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What can I expect at my urgent appointment?

Nikstar01
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Hi, last Monday my GP confirmed there was a lump in my right breast. And advised my temperature and BP were quite a high! That would explain why my neurologist's nurses, said my BP was high a week earlier (I thought it was because I was rushing to find a parking space!). ‍♀️
 

I had been experiencing pain in the area for a few weeks, thought it was due to my menstrual cycle (tend to get painful breasts) or that my "wired" bra was pressing on something?. It wasn't until I was laying on my side in bed and tried to turn did I feel the pain get much worse, and I felt there was a lump there!
 

My GP immediately referred me to an urgent breast scan and prescribed two different antibiotics, amoxicillin and metronidazole to take for seven days. After the initial shock, I knew I had to focus on getting through the next few days until I got my scan appointment. At first, the antibiotics helped ease the pain and I tried to forget about the lump as much as possible. Keeping busy with other things! However, on Friday evening I felt my body burning up. I tried to sleep it off, thinking some rest would help. It has been a busy day! But it continued to get worse. I got up and took some paracetamol and checked my temperature, it was 38.6.

 

Knowing I had to get up early to take my youngest daughter to work and how stressed she was about her forthcoming A'Level resits, this week - I decided to keep this to myself and call 111, for some advice, once I had dropped her off. Thankfully, the caller was very helpful. Referred me to see a nurse practitioner within the hour at my local MIU unit. He checked my breast and confirmed the lump! I was relieved to hear my temp and BP had gone down. He prescribed me a weeks course of Fluxloxacillian, told me to come off the amoxicillin but carry on with the last day of the metronidazole ( it makes me feel sick).


Today, I'm on my last day of taking the metronidazole and praying the Fluxloxacillian works! Then this evening, to top things off; I get a NHS text confirming my scan for the 4th October, but it says "Breast Surgery" in the header, frighting the life out of me! Does this mean I'll have surgery after my scan depending on what they find? Or just a mammogram (I'm 46 - my grandmother had breast cancer), when she was younger and lived to 90! Or is it for a biopsy too? I'm am so confused about it all! 
 

Please help!

 

  • Hello and thanks for your post,

    I am sorry to hear about your situation. To try and reassure you when they said breast surgery they meant the breast department is going to do the scan. They will not be doing any surgery straight after the scan.

    The doctors need to find out more about the lump. The majority of lumps are not cancerous but to start off with the doctors need to find our more. This usually involves an ultrasound and possibly a mammogram and if they think that they see an area that needs to be investigated further they may do a biopsy. Not all biopsies come back with cancer.

    Breast cancer is not usually painful. The lump may be connected to an infection which may be the cause of your high temperature but of course I can't be sure. Sometimes a different antibiotic is needed as in your case.

    When you go to the breast clinic the doctors and nurses will explain any tests and procedures that they are going to do. They are aware how anxious women can be.

    You may find it helpful to look at the information written by Breast Cancer Now here

    You say that your grandmother had breast cancer. Breast cancer risks and causes are explained on our website at this link.

    You will see that a family history can increase the risk of breast cancer but not always by very much. This can depend on how close the affected relatives were and how young they were when they developed the cancer. Breast cancer is common anyway, 1 in 8 women develop breast cancer over their lifetime, but mostly at an older age (above 50).

    I do hope that you know more soon.

    If you would like to have a chat with any of this with one of the nurses on the helpline then do give us a ring.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

    All the Best,

    Catherine

  • Offline

    I have had many breast infections and multiple ops due to milk ducts, cysts and lymph nodes they have at times given 3 weeks of antibiotics to try to clear problems. They can be deep seated l hope your feeling better soon.                
       Breast clinic are really good and can do all of the required investigations, l have an open appointment at the clinic l think l have a season ticket. If l see the GP she sends me to see them every time. 

    l take some painkillers before a mammogram as they can be uncomfortable , 

     Take care

    Susie

     

  • Offline in reply to CRUK Nurse Catherine

    Hi Catherine, 

    Thank you so much for your reassuring words. They were very helpful. I will take a look at the links you attached. 
     

    Thankfully, the third set of antibiotics seem to be working better, feel the lump has got smaller (but it's still there) and at times quite painful. 
     

    I just want to get the scan done on Monday, then work out what direction my life is going to take? All this not knowing, is very stressful. 
     

    Really appreciate your help, will call the number on Monday if it's not good news!  
     

    Best wishes, 

     

    Nikki

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