Hi there, 

So sorry to hear you are going through this. I would suggest you contact the GP again especially considering you are experiencing other symptoms. I’m 21 myself and I’ve just had my appointment at the breast clinic today, I had an urgent 2 week referral and I’m young myself so please be persistent with your doctor. Breast lumps as well as any other symptoms should be investigated by specialist at the breast clinic.

if you don’t mind me asking did your doctor tell you how long you’d be waiting for your appointment to come through? I was referred on a ‘suspected’ cancer pathway so received an appointment within 2 weeks and symptoms were a breast lump, pain and slightly thickened tissue. The best advice I could give you would be to contact the GP and request another appointment since you are experiencing new symptoms. 

I hope everything goes well for you xx

Hope you got on ok yesterday xx

i was originally referred under the 2 week wait but somewhere along the line it was triaged back to 12 weeks. 

just really worried at the moment! Must try contact my gp again today thank you. It’s such a disheartening process constantly chasing people to sort all of this 

That’s what I’d assume would happen that I’d at least get to talk to a specialist without having results just sent straight back to my gp. I had also heard about ultrasounds being more accurate for younger people so I was thinking the same that at least if I saw a specialist they would be able to suggest this or at least discuss their reasoning for it! 

so confused at the minute and it doesn’t help that the gp didn’t get back to me today. Seem to be having more aching now even whilst running when not even thinking about it so it’s not in my head in that sense at least. 

Great to hear a positive story though! Hopefully I’ll get some clarity on appointments soon that would even be a start for me at this point x 

I would be shocked if the specialist didn’t discuss your results with you on the day. As I said they normally call you in, discuss your symptoms, have a look and a feel as to where the lump is and then send you for tests. They should then call you back in to discuss what they’ve found, I’ve spoke to people on this forum who have all had the same experience as I did so I wouldn’t worry I’m sure on the day you will be able to speak to the specialist. 

The specialist told me at the end of my appointment that he’d send a letter to my GP explaining what they found and that they would be discharging me as no further action was needed. 

Did you manage to get another appointment with your GP? If you haven’t I recommend you try to asap (I know how hard is it trying to get a doctors appointment in this day and age) but since your experiencing new symptoms and your having pain you should be seen at the breast clinic sooner rather than later x

Got an appointment for tomorrow with the go thankfully. Spoke to gp today and she wants to reaxmine. Just so frustrating one breast being significantly more swollen than the other even just for wearing a bra making it incredibly uncomfortable. Hopefully get closer to solving all this tomorrow! 

So glad to hear you’ve managed to get another appointment, I can imagine how frustrating and scary this must be for you. Especially since your experiencing new symptoms and pain, I hope you manage to get your referral quickly and you get a positive result from clinic, feel free to update if you feel comfortable doing so, I’m sending my best wishes to you x

Hello Shell , any changes you notice get them looked at ,even if it turns out to be nothing to worry about ,never feel that you are wasting their time .All the best ,positive vibes xx

So I had the appointment with my gp today and she agrees with me re bigger lump and skin tethering and the possibility of lymph nodes underneath my arm causing the aching. She is going to send another referral to the breast clinic which should be accepted under the 2 week wait. 

In the mean time she wants me to complete a course of antibiotics just in case of infection even thought she agrees there aren’t much signs of infection. 

Hopefully I’ll be finished going in circles and get answers next week. Thanks for all the support x 

Got an appt with breast clinic for the week after next now. Has been changed to an ultrasound now instead of a mammogram and will now see the consultant too. Now the waiting begins again. Such a long tedious process to get answers. A little nervous now again after getting the phone call today about the appointment. 

my gp had me trying a course of antibiotics to see if infection had been the reason my left breast was swollen but this hasn’t helped at all and now has set off the worry alarms in my head again! 

Hope you’re keeping well x 

Bless you! Yeah the waiting is the worst and your mind is just racing and you always think the worst and yeah as I said before I would be shocked if you didn’t receive on ultrasound, the specialist told me that ultrasound is the standard for younger women, they can do what’s called a triple assessment which is an ultrasound, mammogram and biopsy if needed it’s just whatever they deem appropriate to do on the day.

I’m sorry I can’t give you more comfort or advice, my lump seems different to yours but everyone has a different experience. But you are quite young and I think the statistic is something like only 5% of breast cancer diagnosis are made for people under 40 so yes it can happen but it’s rare. 

But I know that no matter how many times someone tells you it’s unlikely to be cancer it doesn’t make you panic any less, I’m just honestly wishing you all the best and hoping you get a positive result from clinic. I just hope I’ve been able to give you some comfort during this time, I’ve seen both outcomes from the breast clinic, my mum was diagnosed last year (she is obviously quite a bit older than us though so please don’t let this scare you) and I’ve been through it myself with a benign lump so if you have any more questions or you just want to chat please just get in touch :) x 

 LondonJ I’m so glad you had a positive outcome. You can begin to move on. The waiting is the worst isn’t it. 

Hi Shell. I’m so glad you have received a quicker appointment through and next week is not too far away although it does feel like a lifetime when you’re going through it. 

I had my appointment on Tue and they picked up 2 areas of concern on ultrasound. I was sent for a mammogram too as I’m 40 in 1 week. After the results of both scans I had to have biopsies. I’m booked in for a call at 10am on Thursday 26th for the biopsy results. I haven’t been told anything other than they are unsure is benign or malignant. 

like I said, the waiting is the worst. Sending hugs xx

Hi Shell. I’m so glad you have received a quicker appointment through and next week is not too far away although it does feel like a lifetime when you’re going through it. 

I had my appointment on Tue and they picked up 2 areas of concern on ultrasound. I was sent for a mammogram too as I’m 40 in 1 week. After the results of both scans I had to have biopsies. I’m booked in for a call at 10am on Thursday 26th for the biopsy results. I haven’t been told anything other than they are unsure is benign or malignant. 

like I said, the waiting is the worst. Sending hugs xx

Hi Lofty, I really hope you got some positive news and that you can move on! 

I just had my appointment in the breast clinic this morning. Ultrasound looks normal they think and I met with the breast consultant who said he can see the differences but has no idea what has caused it. He said he will ring me in 6 weeks to see. I got upset as it just feels like more uncertainty and waiting. I’m so self conscious of it all at the minute and not wanting to wear certain clothes as it’s so obvious one breast is swollen. I actually got really upset coming out of there as I feel that I got no answers. 

Hope you’re feeling better x

Hello Shell ,glad you have been see and nothing obvious found on ultrasound too. Phone them in a fortnights time to see if there are any updates .  6 weeks seems a long time . The waiting is awful,I know ,but try and  keep busy and be positive too. 
I would wear baggy tops if you are feeling that it’s obvious . Keep in touch xxx

Ya it is- not sure what I’m waiting for now either. 

have been wearing baggy clothes the last 8 weeks or so just so frustrating when it’s coming to the time of year for going out - never before have I wanted to stay home as much! 
the other thing annoying me is the amount of running I do no matter what the bra isn’t supportive enough on one side or too small and cutting me on the other - all easy for a nurse to say get a bra for the bigger side but almost impossible to do and be comfortable running in it for 2 hours or longer . 

sorry for ranting now I’m just really upset over it all x 

Ranting is good , get it off your chest ! It must be hard ,crikey ,you must be fit running so much . That’s probably helping you too though ,I would think.Keep in touch now xx

Hope ye all are well. Was back to see the consultant today due t the new appaearance of dimpling! Seems never ending at this point. 

from examining today he said nothing looks too serious but is worried about a growth given the dimpling. He has decided to send me for breast mri now as a precaution . He said should be nothing to worry about. But of course yes I’m worrying! 

Such a long process but the consultant was so helpful today in that he reassured me as soon as I’ve any change or worry about something to ring him and he will get back to me. Hope ye are all ok x 

All ok here thanks ,going in for reconstruction on Monday . 
Stay positive now and hope all will be ok ,xxx

Hi Shell,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am glad to hear that you saw the consultant today and that he has referred you for a mammogram. Did he say how long it was likely to be before you get an appointment? This is always a scary wait, but you have done the right thing by getting it investigated. I am glad to hear that your surgeon sounds approachable, didn't think that anything looked too serious and has left his door open for you to contact him if you need to..

Here's hoping that nothing untoward is found. Fortunately, it is unlikely that it will be anything serious at your age - I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed 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 Rumpelstiltskin,

I am delighted to hear that your date for reconstruction is finally almost here. What type of reconstruction are you going for and how are you feeling at the prospect of having this done? I sincerely hope that all goes well for you on Monday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Best of luck on Monday x

Thanks Jolamine, I am having expanders first and saline ,in new year I will be having the silicone . I feel very positive to finish another chapter . 
Will keep you posted. Xxx