Hello @st160478. have you had your referral? This is such a scary time and the stress is exhausting

No I’m still waiting on appointment so no date to be seen yet. Just a waiting game. They can’t give me an idea of how long wit it. Just said they are very busy so it might be a few weeks. Are you waiting to be seen? X

I can relate to how your feeling. I've always been underweight. In 2020 they found a lump on my kidney, gallbladder and ovaries and I was reffered under the 2ww to the kidney specialist, the gp made it sound like cancer that had spread all over on the phone, he booked me in for urgent blood tests the next morning and for the next 2 weeks all I did was cry and not leave my bed, I didn't want to speak to anybody, I wouldn't eat. Being underweight I lost even more weight. I had a ambulance called out and they wouldn't leave till I ate some toast. Those 2 weeks were horrendous and it turned out it was a benign tumour, but the damage was done in my head and I didn't leave my bedroom for almost 4 months except to go to the bathroom. My weight plummeted and I've only just managed to get back to just over 7 stone. I lose weight so quickly and this is triggering it again, I'm down to 7 stone now but I don't want a repeat of last time so I'm trying to stay out my bedroom (even though I'm there now) and I've ate my dinner, just got to try my best incase it is something serious this time and need my strength to fight it. I'm 37 next month and feel although I'm too old for a fibroma. He asked if I'd breastfed any of my babies and I said no, he said even if you didn't it could still be a blocked milk duct with scar tissue but I didn't think to tell him its been almost 11 years since I gave birth to my youngest so surely can't be that! 

Please try and keep your strength up too just incase it is the nasty c word because you'll need to fight. 

Its so hard for me to put weight on I hate it but I just don't feel like eating! 

I am trying to at least it a bowl of cereal daily. Even though we are told only 2 in 8 lumps are cancer we only think about the 2. 

Ladies 

you have fine the right thing to go to. The breast clinics clinic as GP are not the professionals in this they can only do small checks 

My Gp said I had mastalgia it’s just lucky I said I wasn’t happy walking away I booked a private breast clinic next day if I hadn’t I would be walking around today thinking just that 

the breast clinics are top class you will be looked after and thorough check not just assuming by GP 

good luck again love Lara xx 

Ros & Chel 

keep strong try to eat your normal diet it’s hard while going through waiting but please try xx 

Its 2 in 10 apparently, which is still high odds i think! So 20% chance it is. But trying not to dwell on it too much. I'm going away for the weekend with family. They don't know and I won't be telling them. So hopefully trying to act normal will help. Yes try to eat atleast 1 meal a day! 

Hi Lara.so didn't your gp want to refer you to the breast clinic? My gp thought it was a fibroma but reffered me anyway as he says they take any breast lump seriously. So do you think he just said that so I don't worry as much? 

I'm kind of dreading the phone call for booking an appointment as it makes it all real if that makes sense? I'm just hoping no one is around me when they ring as I don't want anyone knowing, and not knowing when they will ring either is a nightmare! 

Thanks for the good luck I feel I need it lol :)   

Any news on an appointment yet?

My appointment came through on Saturday. Seeing cons 14th August. Still a bit of a wait but at least I have a date now. It feels like I’ve been waiting forever. I know it’s only been a few weeks from referral to appointment. Hoping it’s a quick 2 weeks x

Glad you have a date now but yes your right it is a long wait from referral date! Cant believe they've made you wait this long

They are really busy and working their way through lots of urgent referrals so not giving any waiting time guarantees. The 2 week referral to appointment doesn’t exist just now. Short staffed and under pressure. Trying to concentrate on my sons exam results next week. X

They are really busy and working their way through lots of urgent referrals so not giving any waiting time guarantees. The 2 week referral to appointment doesn’t exist just now. Short staffed and under pressure. Trying to concentrate on my sons exam results next week. X

Yeah thats a good idea, maybe plan a party or something to take your mind off it? 

My local hospital is always busy too but they are good, I suppose I'm lucky living so close to a good hospital

Hi Sr,

I'm sorry to hear that you are still waiting for your appointment. You say that your Mum's aunt had breast cancer. I am not a doctor, but understand that it is usually only first degree relatives who had cancer (mother, father, sister, brother or child) that will affect your genetic predisposition to breast cancer. 

Here's hoping that you hear something soon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

I’ll just be glad if he gets good results. He passed his prelims so hoping all will be good. 
Our hospital is good just under pressure. Only another week and a half to wait now x

Hi Sr,

I hope that your son's exam results give you all something to celebrate next week.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you. He’s trying to get a Saturday job too so that’s been keeping me busy helping him apply for jobs. Work been really busy too which has kept me from dwelling on things at work but also difficult to concentrate. I’m just hoping no one recognises me at the clinic. I’ll be out of uniform. Everyone looks different when they have their own clothes on. I’ll keep my head buried in a book while I’m sitting waiting. I’m going on my own and don’t want to be sitting staring at the walls. My partner working and I don’t want him asking for time off. Plus I don’t want to make a big deal about the appointment. I’ve reassured him it’s prob nothing so no point taking time off from his work. I’ve asked for a couple of hours away from work to attend my appointment. I did have a complete meltdown last night because someone left the freezer door open and all the food defrosted. I don’t think it was really about the food, prob more to do with stress and lack of sleep. Kids must have thought I was a crazy lady last night xx

Good luck. It often happens that people don't recognise others when they are "out of context".

Don't feel too bad about snapping, we've all been there, obviously they don't know why we are acting like we are. I don't know about you but I haven't told my children or anyone apart from my partner and I just want to try and keep away from everyone as much as I can because I'm the type of person who has worry written all over me. Its all the thoughts being kept in our heads and not letting them out. They build up and explode! 

I’ve only told my partner and my line manager as I will need a couple of hours away from work to attend an appointment. If I could have got away without telling her I would have. Kids don’t know. They are just teenagers. No point worrying anyone if I don’t have to. 
I’m the same as you, trying to avoid people just now and hope everyone too busy to notice I’ve not text them or phoned them x

Mine are aged 10 and 12 and just lost thier grandad so don't need extra things to worry about. I'm the same I'm sure my friends think I'm ignorant, and I wonder if family can tell I'm being quiet. My mum dad sister etc have never had a cancer scare so they don't understand. I've had one before but my mum thought I was being stupid panicking without an actual diagnosis and my dad and partner took time off work because I literally would not leave my bedroom. So not bothering telling them this time, although this time is much more scary having had biospies ect. I'm currently not working so glad I don't have that to worry about but sounds like you have an understanding boss, that must be helpful! 

Hi Sr,

I hope that your son finds a Saturday job soon. I always wore uniform at work and it's amazing just how few of my patients recognised me when I was in mufti. Don't let your meltdown upset you. Lack of sleep and stress have a lot to be responsible for!

It's so good to see that you're on the countdown to your appointment at last.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx