I have been to see my GP today after 2 weeks of continual pain in my breasts with some nipple discharge. She got me to lay down and informed me they are really lumpy and asked if this is normal for me, which it's not.  I'm adopted but do know my birth mothers mum died of breast cancer which added a few more alarm bells to my head. She told me she will be writing to the breast surgeon to get me an appointment so now I'm worrying. What is the average timescale between referral and appointment?  Am I panicking too early? 
Emily x

Hi Emily,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I am sorry to hear that your GP has felt it necessary to refer you to the breast clinic. Try not to let this worry you, as only 1 person in every 8 referred will get a cancer diagnosis. You don't say what age you are, but many young women also have naturally lumpy breasts.

You will usually be seen at the clinic within 2 weeks from referral. Panic won't change your outcome, so try to stay calm.  You will find that keeping busy will help to pass the time as your're waiting.

You may have some tests taken when you are at the clinic and it usually takes 1-2 weeks to get the results of these back. It is not usually until this stage that you can be sure that all is clear.

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

Keeping my fingers crossed for good news.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi I'm looking for some reassurance I had my baby boy two weeks ago and I'm breastfeeding him!! I found a lump in the shower a few days after having him!! I thought it was a blocked duct I kept massaging it and it didn't go I went to the gp last Friday she's put me on a course of antibiotics and it's halved in size but is still there and goes down but doesn't disappear when I feed my little boy! It does feel very smooth and it's not very big now at all was about a pea size but it's smaller now and can hardly feel it after I've fed!! Just feel sick with worry this should be an exciting time and instead I'm just stressing!! If it hasn't gone by Friday my gp will refer me!! Just looking for some advice and support!! 

Hi joebennett91 , 

this is my first time ever writing on this forum . I have recently been referred to the breast clinic after finding a lump and being in constant pain , I look at these forums daily since then to see if anyone has similar symptoms and it turns out to be nothing . I luckily have my appointment on Monday and can't wait for the anxiety to be over. I have been in limbo for just over a week now so i completely understand your concerns. I have a group chat of eight of my closest friends and told them. 
I was surprised that one of my best friends recently visited as well but didn't tell anyone. She to has a young baby boy , I believe about 5 months old . She explained that she visited the drs after finding a small lump by her nipple, the dr said it was most likely a cyst or a clogged breast duct . Anyway , she was referred to the breast clinic and got seen within a day due to a cancellation, they examined her and confirmed it was a small cyst that would go away in time . This was two weeks ago and when I see her Monday 16th she said it had halved and reducing slowly . Obviously I know everyone's bodies are different but your hormones are still changing after your baby. I know it's easy to say but try and keep yourself busy and really enjoy the time with your baby because you won't get that again . I would just keep an eye out and if you still feel uneased about it , push to be seen by a speacilist . Only you know your body , and even if it's for peace of mind keep pushing your doctor. I have been reading the statistics everyday , they say for every 100 referrals , 4 people will be asked to come back and out of those 4 only one will be diagnosed. I hope that helps !! If you need to talk or just vent I'm always hear  

take care 

Hi Pudpud,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am glad to hear that you don't have much longer to wait before you will be seen at the breast clinic. It is fairly common for new mums to have problems with their breasts whilst breastfeeding. Fortunately, in most cases there are simpler solutions to their symptoms.

It is unusual, but not impossible for younger ladies to get breast cancer, so your statistics of only 1 in 8 being diagnosed are even better, given your circumstances.

I sincerely hope that all goes well for you. Are you aware that you may have to wait a further 1-2 weeks for results, if they have to carry out any tests?

Do please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kindest regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jobennett91,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

I know that this is a very stressful time at what should be such a joyous one, but things will improve.

The fact that the antibiotics have halved the lump in size is a good sign, as this doesn't happen with cancer. It is also a good sign that the lump is smooth. There are many less sinister problems that can affect the breast after childbirth. What has your GP decided to do - did your lump reduce by Friday or has she referred you to the breast clinic?

Whatever you do, try to stay away from the internet, as this will only scare the pants off you for no good reason.

