Urgent breast clinic referral

[Scaredandafraid2020]

For the last couple of weeks I've had a pain in my right breast, last night I saw that the skin on the breast was dimpled in places and discovered that there was a small lump. Been to the GP today who has made an urgent referral to breast clinic to be seen within two weeks for a mammogram and ultrasound. I'm absolutely bricking it, this is the next thing in a whole list of ongoing health problems and I'm at breaking point.

Can anyone who has been through this give me an insight into the appointment, length of time for results etc.

I'm going through the same worry. Didn't want to read and run. I'm 47 and was screened as a trial. Stupidly (I KNOW it's stupid!) wish I'd never gone due to the worry. No lumps or pain for me but got recalled. Went last week for second appointment. Told I was recalled as 'calcifications' seen in right breast. Had a biopsy. Called today and need another 'vacuum biopsy'. Told findings were benign. I have health anxiety so know how worried you feel.

You will find the staff are lovely and really try to put you at ease. I wish I could take my own advice but try to convince yourself that whatever it is you've caught it early. Please feel free to pm me. X

I got referred recently after having constant pain in my left breast.

At the appointment I saw a consultant, then had a mammogram and then an ultrasound, during the ultrasound they found three lumps, two were cysts and one he said was a fibroadenoma but he would have to biopsy it to confirm. Then back to the consultant who advised I would be sent an appointment to follow up.

I was there about 2 hours but was told it could be up to 4, they generally do all tests there and then and you leave with a pretty good idea of what you are dealing with. The results took 2 weeks however my colleague who has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer received her results much quicker.

The waiting is agonising but it's a great service and you'll be seen quickly.

Hello there - you are not alone.

I went to the doctors on Monday - had pain in my left, no lump but a kind of gristly area. I've been referred. Got called back in to the doctors yesterday for blood tests. Got a call this morning to give me an appointment at the hospital for tomorrow.

Got to applaud the NHS - the service so far has been exemplary.

Sending my very best wishes to you all.

Thank you all for your replies, they are very much appreciated. I have an appointment next Thursday (feels like a lifetime away) for tests so I'm trying to stay positive in the meantime and occupying myself with anything that I can do to fill the week.

Wishing you all the best with your appointments xx

@Scaredandafraid2020 my apt is next Thursday too. Virtual hand hold from me.

Keep us posted 😃

I had my appointment this morning. Doctor said he cannot feel anything untoward - but has referred me for a mammogram as it has been a couple of years since my last one.

Didnt want to read and run. I also in the Same situation. Just waiting on the appointment. Wishing you luck x

@FanSpamTastic that's positive.

Mammogram along with your blood tests should hopefully reassure. It's the waiting that's the horrible bit 😞

@AvocadoPrime hope all ok with you too 😃

Thank you @shoegal.. hope all okay for you too! Maybe we can all virtually handhold and itll be good to know we aren't alone.

@AvocadoPrime here's to that!

I've never felt so alone and frightened.

I am also in the same situation and have been many times before. Recently I found a very large lump near my nipple, practice nurse was unconcerned as smooth and mobile and a bit painful but referred me anyway.

I was seen last Friday and had an ultrasound. I then had to have four core biopsies. I have a return appointment for next Thursday. I too am absolutely terrified. Single mum to a 9 year old autistic DS and along with the additional worry of the current CV issue, my anxiety is peak. Good luck all!

@TheFormidableMrsC sorry to hear your story. It is indeed terrifying. I am a single mum too. That feeling of being alone amplifies everything. I guess (and this is my positive side coming out which doesn't very often! 😂) we are lucky to be seen so quickly and efficiently.

I stupidly feel I wish I'd never gone for the mammogram. Only due to the utter crippling anxiety it's caused me. But I know if it is anything I'll be glad it's been caught early.

@Shoegal0305 I am under the same trial, I had mine at the beginning of last year I think. That was all clear and fine. It does amplify when you're doing it all by yourself. Don't beat yourself up about it, early intervention is far better and if there is anything wrong, it can be done and dusted. I've got a friend who has completed her active treatment in the space of two months. We must stay positive. I have been through this so many times and it's always been fibroadenoma. I didn't get any reassurance this time I have to say, but I am still hopeful of a good outcome as that is the only way you can think

My friend send me a message this morning saying she has been diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer and will be starting treatment soon. Hand hold to all of you.

@redwoodmazza sorry to hear that 😞

OP just wanted to wish you luck. I was in my initial appointment for 90 minutes. That included mammograms and ultrasound and multiple biopsies. It’s taking two weeks to get my results back, in person. I have no idea whatsoever if they’re thinking cancer or just being very cautious. Starting to panic now.

