Found a breast lump 9 weeks postpartum after giving birth to my premature identical twin boys. I haven't slept or eaten in days. I honestly can't cope

Hi all, my names Jess and I'm 34. I have a 3 year old daughter and have recently given birth to premature identical twin boys 9 weeks ago. My husband and I have struggled since getting the boys home and as a result I've suffered with severe anxiety and depression. Last night I was in the bath and was checking my breasts and was probably determined to find something due to my health anxiety and guess what I did. I can't say for sure its an obvious lump but I have some very dense tissue that feels rigid when I move my fingers over it. Can't tell for sure if its the same on the other side but I've definitely convinced myself one side is bigger and raised.

So today I visited the gp and she examined me for what seemed like 20 min. She agreed and said she could feel something squishy and rubbery like and said she didn't know whether it could be down to my hormones (having my 1st horrendous postpartum period) or something else. She asked if I had breastfed and I said I only expressed for 3 weeks and ended early January so she happily ruled that out. She didn't know whether it warranted a refferal so she said she will speak with her colleague and I would recieve a text later with the outcome. I've recieved that text and all it goes on about is suspected urgent cancer referral. When i was 17 i also found a lump in my breast when i was in the shower. Once again i was probably looking for it as i had just lost my mum to cholangiocarcinoma. I was reffered to the breast clinic the day after my mums funeral where they scanned me and said I basically have lumpy breasts and there was no masses seen. Being 17 i knew the risk was really low but now I'm 34 I'm really starting to panic. If I wasn't freaked out before I well and truely am now. I haven't slept or eaten in two days, I cry all day long believing that I'm going to die and miss my babies grow up. Im having panic attacks left right and centre and feel sick to my stomach all day long, I honestly can't cope.

Can anyone put my mind at rest or help me cope with some of these issues as I'm making myself physically sick with worry and feel like I cant care for for my babies properly. They have had a rough start with 5 and a half weeks in the nicu and another hospital admission just only last week. I just feel like there is always something from stopping our family from looking forward to the future as my husband is also having investigations due to severe rectal bleeding.

Apologies if post sounds thrown together and a bit gibberish. I'm literally only functioning on adrenaline at the moment.

Thanks, for listening.

  • Hi Jess 

    currently in the same boat found a lump and waiting on 2 week pathway. Do you think it might be to do with your hormones as you have not long given birth and have expressed milk too. Could be a blocked duct I know it’s hard and especially hard with newborns. I also have 2 under 10 I’m dreading it all I can do is just wait. The gp did ease my mind as she said lump was round and smooth and movable but that’s it. Pleas let me know how you get on. 

  • Hi Joykaur1, sorry to hear that you're experiencing this situation too. I guess hormones could be playing a roll but the doctor did say she shouldn't expect a milk duct to be blocked still giving I stopped expressing the beginning of the new year. How are you coping with getting through the day? I feel like I've shut everyone out and just can't function properly. This is the only place I've spoke to anyone about it as I can't bear people feeling sorry for me and asking how I am. My husband just tried bringing me some food and I just burst into floods of tears and said I don't want to eat. Its promising that your lump is smooth, round and moveable. She said the same about mine but I don't particularly understand what is meant by moveable as mine is still always in the same position just feels like a bump in my breat tissue. Hope you have someone to confide in and help you through this tough journey.

  • Gosh the feeling! I feel like absalute rubbish at the moment can’t concentrate and don’t want to be doing anything! Putting a very brave face for the sake of hubby and kids I’m petrified! I’ve alsos shut them out immensely since ive found it. Hopefully you will be just fine the advice I have received is that we cannot change anything and just have to patiently wait for our appointments! Your a new mum and your twins need you please please please it’s easy for me to say and nothing at this time will make you feel better but not eating will make you feel worse you need all the energy in the world for twins chances are that it’s nothing and just hormones we have to pull ourselves together for our families!! 

  • Isn't it insane that we can go from being absolutely fine one day and the next feel this impending doom hanging over us?! I feel a lot of guilt as well because I'm physically present but mentally im somewhere else. I hear the twins cry and it overstimulates me and I just can't think properly and my heart aches when my daughter says mummy don't cry, its ok. I'm thankful that just speaking to you makes me feel that I'm not alone and your words have helped me realise I need to put my big girl pants on and ride this out. How long have you been waiting for your refferal to the clinic?

  • I was seen by a nurse practitioner last Friday she put my mind at ease but she said needed to be a 100 percent sure which yes I do need to. But I have bad anxiety this applies when I get my smears ne too the waiting for results after is torture for me but I guess that’s just me. Yes sometimes I feel like wish I’d never come across it but I have need to deal with it and sometimes I just think eed to have it investigated for my kids because if it is anything sinister I still have a chance. I’m not sure it could have been there years because it’s quite deep down under sternum I’ve been pr ding and prodding I’ve made it seem bigger but I can’t help it maybe if I leave it it might shrink a little. I’m really not coping well I’ve hardly eaten today too currently lying in bed cos it’s freezing! 

  • But yes it’s thurs today and still haven’t received a referral x

  • I'm exactly the same! Anxiety literally consumes my life since I lost my mum in 2009. Everything i find wrong with me I believe to be cancer, every little God dam thing. I had a rough pregnancy with the boys nearly lost them a few times so still think I'm suffering with PTSD from that too. I do check my boobs regular in the bath but this time I was a bit more aggressive, not sure I'd have found it if I hadn't have pushed so deep. I've also been constantly prodding so I am very tender in that area too and also feel mine has got bigger for it. I was in bed this afternoon feeling sorry for myself after my appointment but came down to help my husband feed the boys. Trying to think of something to binge on tv, any ideas?

  • Yeah go ahead anything that will get your mind of it otherwise you will find urself going round in circles wondering what it can be! Easy said than done don’t prod and see if it heals thy way me too been a bit of a rollercoaster my dad died in Covid also was diagnosed with stomach cancer but died in Covid was weak and worn didn’t even get a chance to say good bye because of Covid no one was allowed to visit him in hospital it was definable a dull time I think the lump I have had been there for ages just dug deep the other day and happen to find it but because I keep messing with it it feels bigger where is your lump? 

  • It's really hard because I'm not really a tv person and I easily loose concentration with things and thats without finding a lump. I'm really sorry to hear about your dad, that must have been so hard for you especially during the pandemic and having to quarantine. I'm a nurse and worked through out the pandemic and witnessed the heartache family's went through not being able to be with their loved ones. I can assure you he was looked after and cared for dearly. Yeah, I went digging more than I normally do and have been doing it all night now, made myself very sore. The one I've found is right at the top of my breast tissue and slightly right of the middle. I've been trying to grab it and feel it properly, just feels all lumpy. Where abouts is yours?