Breast lump biopsy - a hand hold needed

[Yellowsky21]

I’ve been to the breast clinic today and after mammogram and ultrasound I had a biopsy. The lump is not a cyst but looks to have cysts within it. It looks smooth and the dr said it was moveable although it feels very fixed to me. The wait could be a couple of weeks and I am beside myself. How do you keep going during the wait? And advice or experiences of similar procedures or lumps gratefully received please

The wait is the hardest part. People telling you that a majority of lumps and bumps are perfectly benign doesn’t help.
I found that keeping it ‘in house’ was imorotant. The less people who know, the less likely you’re going to hear ‘it’ll be fine’ or ‘my neighbours uncles wive had a lump and was dead in two days’.
obviously I’m being sarcastic but I think that the least people who need to know kind of protects you from either anxiety inducing anecdotes or making you feel a fool for worrying over something that may be nothing.

It’s absolutely terrifying when your mind strays into ‘what if…’ mode.
I can tell you of my experience but it will likely not be the same as yours.
Don’t feel that you have to be brave and don’t let anyone tell you you’re worrying over nothing.
I don’t think anything is worse than the unknown.
I did lots of crying and couldn’t put it aside during the wait.
But I was ‘lucky’ in that I was told it was likely to be cancer when they did the biopsy.
two years later, and one boob down, I’m healthy and happy and it is now just a chapter in my life.
Treat yourself kindly and obviously don’t use google!

Thank you @@drivinmecrazy

I understand how stressful this is. During the wait, try distracting yourself with calming activities and avoid excessive searching online. Many lumps turn out to be benign, so stay positive and know you're taking the right steps.

Thanks @momz1it was a U3 which I understand is probably benign but I guess I was hoping for answers today at the clinic and didn’t get them

A U3 result is usually benign, so try to stay hopeful. I know waiting for answers can be tough, but you're on the right track.

@Yellowsky21 I can't offer any first-hand advice, but offer my sympathies. I know that I'd be in a state the whole time. I do think the advice from @drivinmecrazy sounds quite good, difficult as it may be to follow. Wishing you all the best whatever the outcome.

Thanks everyone. I was hoping I might hear before 2 weeks but the consultant was certain it would be two weeks on the dot and not before

I went through this (twice) in a couple of months last year. They took a mammogram and then an ultrasound and they took the biopsy there and then. It was about 10
days before the results were released but the radiographer also a consultant said it looked benign and it was. The doctor told me they don’t tend to sugarcoat it if it’s looking like something might be cancerous because telling someone it’s probably benign then it not being is cruel (her words), she also said the chances of them being wrong before the biopsy returns are miniscule, not unheard of but not enough to mention.

thanks @alpenguin. The consultant was sure it would be 2 weeks before I hear and no sooner which I thought seemed strange. Let’s hope it’s sooner. I’ve woken up in a daze and am not sure how I am going to function at work. I just want to hide in bed tbh

As others have commented this is the hardest time waiting for the results. From my experience, I was told then and there that it was cancerous, they could tell from the ultrasound, again 8 years on and a single mastectomy it was just a chapter in my life.

I’m really hoping it’s benign for you and they’re just been very cautious to check the biopsy before they come back to you.

Thank you @ranoutofquinoaandproseccopatience is not my strong point! It’s the lack of control as well as the worry about the outcome I think and I do tend to be a worst case scenario thinker.

If time is of the essence, why do biopsy results take so long?

It takes so long because there aren’t enough specialist pathologists to review the samples. It can take a few days to get the sample ready for reporting, but then the wait is due to too many samples and too few breast pathologists.

Yes the waiting room was so busy and that was just one morning.

Taking each day at a time but feel my brain has a playlist of sad, scared, confused, ‘ok’ and numb on permanent shuffle mode