Awaiting breast unit, struggling to sleep with anxiety

Hi all,

Posting here to save me going on repeat to my family and friends as I think I'm boring them to death with my worries that get worse by the day.

Last week I found a large lump, cut our holiday short to immediately see the GP the next day and she referred me to the Breast Unit as an urgent referral without any reassurance, other than to state it was smooth and movable and definitely a lump.

I have my appointment on the 2nd June but in the meantime I'm struggling to concentrate, sleep or focus on anything other than the fact it is breast cancer and what that might mean for my life, my kids, my partner and a new job I'm due to start (or maybe not) in a month - also meaning I won't be protected financially if I have to undergo treatment which I feel is a real likelihood.

I have just been through a 6 month period of severe anxiety and burn out with work (hence the new job that I'm really excited about, or was until this came along). I was just turning a corner after a lovely break with my family when I found this horrible ominous 2cm hard lump and then everything has reverted back to severe anxiety. I feel like I am crumbling with the anxiety and worry and don't know how to cope with the real likelihood of cancer. I am concerned that with my previous anxiety I may have missed the lump, though I am usually very body conscious. Worried that I can visibly see the lump on the top of my breast and my partner confirmed that too - he looked scared at that point.

I know there are other possibilities but these are less likely - Fi fibroadenomas are less likely at my age, and a cyst usually feels squishy and a GP can sometimes tell if they think it's this and she would have told me but she didn't.

Not sure what I'm looking for by posting here other than to let out some of the worries in a place where they may be understood.

Thanks for reading if you have got this far.

x

  • Edin

    i had breast cancer july 22 .I'm fully back to normal now hete to help chat 

    lots of lunps turn out good news here's hoping this is you 

    good luck let us no how you get on 

    love Lara ️

  • Hi Lara,

    Thanks for the quick response! Nice to know I'm being heard by people that understand the agony.

    I'm sorry to hear you went through that - did you have to have surgery and chemo? So pleased you are out of the other side though, and that gives me hope. Were you able to work or continue to work?

    Sorry for all the questions, this is all going through my head just now.

    x

  • Edin 

    I was diagnosed in July had lunpectomy in July then had 2 nd operation in august removing 30 lymph nodes in arm it sounds long and hard but to be honest I worked right through from home only took a day after operation off I then had radiotherapy in nov . I stayed positive didn't give in for one min kept everything as normal that was my coping mechanism I think I didn't require chemo thankfully as the type I had and grade I wouldn't have benefited.

    try to stay positive so many here get good outcomes easy for me to say don't worry but we are human we dewar the worst . 
    I was told at my first appointment it looked suspicious so I knew what to expect 7 days later after biopsy confirmed. 
    here to chat anytime xx 

    love Lara ️

  • Hi

    I am in the same boat I have had a lump found on my first mammogram and have had it seen under ultra sound and biopsies taken I am waiting for the results. I can't eat can't concentrate and reading so much online I've got myself into a real state. I think there is a way you can private message me if you want to chat direct xx

  • Marley 

    Good luck lovely 

    hete to help or chat 

    love Lara ️

  • Hello from the sofa the day after my second wide excision (urg...2/3 week wait to see if they got all the cancer)! In comfort all I can say is that i found that mentally embracing my diagnosis and accepting that life is about constant change and pain (sometimes) and not fighting myself wishing it could all go away and practicing being  really being grateful for every small thing around me helped. Pain in life is inevitable, suffering optional! Hug yourself and love yourself and bring into hospital some very nice foods that you like to eat- healthy treats. After the op your fav healthy foods felt divine! Blueberries and an apple were amazing! Cry and be kind to yourself and love your people. You'll do this!! Oh and laugh- silly jokes and gentle comedy always good for laughter and tears! Wishing you well!! ️

    Yes i think bringing in my own picnic felt like i gained back a degree of control, that i was embracing the fear and lack of control. For this last op i tried to treat it like a trip to a day spa! Silly but it helped.

  • Grateful 

    I read that could relate to it all lol 

    yes my 2 nd op was a spa trip made it easier 

    I wish you a speedy recovery love Lara ️

  • Can't work out how to private message you, but I feel your pain exactly. It's so so so hard isn't it. And hard to share with those you love as they are equally as scared for you.

    sending you so much hugs and thinking of you, wishing for the best outcome from the tests xxx

  • Thank you for this - so much helpful advice there and I'm so glad you are recovering well. Sending love and thanks x

  • If you want to add anyone as a friend you can click on their name on they profile there's a option to add as friends you can private message there a pink mark will be on the header when you have private messages back x