Health anxiety - breast cancer

Hi sorry me again

been freaking myself out a little tonight. My breast clinic apt is a week today and been chatting with a friend who had it an apt a few months ago. She was all clear and was a cyst. 
 

i mentioned a leaflet I got with the referral and she asked me what I meant so I sent a photo. It's one from this site titled urgent referral for suspected breast cancer. When I was researching last week, I found there's 2 types of referrals. Symptomatic but don't think it's cancer and suspected cancer. My friend did not get this leaflet at all, so now I'm really worrying that the GP really did think it might be cancer. I know the odds are really low that it is cancer, but I'm wondering if the inclusion of this leaflet means they do think it's cancer?

  • Hi, I am 32 years old and had a similar encounter a few years ago. I noticed a lump in my breast and was referred for an urgent ultrasound - it turned out to be nothing and it disappeared within a week or two and has never returned! I was in the clinic for about half an hour and received an alarming letter confirming the appointment time starting with 'your gp suspects you have breast cancer' which of course add3d to the worry.

  • Hi.

    I had a look at your other posts to get an idea of your timescales.

    The 2 week referral is part of the 'Cancer pathway' and that's what the leaflet you are referring to is about. If your friend had a 2 week referral she would also have been on this pathway, but could be a million reasons why she didn't have the leaflet (human error, they ran out, who knows!). Try not to worry too much. The 2 week pathway is actually a brilliant thing - thank god for the NHS!

    The waiting is the worst, but you'll be fine. With your mum's history you are absolutely doing the right thing and they will check you out and put you at ease. I have dense and lumpy breast tissue too so it is always difficult for me to tell what a relevant 'lump' is!