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?

Not having much breast tissue is different to the density.

Well I don't know then but I wasn't implying anything. But from my own point of view I do think Doctors are very dismissive when it comes to age. Myself along with others have been told you are far too young for that, you are not in the age range to get cancer, so if that's the case why do child, teens, young adults all have it? When I last went to the breast clinic it was not explained to me why I wasn't given a mammogram. He actually hesitated after he heard my history and then said, no you are still too young and aren't in the target age range. Had it have been explained to me like you have I would have understood but he hit me with the age card again

No, it’s very worrying but there are really strict guidelines about the management of breast lumps in hospital breast clinics. It’s because your breast tissue is quite firm still young so the mammogram can’t see through it, in effect. I’m sure you won’t be dismissed because of your age. Ask them to explain properly.

There are lots of different types of cancers. It’s not just one illness which is why children get some cancers, sadly and why there are different types of breast cancers.

@NGC2017 my mum had breast cancer they caught it late -it was the size of a golf hall and she recovered after having her breast off and no chemo or radio 3 years later it hasn't returned
She is on cancer tablets though for rest of life

Thank you @CherryPavlova you have made more sense than doctors have so far. My Gp is the worst. Makes me feel a right nuisance and doesn't explain nothing. Just asks what do i expect him to do.
When I am there next week I'm going to ask some question as I had no idea about the difference in scans

My mother was diagnosed and had a mastectomy nearly twenty years ago. She’s still plodding on at 94years.
I was diagnosed in 2009 but had a lumpectomy and my lymph nodes removed in my armpit. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy which was OK. I’m not intending to pop my clogs just yet. My cancer was not related in any way to my mother having cancer. Hers was about old age.
Most lumps are not cancerous. Most breast cancers are treatable. Just keep that in the front of your mind.

@lyndar that's amazing to hear though. Sorry they caught it late for your mom but I'm pleased to hear she is still around.
I work with man who had bowel cancer in his early 30s. By the time he got himself medical help it was caught very late and he is still here. He is amazing to talk to. And proves positive outcomes do happen.
Last Christmas my best friend sister was diagnosed with a rare cancer in the roof of her mouth. Non smoker, just one of those things. Luckily it hadn't spread and she had to have alot of her mouth cut out and obviously had to learn how to talk again etc. A year on she is doing well but fell into a depression that she feels like for the rest of her life she will be worried about it returning, which is exactly what my colleague has said.
I stupidly overthink things but I really appreciate all comments and support and stories

Write down your questions before and hand them to him/her. Ask the breast nurse to spend time explaining afterwards, if necessary. They’re quite good at putting things from medical speak into everyday English.
Don’t feel a nuisance. It’s important to understand properly and not to be fobbed off.

I think a year on is quite a hard time for many people. You get used to constant appointments, tests and treatments and are then suddenly cut free from it all. It can feel quite frightening to be back in the non cancer world. I think that feeling usually reduces as more time passes. Hope that’s the case for your friend.

Often holding appointments are given because the hospital tries to triage referrals. Sometimes GPs refer for things they should not, or they say someone needs a rapid access when they do not. Triaging like this means a clinician can look over the referral before accepting it. Equally, if someone else was in the queue before you and needed an appt, they may have given your holding slot to them to get them seen within the timeline required (rapid access is two weeks). It's bad that they have you a specific date and then changed it though, shouldn't have given you one at all until it was confirmed really.

One of the consultants at work told me that that cancer is only identified in approx 2% of his referrals. He reckons he can tell from a letter that most of them don't even need to come in! Also that breast issues are covered so well in the media now that women are much more aware of what is normal and what isn't hence they end up crazy busy with referrals.

Hope your appointment goes well, and that it comes around quickly.

