Two referrals in a week

[Sparkies2012]

Just here to offload after a difficult week. Visited the doctor on Tuesday with pain in my breast. She found a lump and has referred me on the 2 week pathway. She said not to worry but easier said than done. Then today I went for a routine smear test and they saw an area of concern on my cervix so have another 2 week referral. Bloody two things to worry about in the same week. Unlikely either referral will be in the two weeks with Christmas coming up, just feel like I'm going to be worrying the whole time rather than enjoying Christmas.

That is pants. If it helps I got referred recently for breast pain and a lump that the gp found. Just nodules nothing sinister diagnosed. I understand pain is rarely cancer but gp’s have to be careful.

Yes that is bad timing and I feel for you.

But as pp said pain is not often the first sign of breast cancer and I think unusual cells in smears, again, is not that uncommon. GPs are quite rightfully risk averse when it comes to breast cancer. All the best I hope you can still enjoy your Xmas and you get good news in the NY or before.

Sorry to hear this, I had a similar thing happen, a 2 week referral for a mole and another one for post menopausal bleeding at the same time.
I just kept saying to myself thinking about it all the time will make the time go slower. I think my DH found the waiting harder than me.
I found doing some breathing relaxation techniques really helped and if I did start worrying I said to myself right have a 15 minute worry session and then go and and find something to do to keep busy. As it’s Christmas this may help you as there’s so much going on.

I work in breast clinic, and if I had a pound for the number of times I’ve had a patient presenting to GP with pain, and the GP finds a lump the patient hadn’t been aware of previously, which is subsequently referred, and turns out to be nothing at all, I would be a very, very rich woman.

Conversely, I can’t think of any case recently when a patient had a cancer with pain as only symptom, and the evidence backs this up - it is an extremely low risk symptom.

As a PP says, GPs are (rightly) very, very risk averse when it comes to breasts, and the threshold for referral is extremely low. Try not to worry too much. Well over 90% of cases I see in clinic have a benign outcome.

I have an idea of how you feel.

I am also waiting for my two week breast clinic referral having seen the GP this week. The not knowing truly sucks over Christmas. (Painful lumpiness, swollen breast with now inverted nipple that came up rapidly last Friday. History of nasty cancers on my side so you bet I made myself see a GP fast. Initial reaction was to want to hide but I made myself go) For now it is silly things that floor me like putting my keys down and being so distracted I forget where they are. Trying to keep well away from Dr Google and sticking to NHS advice for now and using every relaxing distraction I know helps a bit. My eldest DD is a burns and trauma nurse and is being very supportive and encouraging me that being seen and checked is the right thing to do.

Hope your appointment comes through before Christmas Day so you have one less stress to cope with.

Dr Google is the worst! Got my breast appointment through today for 6th Jan, so just waiting on the other one now. Going to try and put it to the back of my mind and enjoy Christmas. Hoping all goes well for you and you can enjoy your Christmas too x

Aw sorry to read this. I had something similar in June. Had my regular blood tests and it came back slightly raised ca125 which can be indicator of ovarian cancer then I had my bowel stool test back and that showed signs of colon cancer? Two week pathway for both. Pelvic scan on the Monday and colonoscopy on the Friday! This just topped a lot of other medical things I'd been suffering with some last November. As it was all was ok but was such an awful time going through it. Try and think of the positive OP although that's so mhh easier to say. I've also been on two week pathway for breast lump and all was ok there too. I hope you get seen soon and all will be well xxx

Mine came through today for the 30th December. Having a wobble right now as they have placed me on the must be seen within two weeks pathway with a hot mug of tea as I have had to cancel another hospital appointment booked for a while that was due on the same day and time in another hospital. Going to try and have some sort of Christmas then find out what is going on before New Year.