Lump in breast confirmed...

[NGC2017]

And im terrified. I've been fast tracked to an appointment at the breast clinic this Sunday.
Everytime I stop, I want to cry. Most of the time I do.

Does anyone have their own story?

Here you go, this explains it better than me:

www.nhs.uk/conditions/predictive-genetic-tests-cancer/

I have no breast issue history, but just wanted to say, this is what Mumsnet does best, total strangers, women supporting other women.

Good luck op. There's a lot of people rooting for a good result for you and a lot of comfort to be gleaned from these posts. 💐💐💐

@BadBadBeans thank you for this information.
Today I have to say I do feel better. It's not consuming my thoughts so much as all responses I have received have been positive which is making me want to stay positive. I know I am fearing the worst and I shouldn't, but I suspect that's down to the fact I am on my own with a 4 year old son. I am going to see how Sunday goes and ask questions. It was my Aunt (my Mom's sister) that had Breast cancer in her 30's and had her breasts removed. My Mom has always suffered with very lumpy breasts (her mammogram is next weekend) and my sister had a deformation where one didnt grow so she basically had an A and an E Cup so shes had to have surgery.

Thank you once again for all the positive responses. You have really helped me x

I totally get the parent thing too, although can only imagine how it is magnified by being a single parent. I have a 2 year old and one of the lumps I found was when he was four weeks old! I was in bits! But after a number of episodes where I have had breast problems and consequently worried myself sick imagining the future, I now try very hard to leave most of my worrying until I know for sure that there is something to worry about.

Probably if they did offer genetic testing for your family then they would test your aunt first, then test your mum. Because if your aunt has a gene mutation but your mum doesn't, then you won't have it either, so that would entirely rule out a genetic risk for you. But if your mum did have it then there is a 50% chance of you and your sister having the same gene. That is a lot of ifs,

Sorry, phone is on the blink! That is a lot of ifs, and only 5-10% of breast cancers are thought to be hereditary anyway.

Really glad you are feeling a bit brighter. Sunday isn't far away! X

I was tested for the BRCA gene as I had triple negative breast cancer in my thirties, even though I have no family history whatsoever.

I don't think they will test you unless you have a very strong family history (multiple members getting it young) or you have breast cancer at a young age yourself. I think you can pay privately but its very expensive. As a PP said, only about 10% of breast cancers can be attributed to the BRCA gene, although they are discovering more and more genes which could be linked and soon these will widely be tested as well. Many people who have strong family history test negative for BRCA and some people who have no family history test positive.

@NGC2017 I'm feeling for you, I'm waiting for a clinic appointment too but mine's still 12 days away. The threads I've read on here have been very reassuring though, the chances of lumps being benign are so high. I like to think of it in that positive light...doesn't always help in the early morning when i'm up worrying though! my kids are 8 and 10

Sorry to hear that @Custardee.
Well I came home yesterday to a letter asking me to attend the rapid access clinic on 4th December. I called and ask why the Doctors gave me one for sunday. I was told it should have been explained tome that that was a holding appointment and my actual appointment is 4th December. I asked if I can get in sooner and she said it was their first rapid access appointment. So now a longer wait and more time to worry.
I agree though all comments have been reassuring which is helping. But I am exhausted as I can't seem to switch off x

oh no, what a shame - they should've made that clear from the start. Mine is 5th Dec. i do think if the GP is worried that the lump feels irregular when they palpate it they can recommend for an appointment the next week...and so i'm taking comfort from the fact mine hasn't been that quick. GP did say mine feels like a cyst because it's smooth. I haven't had pain like yours, just more slightly tender.

It's really hard to switch off from it, I had a really busy day yesterday which helped, can you keep yourself busy? Having a little one at home probably does that!

My DH is really squeamish about any health things and also doesn't like talking about any health stuff so he's saying nothing and I don't feel I can tell him if I'm worrying.
Have you got someone you can talk to? xx

No @Custardee which is why I come on here. I find it really helps.
My Doctor just said we need to get that checked straight away so I couldn't really gauge her thoughts. I haven't been able to wear a bra for weeks now and when I run I have to hold my chest as my left breast really hurts.
My DS does keep me occupied but he has been misbehaving for the past days at school which I have absolutely no explanation for. I'm upset that I may be so worried about this that I am missing something going on but nothing has really changed at all for him to be acting up and he isn't aware of my worries as I have always been very conscious of not making him aware x

You sound like you're really conscious of keeping it all from your DS, it'll most likely be unrelated, my 2 are acting up just now, I think it's tiredness and the clocks changing -it always upsets their rhythm!!

Here to chat, I have told a couple of close friends, but it's like they've forgotten or don't really care, to be honest. In fact one of them had a conversation on whatspp with the other 2 of us about her friend that died from breast cancer. I'm probably being way oversensitive but I could've done with her at least acknowledging i'm worrying about it.

That is very frustrating - why on earth give you a date if it isn't a real appointment? I would be tempted to phone the clinic first thing Sunday morning to double check you aren't on the system for that day.

@Custardee the lump that I had biopsied was very smooth and they did say at the time that that was a good sign. Good luck!