Catching up with comments, had tried an early night to try and keep asleep for longer but still up worrying in the night :-(

Writing everything down you want to ask is good advice, and also don't leave til you fully understand what you're being told. I worked as a nurse in the NHS for 20yrs so I'm used to the jargon but still need to double check stuff as each area is so specialised now.

mammograms - @NGC2017 one of the reasons they don't do them for everyone is that, having any type of xray means you are exposed to radiation and that's a risk, even if it's small ....so they need to be able to justify that doing it for that individual would outweigh the risk of exposure to xrays, and if they feel they'd not be able to see anything due to dense breast tissue then they'd be putting you at unnecessary and unjustified risk. Hope that makes sense xx

@Custardee yes that is my understanding of why mammograms aren't usually given to under forties. @NG2017, at my recent genetics appointment I was told that one of my options if I have inherited the BRCA2 gene fault would be yearly MRI screening from the age of 30. (I am currently 33.) That would be because I would have an extremely high (possibly 85%) risk of developing cancer. The MRI screening might be combined with mammograms, but I was told that would depend on whether or not the consultant thought it was worth the risk of radiation - if my breast tissue was still too dense then there wouldn't be any point, as Custardee said. Without the BRCA2 fault diagnosis and just based upon my family history, I would have been invited for mammograms from the age of 40 - no earlier, because of the breast tissue density thing. I must admit it has put the wind up me a bit reading that a PP had a mammogram at 35 and they found something, but I just have to trust that the medical professionals know what they are doing. They wouldn't exclude us from mammograms if they thought they would be worthwhile, I am sure!

I agree with everyone else - I would definitely write down questions you have and take them to your appointment, so that you can make sure you have everything clear in your mind.

Just thought I would update you guys on my itchy/painful below-boob situation. Saw the GP yesterday who was lovely. She thought it was most likely either eczema or a fungal infection, and has prescribed a steroid and anti-fungal combi cream to use for a week to see if it helps - if not, she will see me again. She was very reassuring and pointed out that it wasn't actually on my breast tissue, so she truly didn't think it was anything to worry about. (Still worrying a bit though!)

Sorry guys. Busy busy day today.

Thank you all for educating me as I really don't have a clue. All I know is I am so scared. Only a week to go and I am praying I am just worrying for nothing.

I'm so glad you've been given some reassurance about the itchiness. It can't be easy going through what you are being pregnant.

I felt good yesterday then read a sad story about a young mom who had beat a rare breast cancer but it had now returned and spread. Her son regularly finds her crying and she tells him she has a cold. It's just so sad how we protect out kids from our worries and problems. Her cancer is treatable but now with anything available on the NHS so she is now having to crowd fund. Fancy know your illness is treatable but it's not available to you. Must be terrifying. That just put a sadness on my day and highlighted how many people go though these really hard times.

Today I found out my sons Uncle on his absent dad's side has been diagnosed with cancer. Luckily found early so highly treatable but there is that Rotton word again! Contact with my sons Dad's side is extremely limited. Dad and grandparents have no contact what so ever and his uncle and aunt have contact over social media as they don't talk to him anymore (finally had enough of the person he is). But of course this cancer diagnosis has made DS dad want to meet up with his brother.. Selfishly I am so upset as I have rebuilt our lives after a very abusive past. We have struggled and I mean struggled. We have virtually no money, maintenance doesn't get paid, left in alot of debt, lots of illnesses and a few operations and I've had to battle it all on my own. It's constant crap that I am desperate for a run of better luck. The thought of his dad reconnecting via his brother has worried me. Just to add to my worries of something completely new.

I am actually sick of worrying. The last few weeks I really feel like I've got my shit together. A good routine, house in order, a lovely boy, doing well at work, amazing friends etc. But worrying about everything overtakes my mind every single day

How are we all feeling today? Keeping occupied I hope. Only a week to go xx

I am in the same boat. GP reassured me, sent to clinic as a "just to be safe" referral, thought fibroadenoma. Phoned up to rearrange appointment as they sent it for the one day I'm at the other end of the country (typical), only to be shouted at that I should know better than to cancel a red flagged appointment! Apparently consultant has upgraded it. Which was a lovely way to find out. And now I'm bricking it.

