Hi Lms29,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear about your symptoms. Despite your fears, you have done the right thing to get these changes investigated. It is especially scary, when you know that you have a family history of cancer. A small number of people do get a diagnosis on the day, but the majority of us have to wait for another 1-2 weeks to get the results of scans or biopsies. If you have these, you are as well to ask how long it will be, before the results will come back. We are usually advised to leave about 4 hours for our first clinic appointment. Most consultations don't take this long, but this allows for any hold ups in the different departments, as you wait to be seen.

When you arrive, you may be seen by a nurse first of all. She will usually take your height, weight and any pertinent medical details. You will then be seen by the consultant, who will discuss your symptoms and then examine your breasts. You will then be sent for an ultrasound  and possibly a biopsy. Older patients are usually sent for a mammogram first, but you are unlikely to have one at your age, because younger breasts are too dense to show up on mammogram. The ultrasound is totally painless (same test as used in pregnancy). A biopsy is usually taken under a local anaesthetic, which numbs the breast first. The ultrasound will identify the lump  and its' size and shape. The biopsy will remove a small amount of tissue from the lump and will identify whether or not there is any cancer present.

When your results are returned to the clinic, the outcome of these will be discussed at one of the MDT (multi-disciplinary team) meetings, which are held regularly. You won't be seen, until after this is held and your diagnosis has been discussed, along with any treatment options that might or might not be needed. Many people worry about being placed on the 2 week, urgent pathway, but this is nothing to worry about, as this is the normal procedure, where there is any chance of cancer being detected. Having said this, of all the people who attend the breast clinic, only 20% will get a cancer diagnosis. The other 80% have benign cysts, fibroadenoma, etc.

I lost my mum to secondary cancer and several relatives to other cancers, so I know how worried I felt, when I was first referred to the breast clinic. I was diagnosed with Pure Mucinous Breast Cancer and had 3 scares within a year after my lumpectomy. Two of these were cancer and the third showed pre-cancerous calcifications. I had a lumpectomy the first time, followed by a double mastectomy the following year. That was all 15 years ago now and I still lead a busy and fulfilling life.

Stay away from consulting "Dr Google", while you are waiting to be seen. Much of the information there is poorly researched, out of date and aimed at the more spectacular cases. This will only serve to scare you and won't give you any answers. Try to keep busy, whether with business or pleasure. Most of us would agree that this is one of the most frightening parts of our cancer journey, as there are so many unknowns. You will find that it gets a little easier to cope with, once you get a proper diagnosis. I sincerely hope that all turns out well for you.

Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx