Referred to breast clinic- anxiety high!

[Sewingbeefan]

Have just been referred to breast clinic for further tests. Am so anxious, it was a routine mammogram. I rang reception at the clinic and a slightly brusque lady told me it was because “ something is there”.
Just need a handhold. Anyone had this and it turned out ok?

I'm going to the breast clinic on Tuesday after finding a lump. I'm hoping it's a cyst (my GP thinks so)

Trying to be positive- hope yours turns out to be nothing

@BG2015 giving you lots of strength and positivity!

Had paperwork through to explain the process at my NHS trust.

One stop shop - they aim to do it all in 4 hours. Mammogram ultrasound and biopsy if needed.

Explained it all really well. My apt is Tuesday afternoon

@Sewingbeefan did you go to your appointment?
Hope all went ok?

@BG2015 yes all went well thankfully. No lump but Calcifications which they weren’t bothered about due to their shape or something. Stressful wait though and am a bit cross that DH had to wait in car for an hour and half as wasnt allowed in ( when you can go to football or Ascot!😡) but staff were lovely and really caring.such a knife edge situation .
How did you get on? I hope you were ok?

My results weren't so good.

Breast nurse said they think because of how it looks it could be cancerous. Results back in 2 weeks.

Nothing in my arm pit so lymph nodes are clear. No history of breast cancer in my family or any female cancers (my dad had prostate cancer but is well and still riding his bike at 79)

I'm 52, hysterectomy 4 years ago and have been on HRT - that's obviously off the cards now. I have 2 lovely boys 21 and 18.

I cried all the way home. I'm so scared. I know recovery/treatments are good for breast cancer. I've not googled or read anything online as I know it will make it worse.

It's been a shock. So glad your results are clear

Can I please join the thread? I'm so glad OP that the results have been reassuring. @BG2015 I'm sorry to hear that your test results are worrying and hope that you will get the appropriate care and support as soon as possible

I spotted a couple of lumpy bits on my nipple 3 weeks ago, went straight to the GP but when she examined my breast, the main lump had disappeared. She did note, however, that my right nipple is more lumpy and uneven than the left. 3 weeks later and my right nipple is sore and the 2 lumps seems to come and go.

I wondered if it had anything to do with milk ducts and googled this yesterday and was promptly presented with information on Ductal carcinoma in situ (milk duct cancer). Now I'm SO worried. I hope I can get an appointment with the GP next.

Could someone explain what the usual referral process is please, what can I expect from my GP visit and if breast clinic waiting times are affected by Covid? I will try and get an appointment next week. I do have Bupa insurance as is this worth mentioning to the GP or is the NHS pathway better?

@BG2015 am so sorry you had this news. Please stay positive, keep busy and surround yourself with only positive helpful poeople. The waiting will be hardest, once you know for sure either way you will deal with it. I agree dont google too much but remember treatments for many illnesses and cancers are SO much better than even 10 years ago. Am thinking of you and we are here for you.
@ReOneTwo your GP will refer to breast assessment clinic to be seen within 2 weeks, I waited a week after an abnormal screen. I think it depends on region too. Then they see you and do everything in one go xray scan and maybe biopsy.

@Sewingbeefan I saw my GP on the Tuesday morning and by Wed I had an appointment at the Breast Clinic the following Tuesday afternoon.

I was told to expect to be there for 4 hours. When I arrived I filled a form in asking about my medical history e.g children, operations, birth control, HRT, history of cancer in the family.

I then saw a female consultant who asked me lots of questions. She examined both breasts and actually found a second lump in my left breast.

She gave them both a number (1-5) with 1 being not serious. The one she found got a 2, the one I found got a 3. Whilst she was examining me she kept looking at me to see if I had an pain. I didn't in either lump. She said the larger lump seemed like it was in the breast tissue and not moving about freely. She drew on my breasts in pen circling where the lumps were.

I then went for a mammogram.

After that I went for an ultrasound with a female dr and nurse. She scanned both breasts, the one that's was a 2 was immediately dismissed as a cyst. The one I found was the focus. She scanned this extensively and also went into my armpit. She then said that they would need to do a biopsy on this lump. I think they took 3 samples and they also injected a titanium marker into the lump so that it would show on the mammogram. I think at this point I realised things weren't right.

The biopsy hurt. After that I went for another mammogram just on the suspect breast.

Finally I saw a breast care nurse who told me in a lovely way that the dr was pretty sure they were seeing cancer I presume because of the shape etc of the lump. I did cry at that point.

Now I wait.

Also I was very impressed with the speed of the appointment and the care at the clinic. Everyone was lovely.

I live in Staffordshire so went to Stoke Royal

BG2015 xxx

@BG2015 massive hugs to you, you were and are brave enough to deal with this. The staff sound thorough and lovely.
I have friends who are drs.... they will say the ssme as me that treatments now are so good. Dont lose hope. Use the people around you for support and us mumsnetters.
Massive massive hug xxxx

@ReOneTwo and @BG2015. Hi. Am four years on from invasive ductal. Honestly, if you have to get cancer then it is the easiest one to get and deal with. The waiting around for results and appointments is the most stressful thing. Lumpectomy was fine. They will remove some lymphnodes from under your arm. That will give you more gip than the lumpectomy. Ensure you do the exercises they give you. Lumpectomy is usually a day case. I was in a cafe the next day. Before the op, for around a week, take arnica tablets and a bit afterwards, this reduces the bruising. Take tumeric after the op and this reduces inflamation and during radiotherapy.
If it is stage 2 and HER 2 negative then likely you won't have chemo. There is a test they can do (very expensive as it is sent off to California) to see whether you'd benefit from chemo. Mine came back as a no. I did have three further operations as margins wouldn't clear. The margins are teeeny. I had radio therapy daily and that consists of lying on a table with your norks out and being shifted mm by mm to get in the right place. You learn where to lie! Machine whirs for about 90 secs and that's it. Use aveno cream and all will be well. If they offer you medihoney grab it with both arms. Drink loads of water, keep up moderate exercise and just be aware that breast care forums are great but often filled with people talking about awful side effects. You don't know people's age, weight, lifestyle, diet, habits. I was 52 when diagnosed.

