Hi All.
In early 2024 I found a small breast lump which the hospital confirmed was a ductal adenoma (a rare lump apparently, often mistaken for cancer). I was told they don’t usually grow and so they’d leave it alone.
8 months later I realised it had definitely grown and now, 12 months on, it’s 4cm by 4cm, so pretty big. I’m also an A cup so it’s prominent.
I had a scan a couple of months again and the surgeons advised that because it’s growing so rapidly I should have it removed. The problem was I was moving across the country 2 weeks later so we agreed that I would be referred again in the new town and have the surgery there. The new hospital insisted on another biopsy and have said it’s a fibroadenoma, and it’s growing at a rate of 2mm per month. It’s also painful now. They were ready to discharge me until I mentioned that the previous hospital had advised it was removed. 2 weeks later they called to say they’d discussed it but it’s policy at this hospital not to remove them and they were discharging me.
The doctor said I could refer myself again 2 weeks later and try to “argue my case”. This all seems a waste of NHS resources to keep having appointments, scans etc when they know what it is. I was told that if I felt it had grown or it was painful I could also be referred again, at which point I reminded them that it was growing and it was painful.
What would you do? I’m very aware of it all the time as it’s affecting my cup size on that side, it’s painful and I can feel it against my rib. I’m also aware it feels bigger. My partner suggested I contact the other hospital and try to have it removed there but that would mean cross country trips and I guess aftercare there which isn’t easy with children and no family support.
Have any of you got massive fibroadenomas you just live with?