I have actually just got my mum's genetic testing results back and it turned out she did have a BRCA2 fault, so now I need to be tested, with some big decisions ahead if I have it too. I feel very grateful that we have access to such amazing technology and medicine though, that will give me options to do things to protect myself as best I can if I do have it. Bit of a rollercoaster of emotions!

God that's awful. I've told two friends. Both supportive, but the one is over positive if that makes sense which can make me feel like I am being silly.

As for my DS it's just added a different angle to my upset as I cannot believe what I am hearing. He is aware too as he comes out crying telling and pleading how sorry he is. But it is so out of his character. Its never nice to hear your child is being disruptive and having to be moved and has hit two children in the last 2 days. Usually I am being told how caring and kind he is. I know he would never do anything like that with out a reason but I am now worried as he is telling me he feels sad inside😢

As much as it takes my mind off the wait I am upset for the way he is feeling and his actions as he is not a naughty or aggressive child whatsoever

I've been to the breast clinic three times with lumps. They were all benign. The waiting is horrible but you do get through it.

@BadBadBeans although more worry you must feel relieved to be moving forward knowing now. When will your next tests be?
I've had trouble with my left breast for years and years now. I don't have big boobs but I wouldn't miss them if they weren't there. They cause too much worry

Oh your wee DS, that must be so hard to hear 😥 How old is he, Does he talk to you? Hope you have a good weekend with him, have you anything planned? We are going to see the Grinch tomorrow.

@BadBadBeans having information is definitely a good thing, hope you get the next lot of tests through quickly.

His 4 @custardee. He does talk to me but when he is upset you can't get any sense out of him. Even his teacher said how out of character it is. My DS is normally on the other scale of things, I am never short of people complimenting what a lovely little boy his is, and how kind and caring he is. To hear he has hit out is disappointing. But, and I'm not a mom who can see no wrong in my child, I can't help but feel there will be an underlying reason, and there was. Basically my son was building and 2 boys kept saying they were going to know his tower down. He told them no as he was building his tower then others joined in telling the one boy to knock it down. This resulted in my son hitting out because he felt they were being nasty. And yesterday there is a boy who gets too close to him and he doesn't like it. I keep telling him to speak up but he won't as he gets followed everywhere by this boy. We'll unfortunately he had had enough of him constantly trying to kiss him and his pushed him yesterday. My DS is aware of his bad behaviour and keeps apologising but I need him to understand his reactions aren't acceptable but I am glad that there is a reason behind it and it's not just naughtiness.
We have nothing planned as yet, just his swimming. End of the month money gets tight. The Grinch is on our list to go and see though.

Bless him, he sounds like he's got a great conscience for a 4 yr old, if he knows he's done wrong and feels bad about it that's great for his age. He's still very young and learning how to deal with people being difficult is something they all have to do, but it's hard....could you tell the teacher so she can watch out for it and help your DS by intervening earlier? Anything is going to feel a bigger worry just now when you've got so much on your plate, enjoy time and cuddles with him this weekend xx

Ahh your ds sounds lovely, at least he knows he has done wrong, some 4 year olds wither don’t or won’t admit it.
Does the teacher know about these boys annoying him? She needs to k ow, especially about the boy who keeps following him and trying to kiss him, that would be so frustrating to put up with. The teacher obviously knows your Dd is usually lively so she’ll want to know if something is upsetting him.

Not sure if this is helpful but sitting here 18 months after a left breast mastectomy, Diep flap reconstruction and right breast reduction to say, Whatever happens, you do get through this stuff. But I hope yours will turn out to be nothing.

@BillyWilliamV to be honest it's reassuring also to hear from someone who is here to tell the tale. I am so glad you are

@Custardee and @LizzieSiddal

Thank you. He is a lovely boy and is so aware of his wrongdoing. I met with his teacher yesterday and we tried to make sense of him but he really was so so upset. I only really made sense of him once he had a few hours of not talking about it which is when he told me what happened. He has never been harmful to anyone, even when he was younger and you expect it more. His teacher said it is so out of character so has asked me to see if something is upsetting him. Me and my DS have a very close relationship, I'm his favourite person in the world (he tells everyone lol) (which also makes me more scared about my lump) anyway I knew he wouldnt have done it if there wasn't a reason and now I have found out why. I'm just sad i wasn't given the full story as though it is not acceptable to hit out, kids were being nasty and telling him they were going to knock down his tower that he was building. I know this would upset him as he takes such pride in what he does. I really don't have reason to not believe him and everything he tells me about school his teacher has confirmed it's all true.
As for his personal space being invaded, yes she is aware of this and has told the boy on many occasions. Unfortunately it got too much for my son on Thursday as he really does not like it.
We will get to the bottom of it as he really isn't a bad boy. He had a bedtime story night at school on Thursday and the little boy he hurt was there with him and they sat together. They were all in their pyjamas and took bears in but this little boy didn't have a Teddy. My son told me how he really loved his puggy bear and if it was OK if he could ask Santa to bring him one for Christmas. I thought that was so sweet x

That really is sweet 💙

Did you double check with the clinic today or are you waiting for the 4th now? Hope the waiting isn't going too slowly.