@frogprincess84 sorry to hear this. When I called to rearrange it was because I have entered the territory of not being paid for time off now (my son has alot of medical appts and I too have a few). It's trying to show I am making every effort. I was glad for their advice of not amending the appointment when it had been fast tracked but it also made me feel sick realising shit.
Have you been able to sort it? The waiting is horrible isn't it. I actually feel sick with worry

@NGC2017 yes thankfully I rearranged for next week. If the wait had been very long I would have cancelled but for the sake of a few days, if I'm going to be poked and prodded and god knows what shortly, then I'm damned sure I'm going to have my day away and enjoy myself. It's maybe not what everyone would do inthe circumstances but it's given me something to focus on rather than fretting 24/7. But when I am alone it's very hard not to be overwhelmed - as I'm sure you know x

I don't think anyone on here will judge you for that @frogprincess84. For the sake of a week and a chance to enjoy yourself in the meantime it will do you good.
A big problem for me is I don't get to break off. I've not been able to do anything nice for myself or have a social life for years now due to finances so I end up having time to over think and worry x

NGC 💐 I hope you’re one of the 98.75% of people referred who haven’t got cancer. It’s a really high percentage...if you were offered that chance of winning the lottery you’d be pretty chuffed!

Can you ask your BIL to discourage your ex making contact with you if he talks about it?

I would do everything you can to make sure your DS would go to the person you want him to in the event of you dying. ANY of us could be hit by a bus tomorrow, having something in place is something every parent should do. Obviously, you might already have done this, but just double check you’ve done all you can do.

Your DS sounds lovely, I hope the teachers keep an eye on the others.

Hopefully you can get the ‘all clear’ on this & then continue with having your ‘shit together’ and mif vine forward. You’re doing REALLY well 🌷

BadBadBeans the sore bit under your boob, I get that if I re-wear a bra, especially when my hormones or blood sugars are running high.

It must be very emotional for you, them having found your mum’s tissue to test. I know I’d be a mess if it was my Dad and you’re going through tests and are pregnant, it’s SO much to deal with 🌷

💐& ((hugs)) for everyone.

What a lovely uplifting response, thank you @Iloveautumnleaves

Well anxiety hit bad when I thought I was dying at the beginning of the year. I put in place a Will to learn that as my DS Dad is named on his BC he will automatically get full PR. That just made my anxiety spiral. I got legal advice and was told the same, and was advised against getting a residency order in place as it will start contact again. They told me it was pointless as he has been absent for so long and it wont actually give me any more rights to have my wishes met should I die. So I was left with the option of explicitly stating who my DS guardians are, and ive left a letter (though its unlikely to stand for anything with my reasons). In reality I hope common sense prevails. Should anything happen to me, surely no authoritative/legal body would allow a person who hasn't been present in their child's life for so long just 'take them', but I do know my family and friends would all fight to keep my DS in his routine, around his family and try to disrupt his life as little as possible. Brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it. It's every persons nightmare I imagine.

I had a different hospital appt yesterday and I had to collect my DS 10 minutes early. He hands me and invite to his assembly today as he has been chosen to receive an award. A week ago as you know things were a little different lol, but I knew he isn't an aggressive child, something most definitely will instigate that side of him out. But to say I was proud by this little piece of paper is an understatement. Some of the people I told about him hitting out started making comments 'that i was one of those mom who cant see wrong in her child'. But that's not the case at all. As his Mom I know him better than anyone else. At 4, he just gets upset when he misbehaves. If I dont fight my son's corner and be his voice then who will.
So I went earlier and he received an award for Writer of the Week. He got up and went to the front so proudly, and smiled the whole time. The room was full and I was so worried he would get overwhelmed and upset, but his face lit up when he saw I was their to watch him. He came over at the end and said, 'are you happy Mommy, can I go back to school now please'

I hope @BadBadBeans and @Custardee and feeling ok xxx

aw @NGC2017 that made me well up!! Well done to your DS, that's amazing! Great too that the school have recognised he should have achievements recognised, sounds just what he needed to restore his faith in school.

You have had a really hard time NGC, hope you are looking after yourslef and trying to fit in a few te=reats for yourself, even if it's just to sit down and watch some guilty pleasure TV (mine's Made in Chelsea, love it!!).

I'm doing okay, though last 5 nights I have had palpitations and can feel my heart skiing beats - google tells me it's probably lack of sleep and anxiety/panic attacks.. It's definitely at night that I am worrying - rest of the time I'm so busy I can hardly have time to think about it. We grow Christmas trees so I'm getting ready for our busy season. It's a lovely thing delivering people's trees, I feel like a little elf :-).

