Hi,

I hope you're feeling ok this morning. 
 

I can't relate to your symptoms but I visited my GP yesterday after previously visiting last month with what felt like a soft lump under my left armpit and pain in that arm and that side breast; she said it was an infected sebaceous cyst and put me on a course of antibiotics that didn't clear it up and now I am in more pain and after my visit yesterday she could now feel two and has referred me to the breast clinic next week. The header on my letter says 2WW 4A 4B 4C 4D.

It's such a worry isn't it! I can't eat, I feel sick with worry. I am 34 with a 12 and 9 year old and I am so scared right now so I just wanted to say, you're not alone. I am here if you need to talk xx

Hi Lovelyjubbly,

Poor you, Infections in this area can be very painful and like alot of infections sometimes need a further dose of antibiotics to clear up, but it will do no harm getting it checked out at the clinic as they deal with armpit  ( axilla ) cysts as well as breast issues. 

Please try not to think the worst, your GP is being cautious and can't see into your armpit so a scan is the best way to see what's going on.

2WW= 2 Week Wait 

Hopefully you will get some reassurance next week, until then take care. :happy:

Thank you so much for jumping on this thread - it really means a lot.

Have you had anything like this happen to you?

I am trying to focus on the fact that I have been treated for an infected sebeceous cyst prior to visiting the GP again and hoping that the two she can see are these and they just need some more antibiotics but I worry as I am in pain around the area, into my breast and my arm on that side and I don't know if this is even normal for cysts. 
 

Like you said, my GP can't see into my armpit and can only go off sight and what she feels so I am glad that I have been referred but your mind just wanders and always thinks the worst. I do suffer terribly from health anxiety and it has been heightened recently just because a girl I went to primary school with passed away a few weeks ago from BC so it's just making me so scared.

I will make sure to let you know how I get on and thanks again for messaging. I feel guilty using this site but I think sometimes you need to speak to other people outside of your circle or who have gone or going through similar.

xx

Hi,

Sorry to jump on your post.

I have myself posted a similar query as I have two swollen lymph nodes under both armpits.  They have been there for years as far as I remember,  I just thought it was part of my anatomy as they were symmetrical.

But when I saw the Gp almost two weeks ago he decided to refer me just to rule out the big C.

From this moment I feel the same as you, sometimes I convince myself it's nothing them I am sure I am going to die.

Cannot eat, sleep or work. I also have two young children.

I live in Manchester and although the Gp put me on a two weeks referral the waiting time is currently 6 weeks!!!

My husband and I have decided to go private so I have an appointment scheduled on Friday . I do hope I will have good news .

Stay strong!

Hi

Please don't apologise for jumping on the post; it's nice to have a support network of people going through the same or similar situations and I am glad you have.

I'm sorry you are also going through this nightmare of the unknown and I am so pleased you have managed to get in to be seen this Friday as 6 weeks is such a long wait and it's impossible to get through every second of each day without being worried and this taking over your life.

I am in a similar situation to you with unusual lumps under the armpit and I have two also. My GP believes them to be cysts but has referred to rule out C too. 
I am the same as you, can't eat, sleep, concentrate on anything or even hold up conversations with anyone as I am just so consumed with what's going on in my body. I have a 12 and 9 year old and I am 34.

Are you in any pain with yours? I am in some mild discomfort in left arm, left side of my breast, even my neck and my lower back is really bad but I have put that down to exercise and posture not correct but I just keep thinking that what if it is C and it's spread. These are such dark thoughts but I can't help myself.

Friday will soon be here so try and stay positive (I know it's impossible) and I am struggling with this myself. 
 

Please let me know how you get on - sending you lots of hugs x

Hi,

Yes the wait was literally killing me in the past 2 weeks I have literally lost 5 kg as I obviously cannot eat or think about something else.

Mine are not painful at all, well I believe but because I had them for so long I never felt any pain but since the big C was suspected I from time to time feel aches but I put it on more on the psychological aspect, the mind is powerful in creating symptoms you know!

I just can't wait to be on Friday and at the same time I am scared of the outcome. But my life will definitely never be the same whatever the result is.

I will definitely let you know but hoping to come back with good news!

I'll be thinking of you and I pray that it's all positive.

After you saying about going private, I contacted my private health provider and I have managed to get in tomorrow at 5:45 at a private hospital (I didn't think they would get me in before my appointment next Wednesday) so I wasn't going to bother but glad you mentioned going private so thank you.

I am actually more of a nervous wreck now as like you, so scared of what the outcome is going to be. I think I am making myself ill from all the worry. Every ounce of my body is in pain and I feel so sick! 
 

I will let you know how my appointment goes xx

Hi Lovely,

Don't be silly, you're absolutely justified to be looking for support and info in this chat section as it is   "pre-diagnosis signs and symptoms"

Not everyone on here will have a cancer diagnosis after their tests but most of the sypmtoms that get us referred are shared by us all and the fear at this stage is the same for everyone it seems so it can be a good place to talk about your anxieties and hopefully get some reassurance too. 

I have only ever had cysts on my ovaries ( harmless ) but that was painful and my mother got lots of ( harmless ) breast cysts which I believe were painful. One of my daughters had infected armpit hair folicle ( commonly casued by shaving ) which I think is the same as sebaceous cyst as that involes hair/sweat glands and that was very swollen and painful.

The reason I joined this forum is because I found a large lump a while ago and had a sore breast which stayed though a few period cycles so I saw my GP and although she thought it was normal lumpy breast tissue she sent me for a 2 week referral to the breast clinic. 

The waiting was terrible and I went though a rollercoaster of emotions but from talking to others I found that this is the natural response.

