Scanxiety - this one is breasts....

[fizzyfishandchips]

I am F 35 and experiencing some very unusual sensations in my left breast to one side radiating to the nipple. Visually all looks fine, feeling it no lumps/bumps but its been 4 weeks and it has not improved. Its persistent and consistent.

I am not at all in agony or searing pain its like a tug/pull feeling and worse when I take my bra off. I have very medium sized breast so not massive not small.

I went to the GP today,, referred me out to the breast clinic but she warned I might not actually be approved for a referral. This is worrying me a bit. I am sensitive to changes in my body and confident that I can notice things that are different or not right. I am 100% not pregnant.

I think the reason I am having extra fears is that I visited the exact same GP that two years ago said I was fine when I found a lump in my neck and I had to really push to be taken seriously and it turned out to be a rare neuroendocrine cancer (thankfully all removed by surgery), it also enabled the doctors to discover I had a genetic mutation that is supposed to help prevent tumours from growing. This is in the back of my mind... what if I am declined a referral as I dont meet the typical breast cancer symptoms but my body is capable of doing weird things...

This is something I am not prepared for, I focused so hard on surgery and sorting stuff out I dont feel I have thought about how I would feel when something else cropped up. How do other people cope with the looming scans (or not in my case) and I am just overreacting? can I get it done privately just for piece of mind? Has anyone had a referral that has been refused?

Try not to think too much about the GPs warning, if she has put out a referral then I can would think the breast clinic would see you. I have a friend who was recently experiencing pain in both breasts so likely hormonal but GP still referred her and she was scanned. So take one day at a time and wait to hear from the clinic.

I dont think you are over reacting either, you've had an experience and gone through things that a lot of people haven't, that's bound to have a lasting effect on emotions and fears. Be kind to yourself 🩷 and if you do feel you need to go private I'm sure you can. I've had private scans this year, ultrasound and MRI through vista health. May be worth looking to see if they do breast ultrasounds ? If not there will be somewhere else.

Hope you get some more replies x

@Alwayssomething14 thank you for responding and for your kind words.

I think if the GP hadn't said 'referral might not be accepted' I wouldn't be overthinking things as much. I just want a scan and hopefully like most scans it will all be ok.

If the referral is rejected then I would look at private. I will try not to overthink until I have the referral outcome. One step at a time!