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Women's health

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Original poster

Found a lump

20 replies

botheritsgone · 07/04/2023 23:59

My dm first got diagnosed with breast cancer at 42. She made sure that my sister and I knew exactly how to check our boobs.
We lost mum to secondary cancer after a 16 year battle.
I check my boobs regularly. I have a pain tonight so I decided to just check them again. I've found a lump. Why does this have to be a long weekend? I want to get it checked out asap. I am terrified. I've been terrified of this scenario since I was a kid when mum got diagnosed. I'm not even sure why I'm posting but right now, I'm scared.

OP posts:
Beamur · 08/04/2023 00:05

Big hugs. Don't panic.
Most lumps are harmless. Try not to keep prodding as it will make it sore.
Get a GP appointment on Tuesday and you should get a hospital appointment pretty quickly.
Pain is not generally associated with the majority of breast cancer so it could well be something else.
My Mum also died of breast cancer and I too have had the referral to the clinic after finding a lump. I've discovered I get lumpier breast tissue around my period now (peri-menopausal) so I'm less panicky. But it is scary and I know how you're feeling right now.

Original poster
botheritsgone · 08/04/2023 00:22

Thank you, you are right but god it is hard to remain rational. I will talk to the gp surgery on Tuesday and try not to catastrophise things until then.

OP posts:
Tarantellah · 08/04/2023 00:25

The doctor also told me that cancer doesn’t cause pain. Maybe in the end stages when you’re seriously ill, but certainly not at the start. They also said that most lumps are not cancer. You’ll get a mammogram within a fortnight and I’m sure everything will be fine.

Try not to stress, hard as it seems. When I had a breast lump I stressed so much that I gave myself a stomach ulcer. Then the lump turned out to be nothing but I was seriously ill with my stomach for months and had to have medication and a camera put down my throat.

Anetra · 08/04/2023 00:30

Oh OP Ive been there honestly. Just to offer you a little reassurance- Pain isn’t usually associated with finding a BC lump and most lumps found are benign. I know it’s easy me saying that and tbh I’d be panicking too as there’s history of BC in my family as well. But even with the history I found a lump recently and had it checked, gp red flagged me to BC clinic and got a mammogram etc and was benign thankfully- had a horrendous few weeks though where I was catastrophising and almost had my own funeral planned!

DinkyDaisy · 08/04/2023 11:52

Feel for you op. I am waiting for my Breast Clinic appointment and cannot enjoy this Easter though will try and put a brave face on for the family.
I have a lump in right breast. Both breasts tender though right more so (prodding won't help!). On hrt which now questioning wisdom of. Head just can't switch off! I am trying to keep busy as otherwise I google and dwell.
Find someone in real life to share with. My DH useless. Friends less so...

TheFeistyFeminist · 11/04/2023 09:48

Have you managed to speak to a GP? I hope wheels are in motion that will put your mind at rest.

A few years back, I found a tender lump in one breast, and went through the process of GP referral, mammogram and an ultrasound during which they drained an infected cyst.

The pain I felt was the infection, and draining it resolved the problem. Plus now I have a baseline mammogram on file.

Original poster
botheritsgone · 11/04/2023 12:55

Haven't managed to get through to the gp yet. 35 calls this morning and will start trying again shortly. They are usually very good once you get though but getting through in the first place is tricky.

OP posts:
Original poster
botheritsgone · 14/04/2023 09:34

Went up to the surgery this morning to try and get an appointment. The receptionist suggested that I should wait to see if it gets bigger because if it isn't red or weeping then it is most likely nothing.
I'm fairly sure that is not the case.

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 14/04/2023 10:35

Mmm... I don't think the Receptionist is qualified to make this judgement. I think you should insist. This is coming from someone who has just been to the Breast clinic and been diagnosed with a cyst.

Original poster
botheritsgone · 14/04/2023 10:51

Yes, I went home - did a bit more googling and have gone back up to the surgery. Hoping I can speak to a different receptionist.

OP posts:
Nimbostratus100 · 14/04/2023 11:02

botheritsgone · 14/04/2023 10:51

Yes, I went home - did a bit more googling and have gone back up to the surgery. Hoping I can speak to a different receptionist.

say you want to be put straight onto the two seek pathway to be checked

Original poster
botheritsgone · 14/04/2023 11:08

I'm in the waiting room now

OP posts:
Original poster
botheritsgone · 14/04/2023 11:25

I am being sent for a mammogram. I should be seen quite quickly.

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 14/04/2023 11:39

Well done getting it sorted. Hope the waiting not too long.

whyhere · 14/04/2023 19:35

The first receptionist needs some serious retraining! Sorry you're going through this OP.

YukoandHiro · 14/04/2023 19:36

Because of family history you will probably get an immediate referral on Tuesday which will mean an appt at the breast clinic within 2 weeks. I'm 40 and I've been three times since I was 24 and it's always been just benign breast changes so please don't worry until you've been through the process. It is quite quick

Original poster
botheritsgone · 20/04/2023 22:02

I spoke to the private hospital today after the gp referral. On Monday, I'm going to the clinic, I will get a Mammogram then possibly an ultrasound, biopsy and needle aspiration. I'm away to google the needle. As I was a kid when my mum went through it, she didn't share those kind of details with me.

OP posts:
Whoknows11 · 07/05/2023 06:57

How did it go OP? I hope all ok.

I'm in a similar position to you. Found a lump last night and now got to wait til Tuesday as it's a bank holiday! I feel sick with worry.

My mum got diagnosed at 49 and I'm nearly 42.

DinkyDaisy · 07/05/2023 07:29

The waiting is awful. I have been through this recently. Mine turned out to be a cyst.
Just keep chugging through each day til appointment... Thinking of all going through this wait...

Whoknows11 · 07/05/2023 07:58

Thank you @DinkyDaisy Glad it was good news for you x

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