Hello Jembers,

When you’re worried that you may have cancer, it can be tempting to look for answers online, but this can end up increasing anxiety rather than making you feel better. The best thing to do is to discuss all your worries and questions your doctor on the 15th March. I hope it goes ok and if you're finding things overwhelming, the Anxiety UK website has some useful guidance.

Best wishes,

Moderator Anastasia

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I've managed to get an earlier appointment for Friday 8th March, so not much longer now. I'm trying to keep things in perspective rather than leaping to the worst case scenario all the time, but it's not easy. I've been through the process before about seven years ago, so at least I know some of what to expect. Last time however, my GP had a pretty good idea that it was a cyst (which it was) but this time the nurse practitioner didn't really say anything, apart from that it seemed fixed. It's that single word that has sent me into a panic and it keeps playing on a loop inside my head! 

Hi Jembers,.

How did you get on?

I've just found a 2cmish lump under my right nipple, almost feels like a disc than a protruding lump but is hard. Mine moves under my fingers. No idea how long I've had it as like you I have health anxiety and it was severe to the point I had therapy to stop checking myself which I haven't done for nearly 6 years and now panicking as I don't know how long this has been here for. 

I'm that bad with worry I can't even pick up the phone to call the GP yet 

Hi Foll91, 

Everything was fine in the end. It turned out to be a milk duct! Mine also felt more like a disc than a lump, it was hard, but moved slightly under my fingers. I was pretty certain that I'd noticed it years ago and just forgotten about it.  However, I know exactly what you mean about health anxiety. My mind just went crazy and all the bad thoughts and symptoms came back with a vengeance. I too had therapy many years ago and was on Citalopram for quite a while. It also took me ages to ring the doctor because I was scared they'd tell me it was something bad. In reality, we both know that the longer we wait to get some answers, the more we convince ourselves of all the worst case scenarios and we start suffering with other symptoms on top that make us think we've got something else wrong as well!  On the day of my breast clinic appointment, I was examined, had a mammogram, an ultrasound, a fine needle aspiration for a 1cm cyst they'd noticed next to the milk duct and was sent on my merry way in less than an hour. I can still feel the duct, but choose not to touch it anymore, because the more I poke and prod, the higher the chance I'll notice something else and send myself crazy. Be brave, pick up the phone and put yourself on the path of getting things sorted out. Remember that more than 95% of breast lumps turn out to be harmless. Keep in touch X