Hi everyone,

I feel very silly because I have actually had this for a very long time (possibly a couple of years?) and for some unknown reason I kept brushing it under the carpet because it wasn't the typical signs to look for.

Firstly, breast cancer runs in my family, so I'm always proactive at checking my breasts and surrounding area. I am 32, deemed two young for annual checks despite the family history, and have small breasts. I check them at all angles and there have been no changes that I am aware of.

I knew the importance of underarm checking, but for whatever reason I never thought that underarm changes, without breast changes, warranted 'badgering' a GP about; especially in the current health climate of the UK/NI when getting a GP appointment is near impossible. 

My left armpit when I raise it, has two 'strings'. I can almost pluck them, and there's no real swollen lump as such. I can see these while my arm is raised, and when it is relaxed I can just about feel the thickening under the skin. I'm now so paranoid that I know exactly where I'm feeling for.

I went to my GP last week and he felt under my arm while it was relaxed, and he agreed that it wasn't typical 'lumps', but felt to him more like scarring. With the distinct difference in my left and right underarm, and family history, I was red flagged referred which is usually a two week wait. However it is currently sitting between 5-7 weeks. My anxiety is through the absolute roof, so I have booked a private one-stop breast clinic for next Thurs (consult, mammogram, ultrasound, and biopsy if deemed relevant). 

I am absolutely terrified that I have left this for so long and I'm going to get the worst news. I am not eating or sleeping and just about holding it together. 

My immune system has been in bits since Dec 23, so that's another reason why I haven't concerned myself until now. But it's the fact it's moveable lines/strings as opposed to lumps that has me even more perplexed and scared.