Boob drama at 40. Waiting on a breast clinic referral and losing the plot a bit.

[overthinker82]

Hi wise Mumsnetters,

I’m 40 and recently found a lumpy area in one breast (left side, upper outer quadrant).

Naturally, I did what any sensible woman would do: spiralled, prodded it 400 times, googled myself into oblivion, and then finally saw my GP today.

She was lovely and calm (someone has to be) and said my boobs are “diffusely lumpy” (charming). She said the area feels mobile and texture feels more like glandular tissue, oblong in shape and 2cm. No issues with lymph nodes, no skin changes, no nipple drama, no weird shape-shifting when I raise my arm like a chicken. All the good stuff.

She’s still referring me to the breast clinic though.

I’ve now stopped HRT (was on it since October), and the lumpiness has actually faded ever so slightly since my GP appointment this morning (I think?) and since I stopped obsessively poking it (who knew?).

Still, the not knowing is grim. Even though the signs point to it being benign, my anxiety hasn’t got the memo. Lovely GP prescribed a week long supply of diazepam to help calm my nerves, and am now surviving on a medicinal blend of that and chocolate.

If anyone’s been through similar and come out the other side, or just wants to say “yep, I get it”, I’d really appreciate it. I recently moved from UK to Ireland and so feeling a little isolated over here.

Also open to ideas for profile names befitting someone whose boobs are currently running the show. “Tits McAnxiety” is the frontrunner.

Thanks in advance,
x

Same same
Went to GP two weeks ago with lumpy boob, she said similar about it being mobile etc, referred anyway, this is the guidelines thankfully

Seen on Monday
Mammogram awful experience (side note, would not have cared if it had been a man)

Everything fine

Huge relief

Hope it all works out for you too

Didn't want to read and run but briefly I had lumpiness. GP agreed: "ooh you're very lumpy ". Fast tracked. Slight thickening but no concerns. You are right to be checked but try to park it until seen

Yes I had the same for the first time a few weeks back. Someone here recommended wearing a top that’s super easy to put on/off and it made life so much easier on the day. The mamogram was not fun at all, but I was just resigned to doing anything to get the final answer. Hope you get the all clear answer very soon.

So pleased you got the all clear. Can imagine the weight lifted almost instantly! I seem to cycle from one extreme to another - all in the space of a couple of minutes. It’s exhausting!

Can I ask what your lumpy area felt like please? What helped to take your mind off the 2WW?

Was your outcome a positive one, Sparkling?

Finding it difficult to park it.
What did your thickness feel like? My area isn’t rock hard, but it’s also not squishy either. I find it really challenging to explain the feeling / texture.
Urggghh just want the appointment now.

MammaryMcLump?

I have had this twice. Both times benign. Lumpy breasts.Please don't worry. Easier said than done

I've had lumpy boobs for years, and have had several mammograms, but all fine so far, thankfully.

The lumpiness waxes and wanes for me (and now that I'm post-menopausal they're often completely smooth) but when they are lumpy, I always think they feel a bit like porridge. When they're very lumpy, they feel similar to one of those children's water bead stress balls.

lumpy boobs too. GP checked them on 2 occasions and said unless I feel a lump that is rock hard, shaped like a marble then I have just lumpy boobs. Mammogram all clear too.

I had what felt like a cord or an enlarged, thick vein running across the top of my breast at 45. Strangely, mine had started to disappear and by the time I got to the breast clinic, it was completely gone! The consultant said that many breast issues are from wearing the wrong sized bra!

Some tips for the breast clinic:
-I had the mammogram, waited, then an ultrasound, waited, then saw the consultant. If it had been needed, they would have biopsied on the day also.
-Take water and snacks
-Take a book/puzzle book/crochet or something to do with your time whilst waiting
-I had a mammogram abroad and they made it clear you shouldn't use deodorant at all, because the aluminum can affect the image. In the UK though, they said it was fine to wear!

Best of luck.

