Lucky 

I had breast cancer last year 

it's good you are going to the clinic 

try not to worry ahead only 2 in 10 breast clinic appointments end up with a diagnosis 

good luck let us no how you get on 

big bugs love Lara ️

Hi Lucky

Sorry to hear that you're worried about your lump. Glad to hear that you've got an appointment at the breast clinic though. 

I've had several lumps which have been biopsied and turned out to be Fibroadenomas, which are really common. My GP has just referred me on the 2 week wait for an appointment with the breast clinic for another suspected Fibroadenoma.

The waiting is the worst part. I try to keep myself busy so that I don't worry! I really hope that you get seen soon. 

Sending best wishes xx

Thanks Lara. I am sorry you had breast cancer last year. How are you now? 

Hi Dottie,

Gosh sounds like you've been through this a few times already. Fingers and toes crossed that it's another benign fibroadenoma for you! The waiting and worrying are definitely horrible.

Can I ask how old you are? I am 39 and starting to feel rather perimenopausal (my mum and gradnma had menopause in their early 40s, so I'm expecting that's in my horizons soon). I read that cysts may be common and also perhaps fibroadenoma at this stage of my life, so I'm trying to not dread the absolute worst.

Lucky 

I'm great now thank you for asking like a fizzy bottle of pop , it didn't get me down for long that's for sure I didn't give in to it and flew it I thought a few hard few months but not half as bad as I imagined .

love Lara ️

Thank you for your kind wishes! I'm 37, but have had several lumps since my early twenties. I had one removed when I was 27, so I'm generally quite calm about the process as I've been through it before. 

My GP seemed pretty relaxed about this one and doesn't think it's anything sinister, so I'm focusing on that! Our local clinic arranges appointments via telephone, so for me that's the worst part at the moment as I haven't got a date for the clinic yet. 

From what I've read and experienced, Fibroadenoma and cysts are really common, so everything crossed for you that it is something like that which is relatively simple to resolve. 

I have found that telling a trusted friend really helps, but that's a personal choice.

Have you got a date for the breast clinic yet? More than happy to share my experience if you'd like, but completely understand if you'd rather I didn't. 

How're you feeling in yourself? It can't be easy with all of this worry and perimenopause symptoms too. Sending lots of positivity your way xx

You sound like superwoman, Lara. Love your positivity and bravery in the face of something as awful as breast cancer xx

Hi Lucky,

I am glad to hear that you have acted quickly since you found this lump. You are doing the right thing by avoiding the temptation to Google, as this will only scare you further. I am sorry to hear that you had melanoma a few years ago and hope that you haave had no further problems with this. Do you have a date for your breast clinic appointment yet?

Many people find it helps to write down their story and, I hope that it has for you. Try to remind yourself, that not all lumps are cancerous. Many turn out to be benign cysts or fibroadenoma. It is a fact that only 2 out of every 10 who attend the breast clinic, will get a cancer diagnosis.

Many of us would agree that waiting for a diagnosis is the most scary time of our cancer journey. Dealing with the unknown, is so much harder that the known. Please be aware that you may not get an immediate diagnosis at your first appointment. most of us have a mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy and then have another anxious wait of 1-2 weeks for the biopsy results. 

I sincerely hope that all goes well for you. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you for replying and for your best wishes. I will definitely update on here after my appointment.

Hi Dottie,

Hopefully you will receive an appointment date sooner rather than later. I can definitely understand how even though you've been through this before, all of the waiting and worry probably don't get any easier.

My breast clinic appointment is next week on Tuesday. I've been trying to stay off Google and the forums in the last few days (hence why I've been slow in replying), but I must admit I'm feeling rather overwhelmed with stress.

When I found my lump, it was so hard and obvious, and my boob looked ... really nice and pillowy :silly: like I was about to have my period. The firm pillowy look and feel have subsided now but the lump is definitely still there. I've strictly limited myself to touching it only in the mornings showering to try and minimise the panic.

As I said in my original post, I've been down this road before with melanoma. It was caught really early and I didn't have to have treatment beyond surgical removal of the cancer. As far as cancers go, physically, it was a walk in the park. But mentally, it was a bit of a disaster for me. I've learnt to recognise when I'm about to spiral though, so I'm hoping I'll be more equipped this time around. But I keep wondering... is this the last carefree week I'm going to have in a long time?