hi everyone! Back in December 2023 I was referred to Haematology under the 2ww for suspected lymphoma as I had a swelling under my chin, fatigue, and intense night sweats and breathlessness. I had an ultrasound in Jan of this year that showed all my lymph nodes were fine in my neck and upper chest, and was given an appointment for 4 months later (today to be exact). At my ultrasound appointment, I had told the doctor that I was worried about a painful hard lump in the gap between my breast and armpit, but he said it wasn’t a node so he wouldn’t scan it. I didn’t think much else of it at the time and assumed it was just a lipoma.

Fast forward to today I saw my haematologist for a follow up and mentioned that the chest lump had grown bigger and was now causing me pain whenever the area was palpated. He was very concerned and felt around, and confirmed that there was a lump the size of a large date in that area. He said it was hard and immovable, and coupled with my (still) ongoing symptoms, that it needed to be reviewed by the breast clinic.

I was just wondering if it’s usual for secondary care to refer to someone else under secondary care? This has never happened to me before and he said he’s referring me under the 2ww for breast cancer. I’m only 20 and really thought that since the ultrasound was fine in Jan that this appointment was just going to be him discharging me from haematology’s care. I feel totally at a loss and so confused, I don’t really know what to do. The haematology referral itself was scary, but that was done by my GP and it almost feels even scarier to be referred by someone who specialises in cancer. Has anyone else had this happen to them? 

E x