Hello, 

I'm 37 and found a thickening in my right breast 2 weeks ago. I figured as I was due my period, it could be related to that. It also can't always be felt - which sounds strange but I can only feel it when my arm is raised. Went to my GP who was great, told me what she was looking out for in any kind of breast changes and said to come back in 6 weeks as she was sure it was related to my cycle. 
 

over the course of the next week I came across some things on social media that terrified me about a local lady younger than me finding a lump and being diagnosed with BC and I started having panic attacks. I went back to my doctor exactly a week after my original appointment and she gave me reassurance she was 99% sure it was nothing for me to worry about and to be certain, she would refer me for breast screening in the new year as a non urgent case. She again told me the signs she was looking for and advised she was struggling to locate the thickening at all when lying down. Later on that week I couldn't feel it in my breast at all, which put my mind at ease a little. 
 

on Christmas Day while I was in the shower, I felt it again. The feelings of dread and panic came back. I've been so worried that I haven't enjoyed the last few days at all - and I keep prodding at my boob which isn't helping. Last night it started getting tender where my underwire on my bra is and I had to take it off. Today I feel like it's hot and tender around where my wires would sit just under my armpit and this has brought another level of anxiety to the situation. I'm day 16 in my cycle now, and usually my breasts don't get tender from hormones until day 24/25. 
 

I'm really not sure where else to turn - my family have said I need to stop worrying because the GP has said she is certain it's nothing to worry about. My husband in particular is very much in the "you can't live your life like this" camp. My mum had a lump recently which turned out to be a cyst and it was a long wait before she got her appointment for her mammogram, then she had to wait a long time for the results. Although it's procedure and the NHS are very busy, I don't think my mental health would cope with waiting so long. I can't afford to go for tests privately as I don't have private healthcare and I'd be exhausting our spare finances to do it. 
 

Has anyone else experienced anything similar or can anyone give me words of reassurance or advice? I'm so worried and scared that the last few days have been a real struggle. 
 

thanks in advance