Lump in breast - several week wait

[lovelight19]

Hi all

I'm not sure what I'm even looking for by posting this, but hopefully some reassuring stories.

I recently found a lump in my breast. I think it's quite smooth and mobile, but it came out of nowhere and I'm incredibly anxious about it. I can pull it up a little to be visible clearly in my skin. I assume that means it's not deep set but I don't know. I've seen my gp who was great and has referred me to the breast clinic.

Despite the fact I assumed I'd been referred on the 2ww route (I'm 38) I have been informed the earliest date I can be seen at my local hospital is the end of December. I've been offered (and taken) an appointment at a hospital over 200 miles away, but even that is around 3 weeks away. Plus, if I need any kind of treatment, it'll be there too and I'll need to travel.

Finding the lump alone has triggered overwhelming anxiety for me and this appointment setup has made it so much worse.

Anyone experienced a similar lump?

Thanks x

Yes I had something similar but luckily was seen within 2 weeks and it turned out to be nothing.

The waiting is awful, can you afford to go private?

Have you asked if you can be put on a wait list for an earlier appointment at either place?
I second PP about going private if you possibly can.

Thanks both, I really appreciate your replies. I looked into private, but costs were anywhere between £250 and £6500 depending on the tests required. The top end being just not realistic for me at present x

Obviously £6500 is crazy, but from reading other threads, my impression is that they can tell a lot from an ultrasound.
A PP went to a walk-in ultrasound place in Central London. One place I saw charges £350.
If there were something like that near me, I might consider it just to get a preliminary read. End of December seems a long time away.

PS - read the thread again - she had already had a mammogram, but apparently some while back. Anyway, just thought I'd mention it. Hope all resolves well for you, @lovelight19 .

I'm sorry you are going through this, but the fact it's appeared suddenly and is smooth sounds reassuring. I've been referred a few times over the years and they were benign cysts. I hope it's the same for you.

Thanks all. I really appreciate your responses. Unfortunately a walk in clinic isnt available here and private is just a cost I can't afford. I've accepted the appointment a few hundred miles away in a few weeks. I just can't face Christmas with my young family with this hanging over me.

I'm so hopeful it's a cyst, or similar, but the anxiety is overwhelming xx

I had similar and was referred. Smooth softish moveable quite large lump appeared quickly. It was a filled cyst and was drained. I now go for annual private checks - it's £395 for an exam and a mammogram - gives me total peace of mind. Could you afford that? I boom through my local private hospital. Sending hugs - I know it's very stressful but try not to worry. The fact it appeared quickly and is moveable is a good thing.

Had this recently and sounds similar to yours and was a cyst. Was very anxious beforehand. I think the stats are like 90% of bumps referred turn out to be nothing to worry about.

OP, I understand, similar thing happened to me (different symptoms) Referred urgently to a consultant but kept being told there was a massive wait "even for urgent". I was beside myself. I basically accepted the soonest appointment, but asked to be considered for any cancellation appointment. At 5 different hospitals. I was seen within 3 days (despite the initial appointments offered being anything for. December to Feb (!!). I have an operation booked for next week and a follow up the week after, all sooner than when I was first told the initial
Consult would be.
Just keep asking x

Yes, I've just had a similar health issue which warranted the 2 week referral pathway. I was told that this is now 2 weeks for an appointment to be sent to you and the appointment will be within a month after that so really it's now a 6 week referral pathway
I've gone private and got seen and all tests done within 2 weeks. Now, just booked in for surgery at the beginning of January. We'll be using next year's holiday fund 😐

Yes - have had this several times since mid-30’s. Can’t remember precisely how many. Has, so far, fortunately always been cysts. Sometimes they’ve drained them, sometimes not and they’ve gone away on their own.
last time the wait was 7 weeks, but lump had virtually gone by the time the appointment happened. Try not to worry OP I think the statistics are something like 9/10 lumps are harmless, but obviously get it checked.

Thanks all. I so appreciate your kindness and your words of wisdom around similar symptoms that were cysts.

I will definitely call to see if I can be seen any earlier, there are so many other hospitals closer too, but from what was said they aren't an option.

I've never been particularly great with anxiety, but this is something else, and at present the time ahead looks long and full of opportunities for me to convince myself of the worst!

This is a wonderful community, thank you xx