Hard breast lump

[MyLittlePony89]

I recently noticed that my breasts were feeling quite sore and heavy, one of them in particular so I had a good feel around and noticed a particularly tender spot not actually on the breast but to the left a bit lower down than my armpit. Realised I was ovulating and assumed it was connected to that.

Since then I can definitely feel a lump/something in the left breast. I know I have generally lumpy breasts as an ultrasound a few years ago showed lumpy (healthy) breast tissue, but this new lump feels harder, lumpier, tender, and more noticeable than the lumpy tissue in the rest/other breast. It's quite big too, like a chunky lump rather than a small round cyst etc.

I have a GP appointment next week and have been trying to keep a lid on my panic, but I can definitely feel myself spiralling (especially as I'm awake at 5am worrying about this..!).

I know dr Google and trawling the internet for similar stories is unhelpful because everyone is different and no one but the doctor will be able to provide correct diagnosis, but I just wanted to chuck this on here to get my thoughts out really (and maybe feel less alone)!

You’ve got the GP appt, you’ve done all you can do.

Whatever it is, you’ve spotted it which is the crucial thing. Hang in there ❤️

Thank you for your reply :) I'm definitely hanging in there at the moment!

I have literally just been where you are. I found a hard, painful lump a week ago, after same breast feeling a bit sore and heavy for around 3 months. Couldn’t get a get a gp appointment for 3 weeks, so paid for a private GP who I saw on Monday. Was referred urgently to breast clinic and went on Tuesday night. Spent the entire time before trying not to have a complete meltdown. Like you, I googled and scared myself to death - do not do that! Everyone at breast clinic was utterly lovely, had a mammogram and ultrasound and discovered it was a cyst. Came home, cried and drank a glass of wine the size of my head!! Around 80% of breast lumps turn out to be nothing sinister so the overwhelming likelihood is that it is nothing. I do understand how you feel though and the waiting is the worst bit. In all likelihood your gp won’t be able to tell you one way or the other and will refer you to the breast clinic. Massive handhold from me, I know the waiting and worrying is just awful, but the chances are, it’s nothing. Good luck xxxx

You’ve done the right thing booking an appointment to see your GP. They will likely refer you to a breast clinic to get it checked. It sounds to me like a fibroadenoma as I had similar and it’s completely fine. Try not to worry, I know easier said than done, but you’ve done all you can.

@Idontknowwhattodo78 thanks for your reply and sorry to hear you've had the same :( it's exactly that with feeling sore and heavy, with the painful lump. It's gone down slightly now - less hard, less sore, less prominent etc. But still bloody there and keeping me up at night.

I was tempted to pay privately as well as I've done that before and I know I will need to wait longer to go to the breast clinic once the GP sees me.
That must have been so scary to have been urgently referred! I'm so glad yours was a cyst. As you say, the waiting and worrying is awful but I am also scared to have the appointment in case of what the results are.

Thank you again for your kind words xxx

@ShillyShallySherbet thanks - yes makes sense they will refer me to the breast clinic, I've been before and they were very thorough there. Although that time I'd had a small moveable lump which had actually disappeared by the time I went to the appointment, but they checked anyway to be sure, but it was hormonal/cysty breast tissue.

I kind of hoped it would be a fibroadenoma but reading online it doesn't sound like it's got the right characteristics, but it's so hard to tell isn't it with the different ways lumps and bumps show up.

I'm glad yours was all okay! And thank you so much for replying :)

@MyLittlePony89 what you describe is pretty much exactly what I discovered so that’s why I thought perhaps a fibroadenoma as that’s what mine turned out to be. It’s a shame you have to wait so long for a GP appt as I was seen the same day I called, then within two weeks I was was at the breast clinic where, in addition to the lump I’d found they found another one and took biopsies of both which wasn’t pleasant. It was a two week wait then for the results of the biopsy, at first it was all I could think about but then I successfully put it to the back of my mind by telling myself it was pointless to worry about something I can’t control. When they called with the results two weeks later I was very relieved.