It is what it is- you will be seen and assessed quickly, and you will deal with whatever you're thrown. You've got this.

@LemonsNVod what's your story?

@Shoegal0305

Early 40s, no kids (never pregnant), for background.

Found a lump in left boob a month or so ago now.

Eventually dragged myself to my GP where the two of them (!) confirmed I wasn’t imagining the massive (to me) lump and got me a referral to the breast clinic within two weeks. I had Googled some so I knew a two week referral was standard, so that didn’t worry me. GPs didn’t say if they thought it was bad or not and said how they couldn’t diagnose it themselves. Fair enough. I’d rather they said they can’t diagnose instead of giving me a false sense of hope or have me panicking even more unnecessarily.

Went to breast clinic appointment and saw consultant first for exam and scribbling over my boob. Was told if it was a cyst they’d drain it then and there, after mammogram and ultrasound. I’ve forgotten what else was said because I was so hoping it was a cyst and it would be drained and that would be that.

Had mammogram, I think just two of each boob, then off to ultrasound.

Nobody so far is telling me if they think it’s bad or not. I’d already decided I wasn’t going to ask the radiographer directly as I didn’t think it would be fair to put them on the spot.

Ultrasound, and I heard the word “biopsy”, and something about how she couldn’t see something properly. Turns out she found an enlarged lymph node, and calcification, all in the left boob. Had immediate biopsy of the lymph node and the original lump I found - the “snap” type one. The calcification was so small the biopsy couldn’t be done by ultrasound it had to be done in the mammogram machine. They did that within half an hour too, and left a little metal tag in place to show where they’d biopsied, in case they needed to go back in future.

Still nobody is saying what they think these things are. I didn’t get to see the consultant again, just given an appointment for a couple of weeks to get my results. The nurse that was with me through ultrasound and the biopsies was pretty insistent I should have someone with me when I get my results though, and that, along with them finding the extra things I hadn’t noticed is freaking me out.

I’ve since found out the lump is 2.5cm and an “ill defined mass” and the calcification 11cm.

@LemonsNVod thank you for sharing. It's such a scary time isn't it? I've been consumed by it. I too have calcifications (2 areas, not that big an area, 1-2cm). Been told they are benign but still have to go for a vacuum biopsy which I'm assuming is because they never got the correct sample? I'm confused too? Have you had any documentation at all which gives you any indication what your facing?

@Shoegal0305

The vacuum biopsy (I think that’s what I had in the mammogram machine, not really sure what that was called) wasn’t that bad. It wasn’t exactly pleasant but I’ve had far worse dental experiences. Take a box of paracetamol with you though (not aspirin) and ask them if it’s OK for you to take it when you go in for your biopsy. If they say yes, take some right away so it’ll have started to work by the time their anaesthetic wears off. Then follow the box directions for a couple of days. I didn’t take any after the third day, still a bit achey but it was fine. Definitely needed it the first day though!

I think they’re just being really careful with you and making sure they can get a sample to test. They seem pretty confident it’s benign and appear to be just covering their behinds. (And giving you peace of mind after you get the results too, though I know it won’t feel like that until after it’s over!) With mine they couldn’t biopsy the calcification via ultrasound as it was so small (though spread out), so rather than just try randomly I had the mammogram biopsy instead where they could see exactly what to grab, and they were able to say there and then they captured a bit of calcification.

I’ve had nothing at all indicating if anything is benign or not. So I’ve been on Google. Which is not a good idea! Statistically it seems the odds are in my favour but my brain doesn’t work that way.

@LemonsNVod totally hear you my friend. I'm a bit older than you, 47, no lumps or bumps and no family history I just went along for a mammogram as I was invited as an early trial. Kinda stupidly feel like I wish I'd not gone as the worry and stress it's caused has crippled me. I can't seem to put one foot in front of the other right now. And this bloody virus doesn't help!!! I'm not bothered at all about the actual biopsy. The first one I had was fine, and I'm not being put to sleep which would terrify me .

On my positive days I feel, well, positive, and that I've taken control of my health and whatever it is it will be dealt with. Early findings and all that! But my negative data are agony. I have already died and buried myself. It seems silly when I actually type it out.

@LemonsNVod and I too google everything! What I want is for google to spell out in big letters YOU ARE GOING TO BE OK!!!!!!

@Shoegal0305

How are you doing? It’s not silly to have a little panic, I’ve had a few myself! I’ve got everything crossed that you’re OK.

I have cancer though. Need a mastectomy, but I don’t know about chemotherapy and radiotherapy yet. I don’t know when I will have surgery yet either.