Hi Gnomes83,

Welcome to Cancer Chat. I can understand your concerns - it's never easy dealing with this sort of uncertainty and waiting for appointments.

It's much easier said than done, but try not to assume anything at this point - instead focus on taking things a day at a time, keeping busy and doing things you enjoy, to help take your mind off any worries.

Hopefully the appointment will be soon and you'll get the information you need.

There will be many others here who have experienced something similar, so hopefully you'll get some more replies.

Wishing you all the best,

Ben
Cancer Chat Moderator

Hi Ben,

Thanks so much for taking the time to reply. Thankfully I got a good night's sleep last night and feel much more optimistic today. Reading the chats on here and seeing all the positive stories too has helped me relax a bit...even if it is the scariest diagnosis, it seems that an early diagnosis makes the whole experience much more manageable.

Thanks again and here's to positive thinking!

I feel the same tbh! you don't realise but the cancers that are picked up in clinic seem to be early. I've read somewhere stage 1 or 2 is the majority. We're lucky to have the resources really. got my referral a week tomorrow x

Hi gnome 

if it’s getting you really stressed I would book a private appointment that’s what I did you will be seen and investigated within days of booking good luck love Lara xx 

Yay! So glad your appointment came through. Fingers crossed it all goes well xx

Hi Lara,

I considered a private appointment originally when my anxiety was through the roof, but I'm feeling a lot more positive today, thankfully! I might consider it if the appointment date is really delayed for some reason, but hopefully they are starting to meet targets soon!

Xx

Gnomes 

that’s good news if they are catching up I wish you well lovely xx 

Gnomes 

that’s good news if they are catching up I wish you well lovely xx 

Thanks so much Lara :) I hope things went ok with your scan. Was it hard to get back onto NHS after the initial investigations or did you decide to stay private? Xx

I stayed private lovely after initially paying first appointment claimed the rest on my private medical insurance had 2 operations and radiotherapy through that highly recommended was treated like a princess in all fairness x 

Amazing to be able to do it style! I've heard they really look after you in the private sector. We lived in the States for years and the care was incredible, albeit pricey enough to make you weep! Unfortunately we don't have health insurance here so wouldn't be able to afford to go private for the whole journey if it leads that way. I'm still hoping it's benign or a cyst or something though...positive thoughts only right now :)

How are you doing after all the treatment? My mum had breast cancer and the radiation really took it out of her but not sure if that is everyone's experience xx

I’m feeling amazing now did have a bit of tiredness after radio but my diagnosis was July 22 so a while ago now xx 

yes private was good but nhs is equally as good if only the wait times were better x 

So glad your feeling great now. It's the positive stories on here that have helped my anxiety the most so thank you so much for sharing them :) xx

Most recent waitlist times were just posted and say 3 weeks for red flag referrals (anything suspected of cancer). Hopefully that is until I'm seen and not just when I get my letter! Xx

Just to add, weirdly enough one of my best friends is now waiting for a referral for the same breast clinic as me as of today. She has a 2cm lump she can move about with some discomfort on one side. obviously very anxious but after swapping videos looks like similar thing. thinks it's fibroadenoma 

Crazy to be going through that at the same time! The more I think about it I am convincing myself that my lump is a fibroadenoma too. Not sure what is causing the shrinkage though, unless it's just tissue being pulled by the lump or by the muscle underneath. Hope your friend's appointment comes through quickly for her! Xx

it is. I'm taking it as a sign! I'm not sure either, I don't think ive heard of shrinkage before. fibroadenomas  do seem to be common in our age group and thank you xx

Hi there, 

just wondering how you got on with this? I was diagnosed with fibroadenomas a few years ago and now noticed a massive shrinkage in my left B :( trying to get another appointment to get it checked out. Did you get any answers?xx 

Hi, for me it turned out to be a mix of cysts, and a fibroadenoma. The shrinking they thought was just age (I'm 40) and me being quite petite so any shrinkage/loss of breast tissue is much more obvious. I  was terrified so totally get how you're feeling! Definitely get it checked out though, if just to put your mind at ease. Fingers crossed it's a happy outcome for you too xx