off a small pea size, has since gotten bigger. It is painless but solid.

I went to see a doctor yesterday, he said to not worry but if it was still there in 3 weeks to go back.

I've since found one on the side of my chest on the opposite side.

I've never had anything like this with previous pregnancies (although I know every one is different.) I think the fact they are just painless and existing there freaks me out a bit...

Any advice welcome :)

I’m so sorry, how stressful for you. As you have found a second lump, I would go back to the GP again sooner rather than later. I really hope it’s nothing to worry about x

I found a lump when about 36 weeks pregnant. It was much bigger than a pea, though! It was the size of a golf ball!

I was referred to the hospital but given the timing, I opted to go private. It turned out to be a benign cyst that they drained. The relief was immense!

I think I'd ask for a referral in your shoes, although the fact there's one on both sides perhaps suggests it's less likely to be anything sinister! But it's not a good time to be worrying, and obviously time is a factor when you're pregnant!

Thank you both for your replies.

I'm all honesty, if I could go private I would. I don't have money for that unfortunately.

Although the GP was nice, I felt a bit silly for going. He didn't really have an explanation for it but just said not to worry...

When I initially requested an appointment, the receptionist spoke to a doctor about it very briefly. They had said because I'm young it wouldn't be anything. I thought that was a rather odd thing to say considering neither of them knew my age and the doctor in question didn't even see me! 😂

It has put me off going back especially when I didn't want to go in the first place 🥴

In all honesty*

In fairness, my appointment to the hospital came through for two weeks later, which would have been fine time-wise (just) so I could have waited (and saved £650!)...

I think you have grounds to go back as you've found another, so it's not just you going back with the same thing. Ask to see another doctor too for a fresh pair of eyes. It's probably nothing but I think lumps are one of those things not to be messed around with.

Be pushy with the gp - stuff like this, people being fobbed off, annoys me so much!! Get an urgent appointment, be pushy. Good luck x

I think I have to learn somehow how to be pushy 😂

My mum came to the appointment with me, I think even she was put on the back foot by what he said. Speaking to her later that evening she was questioning it. When I told her this morning that I had found another she said outright that she wasn't happy about it and that I'm going back on Monday.

Her FIL has recently been diagnosed with cancer and he ignored symptoms for two years. His has spread to his bones so I think the panic is high for anything like that.

I told a friend of mine first and she was very dismissive.

Not sure why I'm writing any of this 😂 sorry!

Any tips on how to be pushy for the appointment would be greatly appreciated! 😂 (I am a massive pushover with zero confidence). Just for context I'm 28 which may be why doctors aren't worried.

Hi @whatthehek. Please go back to the GP immediately and ask for an urgent two-week referral.

I don't want to scare you, please keep in mind it is VERY likely nothing and totally benign, but your post has been playing on my mind and I couldn't not say anything. My husband had a similar experience, and for him, he was was of the very unlucky few for whom his painless but growing lump in his armpit was Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He got treated quickly once diagnosed and is completely recovered now. However, HL and non-HL is more prevalent in young people, and he too was fobbed off at the GP 3 times over the course of 6 months before getting a referral because he was wrongly told, 'you're young and it's probably nothing.' They may ask you if you have any 'B symptoms' (night sweats, itchiness all over). My husband didn't have these, just the lump.

If only for peace of mind, go back to the GP. Wishing you well, WD x

Oh and in terms of being pushy, tell them this is affecting your health in general, you are pregnant and it is causing you unnecessary anxiety, you know lymphoma is a possible cause and one which is prevalent in young people of your age, and you really need to know either way to give you peace of mind. Bring your mum with you again and have her back you up. If they still refuse say you would like to speak with the practice manager.

Good luck, WD x

I would definitely go back to have it checked out but I had similar in my armpit but marble sized and slightly sore. GP had an explanation for it which I've completely forgotten and it went down after a few days.

Hello @WhiteDenim

Thank you for sharing. I'm sorry you all went through that and glad he has recovered.

It is something I've thought about. The first person I told was my nan. She asked where it was and as soon as I said it was my armpit she told me her mother had Non- Hodgkin's. We also have a different type of cancer on my grandads side of the family. Not sure if family history comes into it at all. I had seen that it can be common in younger people, so to be told not to be concerned due to how young I looked made me lose confidence in them.