My lumpiness felt like a slightly thicker breast wall in one side with a pulling sensation and it hurt when the dog leaned on me. I worked myself into a frenzy but once I got the date through I was able to park it mostly by reading a lot if easy books and sleeping a lot.

Yes benign lump, it was drained (no pain at all) and all sorted. Fingers crossed yours is fine too.

Lump felt very hard but very small, like a pea. Wasn't anything, just normal lumpiness. Didn't get frightened because I'm a bit bleak in general and thought well, if it's time it's time (some friends died young of breast cancer and it's affected me in my outlook on death and worrying)

I've no doubt this is a coping mechanism and if I'd had bad news I would have most likely fallen apart though

I’ve been packed off to the breast clinic about four times and it has always been benign cysts. Had them drained at the clinic there and then after examination, mammogram and ultrasound and gone home happy. But it’s always as well to get them checked every time as soon as possible. Unfortunately the fifth time for me wasn’t benign.

Hi @overthinker82. Yep I get it! I’ve been in the same position and been to breast clinic about three times. Last twice I had cysts that were drained. I totally get the anxiety, it’s horrible. It’s fairly common to start developing breast cysts around peri menopause, which is when mine started. Mobile and general lumpiness are good signs, more indicative of non cancer, which is of course the big concern most people have.

Oh, and with ref to lumpy breasts, the breast clinic told me it was a rare woman indeed who didn’t have lumpy breasts. Perfectly normal, but look for changes and get them checked.

Thanks all for your insight / replies.

I’ve spent most of the day doom scrolling and starting to prod again… so I’m definitely spiralling!

I’m still getting used to how the Irish system works.

My GP had no option to mark the referral as urgent… it’s up to the receiving hospital to determine whether it should be marked as urgent based on the GPs report and she said it could be downgraded based on my low risk profile but she did mention on the report I had health anxiety, don’t know if that will make a difference.

I have private healthcare through work and so this was a private referral… but still could take 6 weeks plus if not marked as urgent and up to 4 weeks if urgent (I phoned the hospital to check current wait times).

I’n half tempted to jump on a flight back to the UK to either Manchester or London next week and pay out of pocket for a one stop triple assessment. I’m fortunate that I have a rainy day fund I could use. I just don’t know - if I got bad news - how treatment would transfer from UK to Ireland? And how I would cope flying back alone if it was bad news! Though the airport bar would help…

I keep telling myself >90% lumps are benign and repeating the reassuring words of the GP… but when you’re in the eye of the anxiety storm, none of the rational stuff works!

Sorry to hear that you’ve been through a tough time. How are you doing now? 💐

Not read the whole thread but you ladies with lumpy boobs…. Please keep getting things checked, every single time. ❤️

Well it’s been a tough ride, don’t want to scare you. But 9 times out of 10 it’s just a lump, a cyst, something and nothing. Always as well to get it checked, as you’re doing. If your wait time is long, it’s possible your GP isn’t too worried. I went to the GP on a Tuesday and was seen at the breast clinic on the Friday, so I knew it was a bit different this last time. My care has been excellent.

Update for anyone who stumbles across this thread.

I couldn’t wait the 4 weeks currently quoted in Ireland for urgent referrals so I got on a plane from Dublin to Manchester this morning and attended the breast clinic at Alexandra Hospital, next to the airport.

Physical exam done with breast consultant who said the area didn’t feel suspicious and was mostly like the tissue responding to the HRT. I asked him how did he know it didn’t feel suspicious, his reply “I’ve been feeling breasts for 40 years!”.

That put me at ease.

He still ordered a mammogram and ultrasound though to be 100% certain.

Both mammogram and ultrasound came back clear. They said my boobs are on the denser side (though not the most dense they’ve seen).

The radiographer said I didn’t have a lump, but what I was feeling was dense glandular tissue in the upper quadrant which she said was naturally the lumpier part of a woman’s breast.

Such a relief!!

Thanks all.

Glad to hear your news. I have exactly those kind of dense breasts! They are a pain but I usually assume the best and just have regular mammos now. Am also on HRT.