Breast lump and crazy wait for scan - go private?

[pjani]

I found a lump in my breast last Wednesday, GP Thursday who referred me that day to the local hospital in London. I just got my appointment through after a lot of chasing and it’s in nearly a month’s time. I’m supposed to be seen within 2 weeks of the original referral.

I’ve googled private breast scan but I’m not 100% sure which procedure I need, no-one seems to list the actual price and I have no idea which of these private providers are good/trustworthy/reasonably priced.

I don’t have health insurance so would pay myself. Any recommendations for reputable, London-based, reasonably priced (whatever that is) private breast scans?

Ms Mahwash Barbar is my surgeon at the Whittington. She was trained by my original surgeon, Ms Shenton. It’s not a hospital I generally like but I’m impressed by the team. Otherwise I’d go to Barts.

I went private after finding a lump 10 days before Christmas a few years ago. It was £1080 and covered the initial consultation, mammogram, ultrasound and subsequent cyst drain. It was completely worth the cost so I didnt have to spend Christmas thinking it could be my last with my kids.

@dancingdaisies no not 1 big enough to be drained again. But I was told that I lumpy breasts due to the size (34Gg) and the imminent menopause. I just kept an eye on them.

How are you doing @pjani ?

Got the all clear last week! Had a good service once I was finally seen - it was well run without much waiting around. Male breast doctor which I found surprisingly upsetting - his job on his badge was breast specialist, why o why pick that specialty as a man? - so cried through the physical examination ie the feeling and squeezing of my breasts with his hands but the mammogram and ultrasound with female doctors were fine.

And got the all clear that day. It took 27 days not 14, I really hope waiting times get better not worse over the coming months. Good luck to anyone else who finds themselves in this position.

So happy to hear that you got the all clear.

Though I'm a little perturbed by your comments about the male specialist. Doctors specialize in whatever specialty for all kinds of reasons. Would you be concerned about a male gastroenterologist or a female cardiologist?

fwiw, my husband's urologist is female...

Great that you have got the all clear, what a relief.

Is a woman not allowed to be anxious about an unknown male examining her breasts?
FWIW, at the age of 18, having been sent for a medical for the Civil Service, the doctor who did the medical asked me to undress to my pants, weighed me and measured my height then said he needed to do a breast exam. He stood in front of me whilst I was standing and basically groped my breasts.
I found out some time later that this was totally unnecessary, and that lots of younger women had passed through his hands so to speak.
So no, I would not like a male to carry out a breast exam at all.

I'm not sure how your unfortunate experience is relevant to the OP?