Good luck. Let me know if you want more info. Oh and breast care nurses say they can be contacted but honestly, trying to get hold of them is hard. You will see the inside of lots of little rooms. You know you've got something when they show you into a little room with a semi comfy chair....

@LostArcher that made me smile because on Tuesday the nurse took me into a room with comfy chairs and a box of tissues!

How much recovery time did you have?

I'm a primary school teacher and if it does turn out to be cancer I know I'm going to have to have time off work. The last time I was off sick was in 2017 when I was off for 6 weeks after a hysterectomy.

My school are very supportive and I know it will be fine but just thinking about time scales etc

Not sure how quick they will have me in if I need treatment, particularly with covid.

I've been told to take each day as it comes but I can't help thinking ahead. In my job everything is about time!

@BG2015 am a SENCO and do primary and secondary and am the only person who is qualified to test and essentially do my job. This made me put myself under more stress. Stupidly, I recognise now. So I worked like a nutter up until the day before but I did stop going over to Juniors because the little wotsits cough and sneeze over you so you might want to take two weeks off before to make sure you are covid free and can have the op. You can't drive for two weeks after the lumpectomy and I needed a third week and then it was half term and we went away. I would allow three weeks minimum and phased return but really, I'd go for four. I went back two weeks then had op number 2, thankfully missed the hell that is sports day and went in right at the end of term. Op number 3 was in the middle of our holiday so we went to Cornwall, then husband and me flew back, had the op and flew back down again. In retrospect it was a bit much but had to show everything normal for our DC. Op number 4 was in ?august and then stupidly went back in September. I really shouldn't have. Chronic fatigue has dogged me since. I worked through the first week of radio but then couldn't continue and I think had about two weeks plus October hall term off. The fatigue was a killer. Had a phased return. The one thing I would say with teaching is that if you are in you are in and everyone (even the ones who do the whole ooooh cancer thing) just treat you like you are at full health. Demanding parents and playing catch up really take their toll. I would say cancer is the one time that you can take all the time you need. It is classed as a disability so you are covered under the Equalities Act. It's a very stupid manager who tries to push it. Everyone is scared of the word (which is one of the scary things about it and those sodding Macmillan ads don't help) so use that to your advantage - it's the one time in your teaching career you can. If you have to have chemo then take ALL the time you need.

I was called at home a few times. Interestingly the time the head called 'just to see how you are' there was also a SEN issue for me to advis3 on....

The best thing is the glorious excuse of 'I can't come into work because I am radioactive'. Actually you are no danger but they say you shouldn't go near small children..... As an added bonus, said dye stuff they put into you makes your wee turn the most beautiful green colour!

Teaching is brutal at the best of times. I would advise that it is up to them to sort this out. Do not feel guilty, do not set tons of cover and I would allow a month for the initial op and then when radio starts, another month.

@LostArcher

That's very helpful. I teach Year 2, small village primary. I've been there 20 years so gossip will be rife if I go off sick.

I rarely have time off so won't have qualms about taking sick leave (but will of course feel the stupid teacher guilt)

I'm just dreading having chemo. You read such awful things about it, sickness, losing your hair etc. Also a mastectomy is another thing I'm trying not to think about.

A colleague (TA) had radiotherapy a couple of years ago and battled on for a bit until eventually she went off for a period. She was so tired. It would be better to be off for a longer period so that cover could be sorted. But that's not my problem is it.

@BG2015 just seeing how you are doing, hoping you are keeping busy. Waiting for results must be so hard. Giving you a big hug

Hi
I'm ok. The waiting is tough but life just goes on doesn't it.

The breast where the lump is seems to be quite sore, in fact every ache & pain seems to be more pronounced.

I've stopped taking my HRT so I'm waking in the night feeling like I'm on fire, which isn't great.

I just want to know now and get a plan in place.

@BG2015 you have done so well to get through this first week of waiting. Am not surprised you’re sore- all that prodding and poking cant have been pleasant. Are you managing work? You must be shattered if your sleep is broken.
I agree once you have a plan you will feel like things are being done.
I truly hope you have lovely supportive people around you IRL.
Thinking of you lots

@Sewingbeefan

I'm coping at work just about. I'm finding it's keeping me occupied.

I have brilliant family, partner, friends and colleagues. I'm very lucky.

I just want to find out the results now so I can mentally get my head round things and talk to my 2 boys. They are oblivious up to now.

Thank you for thinking of me 💕

Appointment on Wednesday at 2pm

Be glad to find out and what the plan is.

The letter (received this morning) says breast surgery after the consultants name!

So I presume it is cancer and the appointment is to discuss lumpectomy or mastectomy

Hello @BG2015 sorry to hear about the letter. I hope you get clarity and a good plan is all in place. Stay positive 💐

I hope you don’t mind me asking, I’m waiting to speak to my doc Thurs about a lump I’ve found… my anxiety is through the roof… feel sick… can’t concentrate etc. Just wanted to know what your lump feels like?