Hi Shellbell,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that you find yourself in this unenviable situation. A 2 week or urgent referral is the norm for a referral to the breast clinic. Not all lumps are cancerous. Many turn out to be benign cysts, fibroadenoma or due to hormonal changes. It is a fact that of all those referred to the clinic, only 20% will get a cancer diagnosis.

Unfortunately, nobody can give you the reassurance you seek, until you've been seen at the clinic and undergo some tests. The 3 most common tests are an ultrasound, a mammogram and a biopsy. Younger people don't always have a mammogram, as they have denser breasts, which don't show up well on mammogram. The ultrasound and mammogram show up the lump, whereas the biopsy examines the cells and can detect whether or not there is any cancer present. If you need a biopsy, it normally takes 1-2 weeks to get the results back.

This is always a worrying time and our over-active imaginations tend to take us to all sorts of dark places. Fortunately things are seldom as bad as we think.

I had 2 bouts of breast cancer 14 years ago, but I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

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 for your kind reply, I appreciate it. It gives me a better idea of what to expect at the appointment. 

I certainly do over think everything and I probably need to stop googling it. Hopefully I will hear something this week rather than the following, fingers crossed! I have a feeling it will be the longest 2 weeks.

I’m sorry to hear you have been through it twice. It’s such a horrible disease that has affected my close family members.

Sending best wishes. Thanks again, Shelley x