2WW Breast Clinic Referral

[ladybird30]

Just returned from the GP after finding a small lump in my armpit and she's referred me to the breast clinic.

Has anyone else had experience of this? She felt it didn't seem sinister and possibly an inflamed lymph node but she wanted to be sure so referred me.

Honestly I feel quite panicky and am worried about possibly not being here to see my 11 month old grow up, which I know is catastrophising and massively unlikely to happen but it's all feeling a bit scary...

I think I just need a hand hold and some positive stories and to stop Googling!

Yes, mine was a cyst, in fact there were quite a few cysts as discovered on ultrasound
I’d be reassured by the GP saying it didn’t feel sinister. I get that they’re not specialists and better right be checked out though. My GP said the same to me, which I found reassuring :)

@WorriedMillie How did you find the clinic experience? I get really tearful and anxious in hospital environments and always feel ridiculous for it when I leave.

Did you get a result straight away?

I had a 2.5cm hard lump in my breast last year, and was referred under 2ww. I was terrified. The clinic staff were brilliant. I told them I was at the planning my own funeral stage of anxiety and they gave me loads of reassurance. I was examined, scanned, given the all clear, cyst drained and sent merrily on my way within about 3hrs.

I'd previously had investigations under the 2 week pathway for a gynae cancer that took months of tests, appointments and waits between - 2 weeks is the target for the first appointment, not the outcome. By contrast breast clinic was a dream - everything available on one day.

Mine was a cyst the first time, which the nurse who referred me said at the time - that it wasn't sinister. And I've another now that they have found is just lumpy tissue.

I think it's reassuring what the GP has said to you. It's easy to say don't worry, but worrying about something that is unlikely to be an issue doesn't really help.

I was relieved it was only 2 weeks wait, but I was much calmer about the second time as I knew what to expect.

It was all very calm, they talked me through the scan as they did it. They didn't tell me the results there and then but the results came through quickly and they talked me through them at another appointment.

The second one I needed a biopsy but that was all handled really well too and the results came through quickly.

They gave me advice on what to look for.

You can also take someone with you, I didn't, but lots of people had someone with them.

@StrangewaysHereWeCome Yes, I'm really hoping it's a same day results clinic for me too. The waiting is so awful. Much like you I'm feeling that level of anxiety, not constantly but definitely having moments of spiralling

@BarrelOfOtters You're absolutely right. Trying to remind myself that worrying changes nothing either way and that statistically for my age there's about 0.5% chance of it being something horrible.

Just an update for anyone who may see this in the future who is worried.

Mine turned out to just be a lymph node that they aren't concerned about. The staff were all lovely, I was in and out in an hour but only needed an ultrasound in the end.

Thanks to all the lovely ladies on here who sent positive word and stories, you really helped get me through the waiting and worrying