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Spooky
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Hi, I’m new here and feeling quite scared as I have my second appointment this Friday. 

I have just been referred to the breast clinic for the second time this month and I am really scared.  My first referral ended up with me having to ask for a mammogram because the doctor said I just had a cyst.  I now have a lump on my left breast which my gp also felt so he has referred me again.  Will I have another mammogram? If so, what is the point as nothing showed up on the first one.  My gp also said I could have dense breasts so might have an ultrasound, but I am worried that if the doctor at the breast clinic says it’s just cysts again he will send me away.  Can I ask for an ultrasound? Will they do everywhere or just where the lump is? Other people seem to have them automatically so why am I struggling to get seen properly.  I also have a watery/milky discharge from my nipple and this is not normal as I have never had children or breastfed.   I just need to know what I am dealing with, if it is really just cysts or if it is cancer.  Would my gp have been told I have dense breasts after the first mammogram? On the bright side he did describe me as young as I am in my late 40’s!  I’m afraid I’ve been googling a lot which is probably not a good thing but it seems that in America they suggest mammograms and ultrasounds for women with dense breasts, why don’t they tell us here?  Sorry for so many questions and Thank you in advance.  

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    Hi Spooky,

    Sometimes we have to stand our ground to get doctors to follow protocol. I cannot say whether or not you will have another mammogram. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer plus a few scares and, on all occasions I have had a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy. I have a rare form of cancer which doesn't always show up on mammogram or ultrasound. In fact, I had my routine mammogram shortly before I discovered the lump in my breast, and it hadn't picked anything up. The mammogram I had at the breast clinic did show up a tumour.

    Lots of women have naturally dense breasts and only 1 in 10 women referred to the breast clinic turn out to have cancer, so here's hoping that you are one of the nine. You have a good reason for requesting an ultrasound when you have had to return to the clinic so soon again, although you may find that they give you one automatically. Any time I've been they have checked the entire breast. This makes sense to ensure that there are no further areas of spread.

    Your GP would probably have discovered that you have dense breasts when he examined you.

    Googling is not a wise move at this stage, although few of us can resist the temptation. Can you take someone with you to your hospital appointments? This is always a good idea, as is drawing up a list of questions for your consultant before your apointment.

    I hope that you can get some answers on Friday. Do please let us know how you get on.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    Thank you, I’m going on Friday and my appointment is early so gives me less time to worry. I’m sorry for what you have been through, I hope you are doing well now Jolamine, you sound like you have been through a lot. My husband is coming with me this time (why do doctors always seem to take men more seriously?!) and I’m busy today so no more time for googling ... 

  • Offline in reply to Spooky

     

    Hi Spooky,

    I'm glad to hear that your husband is going with you tomorrow. Have you got a list of questions ready for the consultant? If not, sit down with your husband tonight and draw up a list of your concerns.

    It is just as well that you are too busy today to consult Dr Google any further.Keeping busy is the best solution to passing the time whilst you are waiting to be seen.

    I shall be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that it all goes well.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

     

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