Hi,

We're in the same boat, so to speak....DV survivor, Autistic , Mother had breast cancer and I found a lump recently and now I'm waiting for a fast-track referral after going to my GP today....scary isn't it?

I completely understand how you're feeling....I had a little wobble earlier but trying to distract myself with other things.

I think it will be useful to explain your fears as best you can and ask relevant questions when you get the phonecall to arrange your appointment...that phonecall should be tomorrow if they said 24 hrs so not too long to wait to get some clear answers/ information. 

I believe you can have a chaperone with you during examinations and tests but this may vary depending on which hospital so , in the meantime , if you know where you're being referred to then you can check on their website to see if you can get more info on how their breast screening clinics work....this is what I was just doing myself.

From what I have been reading, and also stated by my GP , having a mamogram/scan/other tests are used in the majority of cases to check that a lump ISN'T cancerous so try to think of it as ruling OUT cancer first of all....little steps.

Obviously I don't have any more experience on this issue than you so perhaps someone else will jump in that has actually been though the mamogram and tests but I just wanted you to know that I saw your message , empathize with you, and I hope you're able to get the info and reassurance that you need so that you don't feel so scared :)

Hi Jess,

I typed out a reply and managed to delete it so apologies if you get this twice! I saw your reply on my post and your post here and thought i would share my experience so you know what to expect.

Firstly, if you're able to please try and take someone with you to your appointment. I assumed I couldnt because of Covid but when I got there everyone else had someone. A friend or family member would be good for comfort but even just to help you take it all in and remember what was said. It's all a bit of a blur to me and I have been overthinking all week and thinking did he really say that to me or am I misremembering?! 

You will have a breast examination and then most likely be sent for a scan. I'm a year younger than you so in my case it was an ultrasound becase as Plumlet rightly pointed out, mamograms dont tend to work on people our age because our breast tissue is too dense. Having said that when I went for my ultrasound and the radiographer found my lump she sent me for a mamogram and core biopsy. Nothing came up on the mamogram which was to be expected. She then took three samples from my lump and inserted metalic markers around the lump which means it will be easily found if it needs to come out. Equally the Radiographer said if it doesnt need to come out then the markers can stay in me forever and will do no harm. 

I have been on an emotional rollercoaster all week so dont feel bad about crying. One minute I'm fine and the next I'm crying. Uncertainty is hard to deal with.

There is never a good time for something like this but it must be really tricky trying to prep for your viva. I have been less than useless this week at work. Let me know how you get on with your appointment, I'll be thinking of you.xx

P.s worth remembering that 80% of breast clinic referals are completely fine.

Thank you so much for your reply. It helps to know what to expect. Did the samples and markers hurt? How long were you there for in total do you reckon? I will definitely ask them about taking someone with me when they call. I'm sorry you're going through this too. It's horrible and so stressful. 

It was literally my 29th birthday a couple of days ago...Happy birthday to me!! 

You're welcome, and thank you, trying to put it to the back of my mind...the hardest part was going to the GP in the first place, I'll cross the next bridge when I come to it.

Oh dear, not good timing at all but at the same time the sooner you get the lump investigated the better, whatever the outcome.

My daughter had a stressful situation just before one of her uni deadlines recently and managed to get an extension...she's also autistic and although very capable in her subject she becomes exhausted at the first whiff of stress,  as do I ( I also have Chronic Fatigue ) 

There's absulutely no shame in saying you need more time.

I just googled "what is a viva" and I'm not sure if you can delay that as well but I would certainly ask due to the circumstances and how it's making you feel, I think they will understand.

Do you have access to your records via an online GP service? If so then you can print out your referral form / letter to patient which you can show.

I won't take up any more of your time now as I can see you've work to be doing but do ask for help from the Uni tomorrow? 

Take care :)

So I was expecting the biopsy to be worse than it was. They give you local anaesthetic and that pretty much numbed everything so I couldn't feel it. I found it helped not to look at the needle! I was a little bit tender for a day or two and you can't shower for two days but I was back at the gym tonight and feel completely fine. I have a teeny tiny bruise but that's about it. 

As for the markers I wouldn't have known they were going in unless she told me, didn't feel it at all. 
 

All in all I was there for about 90 mins but a lot of that was time in the waiting room between each stage. 
 

Can I ask whereabouts you are roughly? I'm in Scotland.

 X

I hope you have a two week appointment the sooner you are seen the better for you than waiting and worrying. Not all areas seem to be two weeks at the moment. 
 Take a friend as four weeks ago I went to the breast clinic and lots of patients had someone with them. They have relaxed a lot of the Covid restrictions. 
You will see a doctor have mammogram or ultrasound if required it's a one stop clinic so they try to give you results on the day, you have to wait for biopsies to come back if they have been taken usually about two weeks. 
most people in the clinic don't have cancer there's lots of other breast problems like cysts ect. 
l hope your seen shortly and uni goes well 

susie 

Hi Plumlet,

Thank you for your reply. I've got my appointment - 7th April. Feels like ages away. 

I don't want to postpone the viva as I've put so much work into it, and then I'd have to do it again while also being on placement (medical course), which would be too much. 

Feeling less stressed and upset today but don't know how I'm going to cope with the uncertainty until the 7th April. 

Hi Grace

That's reassuring to hear, thank you. I'm in Derbyshire so I don't know if there will be differences in terms of the process.

How are you getting on today? 

Hope you're doing okay.

Hi Susie,

Thank you for your reply. That's useful to know about taking somebody with me. Thank you for your well wishes. 

Hope you are keeping okay.