Og God this is awful..a workmate said to me..if its cancer there's no pain so its nothing !.I asked my doctor outright if she thought mine was cancer...she gave me a hug and said im not ruling it out...im waiting for my appointment..unsure if they ring or its done by post...but the waiting is horrendous ..I feel like..is it ..isn't it ...what if...is this pain getting worse or is it in my head..??? I hope you get a response soon xxx its so tough waiting isn't it xxx

Hi,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

 I am sorry to hear that you are on this pathway too and can understand your concerns. This is always a worrying time and we all tend to look to the worst case scenario. Reassurances from family and friends tend to fall on deaf ears and the best help you'll get is from others who have walked this road before you. 

Most doctors are quite open about cancer. If they feel that there is the slightest possibility, they will refer you to the breast clinic. This is because they do not have the necessary machinery to examine you properly, but the breast clinic has. If I were in your shoes, I would not have been happy to have been sent home again without having any tests carried out. I suspect that your GP has referred you more for reassurance, after the bad experience you've had with the previous doctor.

It is a fact that only 1 person in every 8 who attend the clinic will get a cancer diagnosis, so a referral to the breast clinic is not all gloom and doom. However, most of us would describe the time spent waiting to find out, as one of the most trying times of our entire cancer journey. 

I hope that your appointment comes through soon and nothing untoward is found. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Skyelillie,,

A very warm welcome to our forum,

Protocols vary from one clinic to another. Most will send you out a letter with an appointment within 2 weeks from the date of referral. Occasionally, there may be a phone call, if a cancellation is received. It is unusual for pain to accompany breast cancer, so here's hoping that this is hormonal or something less serious.

Waiting is always a worrying time. Some clinics are 'one stop shops' where they can give you a diagnosis on the day that you attend, but the majority are not. In this case, if you have any tests carried out, you may have to wait 1-2 weeks for the results. When they are returned to your consultant s/he will hold their regular MDT meeting, where all professionals involved in your care, will discuss the best way forward for you. At this stage, most doctors like to give you a diagnosis face-to-face, although a few still give you their findings over the phone. 

I sincerely hope that nothing untoward is found. Do please keep in touch and let us know how you are getting on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello, I'm in the same shoes as you here so thought I would comment. I found a dent/dimple in my breast in 2021, I have been to the doctor 4 times since about this as something just worrying me. I was told I had fibrosistic breasts and it would be changed with having a baby (nov 2020) I had another appointment 2 weeks about something ago and mentioned my breast as it still worries me. This Docotor was more concerned and apologised for the previous vists and has referred me to the breast clinic urgently. They called today and I have an appointment next Thursday. I am so scared but trying not to be as my partner isn't keeping so well just now and going through tests and I have 2 boys 7 and 2 this weekend. I really am thinking the worst as it was an urgent referral and the dent has tripled inside since when I first went about it. Just feel sick at the thought. Absolutely no advice for you but just thought I'd say that your not alone x

Hi,

Please try not to worry about being referred on an 'urgent' pathway. This is normal for most of us being referred to the breast clinic.I am sorry to hear that your partner is having health problems at present too and hope that things turn out well for both of you.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

please be reassured that if you have a lump that a gp can't be sure of what it is, you will be reffered under the 2 week pathway. This is the normal route for further checks. 9 out of 10 will not be cancer.

I have had friends with breast cancer, with and without pain.

All the best