Hi Gnomes.

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear why you are here.

This is always an anxious wait, without having unnecessary delays such as this. Once the referral has been sent it would be worth phoning your consultant's secretary again. If you explain what has happened and offer to take any cancellations, there is a good chance that you might be seen sooner. In the meantime, try to steer clear of google. Most of the information there is aimed at the more spectacular cases, won't apply to you and will only serve to worry you further. Keep yourself busy, either with work or a pastime. Only 20% of referrals to the breast clinic, turn out to be cancerous. Most cases are benign cysts, fibroadenoma or due to hormonal changes.

I sincerely hope that you manage to get an appointment through soon. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

Thank you so much for your kind words. Thankfully Christmas is here to keep me busy...my turn to do the cooking this year! 

My head is telling me the lump is most likely a fibroadenoma but I have now noticed what feels like a swelling under my breast that my gut says might be something more worrying and explain the shrinking breast. I'm honestly trying not to dwell on it as there's nothing I can do until I get seen, but that's a lot easier said than done as I'm sure you know!

I think the shock, frustration and anger at the whole situation will gradually pass but it will be hard to fully trust that doctor again which is really sad to me. I am usually trusting to a fault which is why I didn't do anything until almost the 3 week mark as I assumed the breast clinic was just overworked coming up to Christmas and I didn't want to add to their work load unnecessarily. 

Fingers crossed the doctor can sort something out when they get back to work after Christmas! 

Hope you have a lovely and relaxing Christmas this year xx

Hi Gnomes,

Maybe it's just as well that it's your turn to do the Christmas cooking this year, as this should help to take your mind off things, for a short while at least. We all tend to overthink things at this stage and can end up in some dark places. Fortunately, the reality is seldom as bad as it first appears.

It is hard not to dwell on your symptoms, but no amount of worry will change the outcome. I know that it is hard to think of anything else at present and I can fully understand all of your emotions. I too would find it very hard to place my trust in a doctor who had let me down so badly. Do you know when your GP is due to be back in the surgery? I sincerely hope that you can get an appointment early in the  new year and that your symptoms turn out to be nothing untoward.

Please keep in touch and remember that we are always here for you.

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you good health and happiness for the coming year.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Gnomes,

Maybe it's just as well that it's your turn to do the Christmas cooking this year, as this should help to take your mind off things, for a short while at least. We all tend to overthink things at this stage and can end up in some dark places. Fortunately, the reality is seldom as bad as it first appears.

It is hard not to dwell on your symptoms, but no amount of worry will change the outcome. I know that it is hard to think of anything else at present and I can fully understand all of your emotions. I too would find it very hard to place my trust in a doctor who had let me down so badly. Do you know when your GP is due to be back in the surgery? I sincerely hope that you can get an appointment early in the  new year and that your symptoms turn out to be nothing untoward.

Please keep in touch and remember that we are always here for you.

I hope that you have a wonderful Christmas and I wish you good health and happiness for the coming year.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx