Hi Ss321,  I know where you are at, albeit I am a bloke and my lump is elsewhere.  I saw the nurse at our local clinic, she put me on the watch programme and about a week later I was in hospital, had a biopsy which confirmed it was a cancer, then had an op to remove a tonsil.  Likewise I was scared because it all happened so fast.  I am now 4 weeks into immunotherapy and 3 weeks into radio & chemo therapy.

I asked the consultant if I was being rushed through because it is bad, she assured me this is the proper timeline for treatment and did not reflect the seriousness of my cancer.

I think we are so used to the media telling us about waiting times for NHS that anything done quickly makes us scared.  Understandably scared too.  

if it is of any comfort to you, I have a review today and my lump is definitely smaller.  This is because of the fast treatments I have been lucky enough to get.  
 

we have no history of cancer, I am otherwise fit, lead an active life, not over weight, not a smoker, there is no rhyme or reason for my getting it.  However as an optimist I think I am lucky to have found a lump as soon as I did and to have had such a great response from the NHS.

I know it is always easy for people to say "be positive" and to look for the silver lining in things, but it is what I am trying to do.  When you have your meeting on the 16th make sure you come away understanding what your treatment plan is and what you can do to make it work.   
 

all the best Arrgh.

Hi Ss321,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that you are in the scary position of waiting for an appointment at the breast clinic. This is always an anxious time and our imaginations tend to go into overdrive. As Arrgh has said, the 2 week urgent pathway is the normal protocol for referral and nothing to worry about. 

It is a fact that, out of every 10 people referred to the breast clinic, only 2 will get a cancer diagnosis. Not all lumps are cancerous. Many are benign cysts or fibroadenoma.

I know just how worrying it is when you have a family history of cancer. I too lost my mum to secondary breast cancer, along with several other family members. It spread to mum's brain, bone, liver and lungs. I was diagnosed with breast cancer since we lost mum and I have had 2 bouts in the past 13 years. I am still leading a busy and fulfilling life, so even a cancer diagnosis, doesn't all have to be doom and gloom.

I shall be thinking of you on 16th and hope that 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.