Kindest regards,

Jolamine xx

I'm forgetting about it for now tbh and enjoying my little boy!! 
the lump didn't go by Friday so the gp asked me what I wanted to do about it so I said I wanted to get referred but I thought the fact she was asking me she wasn't cornered by the lump!! 
Its defo not getting bigger but it seems to reduce when I feed but then go back to it's normal size shortly after feeding!! I think things are pointing to it being a cyst! As I've said before it's very smooth and oval shape and literally came up over night!! 
just hope I'm right!! Don't feel sick anymore with worry either just forgetting about it for now till I have to worry!! It is very reassuring that most people who get referred are ok and I didn't realize how common it was to get referred I think that was the scary thing thinking it wasn't a normal thing to be referred if that makes sense xxx

Hi Jobennett,

I'm glad to hear that you feel a little more reassured having had another chat with your GP, as attending the breast clinic is the only way that you will be able to get a definite answer and put your mind to rest. Worrying about it doesn't make the outcome any different, so I'm glad to hear that you are doing your best to forget about it for now and enjoying your precious little boy.

You're right the scary part of all this is not knowing. The more you get to know, the more in control you'll feel again.

Don't forget to let us know when your appointment comes through and how you get on. Remember that we are always here for you.

Kindest regards,

Jolamine xx

Hey I'm just updating you I've been to the breast clinic today and the doctor could hardly feel the lump had to tell him where it was so then had an ultrasound again she couldn't find it had to show her but there was nothing abnormal on the scan so she said it's most likely due to milk and nothing to worry about feel so relieved thank you for all your support xxx

So pleased for you. Thanks for letting us know xx

Hi Jobennett,

Thank you for updating us. This is great news - I'm absolutely delighted for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jobennett,

Thank you for updating us. This is great news - I'm absolutely delighted for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hiya everyone    I'm lisa    I've been reading these for a while.. I am 41 and a few months ago I starting having pain in my breast I thought it was through weight training and over doing it.. but on January 1st I was checking my left breast where I found a lump under my nipple. I'm really ashamed to say I wasnt sure if it was normal or not.    I went to docter and she referred me but said that it moved arround and there was no rough edges.  But I font know I'm not convinced I'm so scared I'm very anxious I've cryed alot . I just think its that dreaded word    how I'm going to cope I dont know 

Hi Lisa.

I first saw my GP on 30th December and was referred to the one-stop breast screening clinic at my local hospital. I receive my results tomorrow and it has been one of the most awful times of my life. One moment I feel okay, the next as though my world is falling apart. You are not alone in how you are feeling. By visiting your GP, you are now tackling this and I wish you the very best. 

Steph

Hi Lisa,

A very warm welcome to our forum. What a rotten start to the New Year! The way you feel is perfectly normal, but it will become easier once you know exactly what you are dealing with. It sounds as if your GP is trying to rule out Breast cacer as much as to diagnose it, so this should be good news. It is reassuring that she didn't find your lesion fixed or with rough edges, so here's hoping that nothing untoward will be found at the breast clinic.

You will normally get your appointment for the breast clinic through within 2 weeks, although this can sometimes take a little longer at present due to the pandemic. There are so many unknowns at this point that it's a scary place to be. If the worst comes to the worst, you will cope because you have no choice. Having said that , here's hoping that you never have to.

Out of every 8 people referred to the clinic, only 1 will get a cancer diagnosis. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thankyou so much for replying  I'm very scared and really dont know how I'm going to cooe but I have too   thankyou for your kind words it really means alot xxxx lots of love 

Please keep us informed  it brings a little comfort to speak to others going through the same sort of situation   you are not alone    I've cryed for a solid week . Wgat were your symptoms xxx lots of love lisa 

The sudden developing of a lump/mass on the side of my right breast with dumpling/puckering of the skin in December. I have also experienced sharp pain and tingling in the area and in my right arm pit/upper arm. I will update tomorrow evening once I know more. Today has the worst day so far. I am awake all night and sleeping all day. The realisation of what news I could receive tomorrow is sinking in and I just want to vomit. I thought I was mentally prepared, but absolutely not.

Please let us knows how everything goes lots of love lisa xx

Hi MissStephLouise,

I hope that you get good news tomorrow. 

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Seryn,

We are all scared stiff at this stage, but as I said before, you have a lot of positives from your GP's perceptions. It is so hard to deal with all of the unknowns surrounding you at present, but I am still hoping that you get good news.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi

ive just been reading all these posts. I saw my GP yesterday as I'd had an inverted nipple on and off for a week or two. I couldn't find any lumps so was kind of hoping it would be something and nothing. Unfortunately she found a lump that she thought was about 1cm and sent an urgent referral through to the breast clinic for me

Today I'm just in bits - can't concentrate on work, keep bursting into tears, feel sick with worry. The GP has said it could be 2-3 weeks before I get an appointment and I just know how I'm going to cope until then.

I can see I'm not alone in feeling so scared though from reading all your posts. Any ideas how I get through the next couple of weeks? Apart from my husband I've told no one because I don't feel able to talk about it without crying - I'm crying just typing this.