Hi Rachael, I'm sorry to hear about your uncomfortable symptoms and I'm glad you managed to get the 2WW referral. I've been there and I know it's worrying, but I hope you can find ways to keep busy and distracted until you know for sure what may or may not be wrong. I hope you get your appointment through soon. Is there someone who could come with you and even drive you there? If you're anxious, that would help. And whatever is explained to you may go over your head, so the person who is with you could take some notes or at least remember what is said. I do hope it turns out to be nothing to worry about, as most breast lumps do. One last piece of advice: try not to look up your symptoms on Google. You'll probably find a lot of information that is not applicable to you or is just unreliable and you'll just end up getting more anxious. Take care x

Thanks so much for your reply Amy! I'm a very pragmatic person so when my mother in law was diagnosed last year I researched everything and attended at the hospital with her, so I unfortunately know more than I would like to. That being said I've avoided randomly googling things now as I know it's not helpful.

My husband or mum can come with me but they are such worriers themselves that I end up comforting them when it comes to these kind of things lol! I'm a note taker so I may go myself and write everything down but I know my mind might go elsewhere. I have a 4 year old daughter who is my world and I keep getting wobbly whenever she gives me a cuddle, otherwise I go between scared and numb.

Do you mind sharing what the outcome of your experience was?

Sure, I don't mind. I was diagnosed last summer with a Grade 3 locally advanced IDC (spread to at least one lymph node), HER2 positive, ER negative. I've just completed 7 rounds of chemo and an MRI shows that there has been an excellent response to chemo. I am now waiting for a date for my lumpectomy surgery, then I will have radiotherapy. I am a firm believer in cancer prehabilitation. I'd started taking better care of myself just before I found the lump and when I was diagnosed, I discovered that being active can reduce the risk of recurrence of some cancers by up to 50%. So I started walking every day which I have kept up throughout my chemo, bar 5 days when I was in hospital with an infection, and a further 6 days or so when I really couldn't face it or we were busy and didn't get a chance. Feel free to ask any other questions :) x

Sounds like you've been through a lot but what an amazing mindset you have! I suffered nerve damage after an electric shock a couple of years ago, and have found staying active helps both in mind and body, definitely.

When did you first learn you need to get checked? Did you find a lump?

Yes, I found a lump just by chance, not through screening or self examination.

Sorry about the electric shock, wow. But you're right, being active outdoors is good for the soul as well as the body.

How did you get on with your hospital appointment? Hope your well . 

The general rule of thumb is, if someone creates a post and you never hear back from them after their appointment day, it usually means they're fine.