Why on earth do they fob people off like they did with your husband? That worries me. I've always had little faith in GPs.

I'll be honest, I don't want to go back. I feel so stupid. But yeah, you're right. It's playing on my mind. I feel tired and drained and I know that's because I'm thinking about it despite trying to push it to the back of my mind.

I totally understand. They shouldn't make you feel like this. The practice gets punished in some way by the NHS if they send too many 'urgent' referrals which turn out not to be anything (the GP even said, when he eventually referred my husband, 'I'm probably going to get told off for this.' well, yes, he probably did, but for waiting too long!). I think that's why they are reticent to refer - and to be fair, 99 times out of 100, they are right. It's nothing.

I understand you don't want to go back, but if I have learned anything from our experience, it's that you need to. I wish we'd gone back sooner. I wish we'd been pushier. The longer these things are left, if it is something nasty, the worse it gets, and the more invasive and protracted the treatment.

Where in the country are you? Do you feel otherwise 'off', exhausted, like you're coming down with something? x

Please also mention your family history too. This will give them another reason to refer. X

The chances are it’s nothing to worry about, especially given your age. But it’s certainly not something to take a gamble with. I have a friend who had breast cancer at 30 and know quite a few ladies who have had it in their early thirties. You’d rather feel a bit silly than risk being one of the unlucky few.

Are there other GPs at the surgery? Or is there a different surgery you could switch to? It’s so hard when you’re not naturally a pushy person.

I'm in South East. Almost 2 months ago I had what felt like the flu, was really really unwell for about a week to the point I had to have help looking after my children. Since then I've had a really bad cough which has been persistent. I also mentioned that but he didn't say anything. It's difficult to try and separate what feels unusual and what's expected due to being pregnant. I am extremely exhausted but again put that down to pregnancy.

My GP surgery is huge so the chances of me seeing the same doctor again are very slim anyway. It's pot luck over there pretty much.

Could the horrid illness you had have been glandular fever? There is a slight correlation between people who have had that and go on to get Hodgkin's Lymphoma. I should stress again - PLENTY of people get glandular fever (Epstein Barr) and do not go on to get HL. It's just another thing to mention to your GP, along with the exhaustion (even though you're pregnant). I hope you do go back.

No, it definitely wasn't glandular fever. I'll try and ask for an emergency appointment Monday but not holding my breath. 🥴

Go to an urgent care centre attached to a hospital and show them and tell them you can’t get a GP appt. They may refer you straight to a consultant

Thank you @Teddybear45 :)

It is ridiculous for them to dismiss it because you are young. I was sent for a mammogram when I had found a lump years before I turned 28.

Go back and really push OP, but also it might be worth talking to your hospital antenatal unit? If they are concerned they may refer you to someone at the hospital directly.

Sorry this is so stressful for you OP, and try not to worry too much as it may well be a benign cyst but they shouldn't be dismissing it like this.

I'm prone to these underarm. Mines are hormone related.

I had one in my neck, firm pea sized, no pain. Got bloods taken & an ultrasound to check for lymphoma. Between app I found one on my groin & went straight back. My surgery is like yours (most of them are s**t tbh) just your luck as to who you get.

My lymph nodes were just swollen from having a heavy cold a while before & everything was fine. Took months to go down right enough.

Since you've found another I wouldn't hesitate to go back. It probably is your lymph fighting the flu you've had & your immune system will be low just now but don't want to rely on it probably being nothing.
It will be swollen to fight something. I'd definitely go back & get your mind put at rest. You might be lucky and get a different dr who will refer you.

I spoke to my midwife about it and she told me to get an emergency appointment, which I did. Haven't spoken to her since as this was only Thursday - due to see her next week.

I don't seem to have fully recovered from that period of being unwell. It really did knock me for six. I rarely get sick. But the exhaustion has been awful since, plus the cough. Who has a bloody cough for almost 2 months?! I was surprised the GP ignored that actually.

I was shocked how I was dismissed prior to making the appointment about my age. Basing it on how I look without asking my age. (I look younger than I am 🥴). It's terrible advice to give people.