Breast Clinic Process

I was referred to the breast clinic due to ongoing pain and had my appointment last Friday where an ultrasound revealed what the radiologist called three innocent looking lumps, one in the left and two in the right side. He expected follow-up in a few months. I saw the consultant surgeon after who said the results of the ultrasound would go to the breast meeting and they may wish to biopsy both sides but he wouldn’t worry about it at all, he thinks Fibroadenoma I’ve probably had for a long time. Today I received a letter for follow up at the breast clinic in three weeks time but nothing about a biopsy. Now I’m confused as to whether I’ll get an appointment for biopsies in the interim, whether they’ll do the biopsies at the appointment in 3 weeks or whether there now won’t be any biopsies. I’m scared to be honest, has anyone had this in the process before?

  • If they are going to a biopsy they will probably do it at the breast clinic, that is where I had mine done.  You can always phone them to find out exactly what the appointment is for.  Probably your best course of action is to phone the breast nurse number, its usually an answerphone, so leave a message and they will call you back.  You will need to leave your hospital number which you should find on your letter.  If you don't have the breast nurse number you can look it up on the internet.

  • I was at the breast clinic Monday and the process for me was ultrasound, mammogram, biopsy and a marker placed, then another mammogram. This was followed by a chat about what they'd seen and what happens next.

  • Thanks, for your reply, that was what I thought would happen but then they’ve let me go and called me back in 3 weeks time, I can’t understand why they didn’t just do it there and then. Maybe there was nobody available, it’s just stressing me out. 

  • Hi Claresaf,

    A very warm welcome to our forum,

    Chances are that, for some reason or another, there was nobody available to do a biopsy at your last appointment, so try not to overthink things. As Nettietoo said, why not phone your breast care nurse and ask what this appointment is for?

    It is good that the radiologist and your consultant surgeon both thought that this was a fibroadenoma. Not all lumps are cancerous. Many turn out to be cysts or fibroadenoma. 

    Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx