Hi and welcome to the forum. It is a very scary time the not knowing but you have done the first step by going to the doctors. Most referres are marked as urgent and seen within two weeks. When I had mine I had a mammogram ultrasound scan and two core biopsies taken. Then had to wait a week for results which came back inconclusive so I then had a lumpectomy done finally results came back benign. Try and keep busy it will not stop you worrying but being busy does help. Do you have someone to go with you to the hospital to give you some support and take notes? X 

Thank you so much for replying, sincerely appreciated.
I'm so pleased that yours came out benign, you must have been so worried.
So I guess I will face something like ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy perhaps...
I don't have anyone to come with me, only my mum, but she is 86 and fragile, so don't really want to be upsetting her.... 
Its so scary... I keep imagining potential scenarios, knowing full well I'm being stupid. 
May I ask, was yours in your armpit or breast? Did you find it yourself?
Again, thanks for replying xx

Mine was in my left breast. I found the lump myself but when I had my ultrasound they found another smaller one. You will go through every emotion going that’s why they call it a rollercoaster ride ups and downs. What your feeling is normal. Our minds  go into overdrive and fear the worse. I found mine just before my 49th birthday and convinced I wouldn’t see my 50th! Yet here I am all ok and a couple of weeks ago did the London moonwalk raising money for breast cancer. It does make you relook at life even just being a scare and yeah does make you check yourself more. Don’t think the fear ever leaves you x 

Hello there,

The breast clinic is a well oiled machine, when I went I was first called in to see the consultant who had a good look and feel of the area, she then marked it up with a felt tip pen, then it was off to the mammogram ( I have dense breast tissue so had 3 lots on each breast) then off To ultrasound......this is called a triple assessment and is very thorough. There can be lots of waiting around so perhaps take a book or something with you? Don't be alarmed if they suggest a biopsy of some sort, if you're lucky you may get this on the same day.....

I know it's difficult but do try to keep busy with other stuff....like I read on here somewhere once...." it isn't anything until it's something " I like that! Because it's true....no amount of worry will change anything....

try and let us know how you get on? Xxxx

Thats sucha positive story, amazing... May I ask, did you have breast pain at all?
My worry is that I have ignored pain in my breast for ages :-( I had always heard that cancer lumps didnt hurt, so I always felt reassured. But I am learning lots online, and see that this isnt the case... and some symtoms that I though were 'normal' couls actually dodgey.
May I ask what stage you were and what your treatment was?
Thanks for replying, and sorry for delayed response, I have been in a black pit for a few days trying to get my head around it all.. xxx

Hi Marlyn
Thank you for your replying to me, and apologies for a delayed response, I have been in a black pit for a few days... 
I am glad that the breast clinic is so organised, I guess that helps. 
I like your advice, and I know its true... you are so right... Why can't I just get my head around it and stop worrying?? I guess Dr Google doesnt help, as I am noticing that symptoms that I have had for ages (me thinking they were just normal breast pains, and feeling my left one slightly bigger and heavier because of weight gain) could in fact be sinister :-(
May I ask what your symptoms were? Were you diagnosed? I hope all is well with you, and appreciate you replyng to me so much xx I had my blood test today in preparation for appointment, but am still awaiting an appointment x

Hi sorry to see your have been in not good a place. I didn’t have a stage as it was not cancer. You get stages etc when cancer is confirmed. I didn’t have any pain just the first lump I found. I had a lumpectomy which because the second lump they found was quite deep took a bit longer to recover so had three weeks off work then 6 weeks light duties as i do heavy lifting at work. Now I have yearly mammograms. My scar is really good you wouldn’t really know I had been operated on x 

Hi, I found a lump in my right breast....sadly it was cancer but it's all good, chemo done...now on rads.....treatment is out there, it's not the end of the world, it's the start of getting back on track.....

It's  human nature to fret and think the worse....xx let us know how it all goes xxx

Hi Shoobeedo,

I am so sorry to hear about your worries concerning your lump and thickened skin. I know that this is a worrying time, but you seem to be jumping way ahead of yourself and making things worse.

We all have many lymph nodes, but we don't often pay them much attention until the possibility of a cancer diagnosis rears it's ugly head. Swollen lymph nodes don't always mean cancer. They can swell up from any infection. Some will settle down, whilst others won't, but that doesn't always signal something sinister.

Unfortunately, it is not as simple as 'getting your head around it and stopping the worry', but it will be easier if you take it day by day instead of looking at the biggesr picture. Try to keep yourself busy to distract yourself from the wait. Draw up a list of questions for your consultant. Do you have a friend or relative who you could take to your appointments with you? It will be easier for you if you have someone with you, especially when you are due to get test results.

You ask what will happen when you attend the breast clinic. You will be asked about your symptoms and then have a physical examination. After that, you will probably have an ultrasound and a biopsy. It normally takes about 1 week to get the results back. These will tell you whether or not your lump is benign or cancerous and, if cancer is present, it will also tell you what grade the cancer is.

I am so sorry to hear of your personal situation. This must be very difficult for you. If you do get a positive diagnosis, I hope that you tell your son as soon as possible. Children have big ears and you don't want him to overhear something that he shouldn't. Besides, it will be much easier for you to cope with things when the whole family know and you can talk about it openly. Sadly, a cancer diagnosis doesn't just affect you, it impinges on all of the family.

I hope that your tests don't show up anything untoward . Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for your reply and for taking the time to explain everything to me.
I'm a mess right now, trying to work and be Mama, and this is weighing heavy on my heart.
I have been researching as much as possible (good or bad I don't know, but what else can I do?)...
I am seeing that indeed many women are doagnosed at advanced stage :-( once it has already passed to nodes. Every other possible outcome I have also researched, and seems very very unlikely given my symptoms.
I have no one available to come with me, my parents are in their late 80's, I don't want to burden them. My mum ion particular is not well, and doesnt need added worry.
'Husband' is not interested. 
I am wondering, and I am sorry to ask (I know I must sund crazy) but what do cancerous lymph nodes feel like? I know they dont have to be big, but are they hard, or movable?

Ugh... 
Sincerely, thank you for help