Thickening in breast

[Nellynoo182]

I saw my GP last week after noticing thickening in my breast and my GP also found a lump. She referred me on the ‘2 week urgent suspected cancer pathway’ for further investigation.

After still not receiving an appointment, I called today and was informed it is at least a 6 week delay due to the amount of referrals they receive!

I have two babies, a 1 year old and a 2 year old and feeling very anxious about the whole situation.

Can anyone advise whether they have been seen privately and what the cost breakdown was for diagnostic assessment? Is this the norm to wait so long with an urgent referral? I’m in the west midlands if that makes a difference.

Hello
Also in the Midlands (Coventry). Saw GP 3 weeks ago and still waiting to be seen at breast clinic. Please try not to worry. Easier said than done I know!!

Hey @Waitingforspring77 thank you for getting back to me. Fingers crossed you get your appointment soon and everything is okay 🌷 the wait is agonising! Xx

Spire hospitals do a one stop breast clinic where you see a consultant and they advise on what scan or scans to have. Once you’ve had the scan you go back to the consultant for their interpretation. They can then refer you back to the nhs for a biopsy or other tests or can sometimes do them there as well. I would estimate about 2-300 for the initial consultant appt (it varies) and then an ultrasound would probably be another 3-400 per breast but mammograms from memory are more like 200. Sorry, it was about 2 years ago so may have gone up a bit or may vary between hospitals (I am midlands). They can tell you what all the fees are when you book over the phone. Nuffield also do something similar I think. I hope all goes smoothly and you can get some peace of mind quickly. Another thing you could do is ring the nhs booking line and try for a cancellation, if you have the number.

some thickening can be normal.
I'm 31, I get abcesses alot, I have HS so I regularly get them on my breasts, so I'm always in and out of the breast clinic.
Please try not to worry, the consultant noted I had some thickening in the middle of my breast as in between each one - I have large breasts.
Also, the lump could just be a cyst, please try not to worry, though 6 weeks is an awfully long wait.