I had a total of 3 mammograms and 2 scans and 4 biopsies were taken on the day, not of the painful lump I was complianing about because that was indeed normal breast nodules , BUT they found something else hiding there a 11mm spiculated mass which had to be biopsied to see if it is anything to worry about.

Again, that is a source of anxiety as I have to wait for the results however I have been trying to keep busy and minimise the negative thinking, it's not easy but I have had CBT therapy in the past for PTSD and using coping strategies that I learned. You can get therapy or use online tools to help with your health anxiety, it's a recognised condition now and you don't have to be a prisoner to it.

Anxiety and fear can spiral out of control if you let it. It is OK to be scared, but don't let it dominate your every waking thought, tell your mind "STOP" when it wanders, prolonged stress does not do anyone any good.

Sometimes you have to ask yourself "what advice would I give to someone in my position?" and then give that advice to yourself and follow it...I can see you've been supporting others so you know what to say to yourself.

I'm saying all of this with the best intentions :love:

We are all stronger than we think.

Hi Lovely,

Don't be silly, you're absolutely justified to be looking for support and info in this chat section as it is   "pre-diagnosis signs and symptoms"

Not everyone on here will have a cancer diagnosis after their tests but most of the sypmtoms that get us referred are shared by us all and the fear at this stage is the same for everyone it seems so it can be a good place to talk about your anxieties and hopefully get some reassurance too. 

I have only ever had cysts on my ovaries ( harmless ) but that was painful and my mother got lots of ( harmless ) breast cysts which I believe were painful. One of my daughters had infected armpit hair folicle ( commonly casued by shaving ) which I think is the same as sebaceous cyst as that involes hair/sweat glands and that was very swollen and painful.

The reason I joined this forum is because I found a large lump a while ago and had a sore breast which stayed though a few period cycles so I saw my GP and although she thought it was normal lumpy breast tissue she sent me for a 2 week referral to the breast clinic. 

The waiting was terrible and I went though a rollercoaster of emotions but from talking to others I found that this is the natural response.

I had a total of 3 mammograms and 2 scans and 4 biopsies were taken on the day, not of the painful lump I was complianing about because that was indeed normal breast nodules , BUT they found something else hiding there a 11mm spiculated mass which had to be biopsied to see if it is anything to worry about.

Again, that is a source of anxiety as I have to wait for the results however I have been trying to keep busy and minimise the negative thinking, it's not easy but I have had CBT therapy in the past for PTSD and using coping strategies that I learned. You can get therapy or use online tools to help with your health anxiety, it's a recognised condition now and you don't have to be a prisoner to it.

Anxiety and fear can spiral out of control if you let it. It is OK to be scared, but don't let it dominate your every waking thought, tell your mind "STOP" when it wanders, prolonged stress does not do anyone any good.

Sometimes you have to ask yourself "what advice would I give to someone in my position?" and then give that advice to yourself and follow it...I can see you've been supporting others so you know what to say to yourself.

I'm saying all of this with the best intentions :love:

We are all stronger than we think.

Your post just made me well up just because of how lovely you sound and how supportive you are to a total stranger even though you're going through such a worrying time yourself and the agonising wait for results is just mental torture. Have you been waiting long? Also, the spiculated mass, was that found on a mammogram? I hope you're not having to wait too much longer. I suppose if you didn't have the initial lump then this wouldn't of been found so that's a positive look on the situation but I'm hoping it's a positive outcome for you so please keep me updated. 

I know I need to speak to someone regarding my health anxiety as it really is spiralling out of control and I don't want it effecting my children. I have tried to keep it at bay but when a health scare crops up, it just consumes me. 
 

I am going to remain positive and try and shut out the dark thoughts and just breathe and keep calm as I now don't have long to wait for my appointment.

Thank you for being a light in my darkness - it does help talking to people and everyone is so kind on here xx

Hi Lovely,

You know I normally steer clear of forums and online groups as I find some people can be so mean and  abusive but all I've found on this site is support, kindness and caring and I'm only too happy to give my support and reassurance to anyone that needs it. The fact that I'm going through this only helps to understand what others may be feeling so it seems a waste of that to be sitting at home just feeling helpless and sorry for myself, I'm glad to help :love:

I also find it hard to talk to people in person...never can find the right words at the time but when I write I can think more easily about what I want to say.

I've been waiting since the 5th of April and my results appointment moved from the 14th to the 22nd April due to the clinic falling on Good Friday, others have had longer waits so I must be thankful for that.

As you quite rightly say, it is a very positive thing that the spiculated mass was found when it was otherwise I'd have probably not got a routine mammogram until I was 50 which is just over 3 years time!

After a breast exam where everything felt normal, and a mammogram ( just to be safe I expect due to my mother's BC history ) I then got called back in for a more detailed mammogram and a scan which confirmed a suspicious looking small mass. I've allowed myself to do a small amount of "research" so I know a bit more about it, but keeping to reputable sources and not obsessing with it ( difficult to resist but it's for my own good!) 

It's common for women to get answers on their actual appointment day, not everyone needs a biopsy.

I can't promise you won't ever get another health scare so yes, speak to your GP or some areas allow you to self-refer online and go from there and you can take control of your anxiety and life will feel so much better.

For immediate help there are Apps too for anxiety but my phone is full of dog photos so I've never had to memory to download any of them :laugh:

Have a think of any questions you want to ask the doctor tomorrow. They will ask you questions too, medical history etc so write it all down if you think you might get flustered. I forgot to mention a few things in my appointment but then I have a long list of ailments :neutral:

I'll check back tomorrow to see how you got on xx