Had routine repeat bloods done last week and got a letter to book a routine appointment with the GP to go over them. It was thyroxine levels and female hormone levels they were checking after a few abnormal results the last time. So will wait and see what that brings, but at the moment I'd be delighted if that's all I had to face.

@iloveautumnleaves - thank you for the reassuring stats - in calm moments I totally can see how unlikely my lump is to be anything worrying, it's the night times when it hits me that the 1.3% of people do get bad news.
@badbadbeans, how are you doing? x

NGC I was worried that was the case with DS’s father but didn’t want to make you worry more if you hadn’t thought about that. You have done everything you can to make sure DS would be looked after by who you choose and it sounds like DS would have lots of people in his corner. Hopefully, given how little contact your ex has wanted he wouldn’t want the ‘hassle & responsibility’ anyway, but if he did, hopefully the courts would see sense. It’s a nightmare for everyone yes, it’s hard to imagine your DC in that position irrespective of who would care for them. Anyway, just double check for busses before crossing the road & then we won’t need to worry about that 😊

DS is a little 🌟 isn’t he! Clearly takes after his Mom, a lovely award for both of you to get today.

He’s only little, they don’t have many tools to sort people out that are hassling them, he was pushed and pushed and they weren’t listening and the teachers didn’t see/step in, I really wouldn’t worry too much about him reacting like that.

Oh...and just ignore the gobby idiots telling you that you just think he’s an angel. 🙄

custardee. Let us know when you get these results. I know, it’s not easy not to worry, but just keep reminding yourself it’s a ridiculously low number of the people referred who actually have cancer and that of that number a high percentage do make a full recovery. It’s a numbers game and at this stage the numbers are hugely in your favour. And you know what, that other bastard ‘worry’, he doesn’t give you ANY credits when you’ve been worrying about something in advance, he still expects your full worry quota. He’s an ass.

The nights are the worst 🌷x

So today I think I've had the busiest day in a long time. Some would think that's a blessing but the burning sensation in my breast resonating right through to my back has made me really unsettled and irritable. I've been so snappy which I feel awful for but I can't escape the feeling I'm getting. I took my mom for her mammogram today also l, wishing it was my turn in the clinic too. They said they saw some thickening and will be in contact if there is anything they are concerned about.
I couldn't even enjoy shopping as I was aware I was so uncomfortable.
I'm actually sat here crying which my dog staring me out. He is always close by, especially whenever I am sad. I haven't worn a bra now in so long. I'm so uncomfortable. To the point in not really thinking of the lump bit the constant discomfort I am feeling. Tuesday can't come quick enough.
Today hasn't been all bad though. My son swam beautifully in his lesson. I can't believe how easily he has taken to it and how smoothly he swims. He kept swimming his turn then finding me watching through the window and blowing me a kiss. We really are each others number ones xx

Thinking over today it really hasnt been busy as such. Woke up, coffee and a quick browse online. Shower, getting is ready and off to swimming. Abit of food shopping and then to the hospital for my mom and then a little walk round the new retail park near to the hospital. Sounds busy but it really wasn't strenous at all but I honestly have no words for how tired and exhausted I feel. I am here watching x factor feeling sick. I am tired but can only sleep at my normal times. I have no energy. My whole body hurts and is sore. My head and eyes hurt. I feel sick. I feel vacant. I feel horrendous. I've felt like this for months and months. I thought something like walking around would make me feel abit more alive. Its actually made me feel worse. The littlest exercise feels like I've pushed myself too far.
If this is all worry related then my god I need help 😢😢😢😢😢😢

Aw NGC, you've had a horrible day 😥

So sorry you've been so sore, and no wonder it's all you can think of if you're uncomfortable all the time. Not being able to wear a bra to support your breast a bit can;t be helping either. If your results come out ok this week (and fingers crossed they will) you definitely need to go to your GP and see what else is going on, get a full MOT. Worrying can make you anxious which can then increase pain levels but feeling sore and sick all the time and having no energy is definitely worth getting checked out.
hope you enjoyed the x factor final at least...i'm more a strictly person but love I'm a Celeb so watching that just now before heading to bed and trying to get sleep.