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Women's health

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Original poster

WWYD? Breast check

18 replies

imeanwhy · 02/09/2022 20:24

I randomly discovered a lump in one of my breasts. It feels relatively smooth, movable and it's not painful. I want to get it checked, and the nhs has given me an appointment at the local breast clinic in 2 weeks.

I have also been offered an appointment at a private clinic for an initial consultation and a mammogram/ultrasound (I won't have to pay for these). This is much sooner, in 2 days.

Would you take it or wait for the nhs one? I kinda want to take the private one so I know sooner rather than later that it's not something sinister. But if it does turn out I need more investigation, I'd have to pay for the biopsies etc which on private will cost a lot, and it might be best to wait for the nhs appointment for those. But if I start private would I be able to continue on nhs after?

And if I don't take the private, and it turns out to be something sinister (although GP said it didn't seem like anything bad to them - but best to get checked either way), would waiting these 2 weeks actually make a difference in my prognosis? What would you do?

OP posts:
Iamsodonewith2020 · 02/09/2022 20:28

Private, but I suffer with health anxiety

citybumpkin · 02/09/2022 20:33

I've logged back in just to answer this post. Please take the private appointment. As someone who was diagnosed with BC.

Original poster
imeanwhy · 02/09/2022 20:44

I can get stressed with health stuff too @Iamsodonewith2020 I feel you..

@citybumpkin Oh no I am so sorry you had BC. I hope you are ok now? Did you have your treatment at the nhs?

OP posts:
citybumpkin · 02/09/2022 20:49

@imeanwhy I was "lucky" in that I was diagnosed just after relocating abroad. Excellent health service (but paid for via insurance). I was diagnosed in March 2020 so a while ago now. If I was in the UK I would opt for private regardless of cost. I've heard various scary stories of lengthy waiting times within the UK cancer community. 🤞🏻 its nothing untoward for you.

Drinkingpop · 02/09/2022 20:51

I don't know if all NHS breast clinics work the same, but when i was in i had mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the same day. They were very efficient, i was impressed. I'd maybe find out from the private place what next steps are if you need a biopsy - would you need to wait? Could you be referred to NHS for this?

Original poster
imeanwhy · 02/09/2022 21:02

@citybumpkin so happy to hear you had great treatment! Fingers crossed indeed

@Drinkingpop that's a good point. I will ask the doctor at the private appointment. I was also wondering if it's advisable to have a mammogram privately and then another the week after on the nhs if they need it - although perhaps they'd be happy to use the findings of the private one and I won't need another.

Another thing I was wondering is, if they think it's a fibroadenoma, would they do a biopsy to confirm it's not C?

OP posts:
citybumpkin · 02/09/2022 21:04

I would request an ultrasound rather than a mammogram. US picks up more than the mammo.

Mindymomo · 02/09/2022 21:10

A lump was found on my routine mammogram, so I got an appointment at the breast clinic. I had a further 2 mammograms, then consultant took a biopsy. She said it didn’t look cancerous but that the biopsy would be sent off to confirm. This NHS appointment took over 4 hours in total, so if I had the chance to go private, I would. It was confirmed as fibroadenona and it didn’t need treatment.

Original poster
imeanwhy · 02/09/2022 21:45

@citybumpkin good point about the ultrasound, it would also mean I can have a mammogram on the nhs later if needEd without worrying about having two so close to each other (I was wondering if it's not advisable to have two in a space of 2 weeks for the radiation)

@Mindymomo out of curiosity how long did the biopsy results take to come in if you don't mind me asking? You must have been so relieved it was only a fibroadenoma! Hoping for the same 🤞

OP posts:
Original poster
imeanwhy · 02/09/2022 21:48

Oh and @Mindymomo was the biopsy one of those needle ones? Do they use local anaesthetic?

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 04/09/2022 08:57

Yes, they used local anaesthetic, could still feel a bit of tugging, but no pain. I didn’t have work next day, which I’m glad about, as I still had a bit of localised pain. They made an appointment for me to go back in a weeks time, but that morning the consultant rang and told me what it was and therefore didn’t need to attend appointment.

hewouldwouldnthe · 04/09/2022 10:04

Go to both. The private one will probably reassure you and if anything further was needed, like a biopsy the NHS one would do it. Smooth and mobile is likely to be a cyst or something simple.

Redannie118 · 04/09/2022 10:13

I had grade 3 BC 2 years ago and honestly 2 weeks will make no difference to your diagnosis. I was told that by the time its big enough to feel, its already been there for sometime. Like most people here I had NHS mamogram, ultraound and biopsy on the same day. They told me it was cancer from the mamogram/ ultrasound. I was back in 10 days later for reults and in surgery the week after that( this was height of first lockdown btw) The service was superb, really cant fault it.

Original poster
imeanwhy · 04/09/2022 18:04

@Mindymomo oh that's good news about the local anaesthetic! I was worried I would have to brave it 😬
Happy for you that it was fibroadenoma

@Redannie118 I am so sorry it was cancer, it must have been so scary... was yours mobile? I wonder if they can always tell from the scans etc alone...

I think going to both is probably my answer. I will see the private clinic tomorrow and if they think it needs a biopsy and especially if they feel fairly confident that it's not something bad, I might wait for the nhs appointment for any biopsies. If it's a fibroadenoma, I wonder if they always ask for a biopsy just in case...

OP posts:
Original poster
imeanwhy · 06/09/2022 07:55

Thank you to all for your responses! An update from me... I went to the private appointment and had the initial investigations. Dr thinks with reasonable certainty that it's a fibroadenoma, but would like a biopsy to rule out cancer. He suggested I do that on the nhs as it's expensive private and nothing will change in 9 days till my appointment. So I am doing that... fingers crossed it's all resolved with the biopsy, and at least I feel a little calmer about it now

OP posts:
Mindymomo · 06/09/2022 09:24

Thanks for the update.

viques · 06/09/2022 09:29

Oh that’s very good news, well done the private doctor for not playing on your fears and encouraging you to go private for the biopsy.

yikesanotherbooboo · 06/09/2022 09:40

The only benefit to the private appointment is being seen earlier.Prognosis, in the worst case scenario, will be unaffected.Management will be the same.If you have a mammogram privately you won't want to have another so your nhs consultant will need the results.The question of mammo /ultrasound depends on your age and density of your breasts.At the breast clinic most women get both , the decision is a clinical one.

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