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

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. 

Hi Treaclepud,

A very warm welcome to our forum.

This is always a great shock to the system and our minds tend to go into overdrive whilst we are waiting. Having read some of our posts, you will realise that it is not at all uncommon to feel as you do just now. Crying is not such a bad thing, as it helps to relieve some of your stress. 

You will normally be seen within 2 weeks from referral, although there may be some slight delays due to the current pandemic situaton. Try to keep yourself busy to distract yourself from the wait and, whatever you do, steer clear of the internet. Whatever the outcome, you will feel better once you know exactly what you are dealing with.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you for replying. I'm trying to avoid googling 'breast cancer' as I know there's going to be so much information that it will just encourage my stress levels up and up. 
 

Two weeks seems like such a long time - I know it's not but at the moment I'm so worried I can't imagine how I'll get through that amount of time. 
 

But I know all of the people on here have had the same wait and coped, I think I just need to get my head around the whole idea that I may have breast cancer. Like you say - it's the not knowing that's the worst, once I know then at least you can start to deal with it x

Hi Treaclepud,

The wait is never easy. I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years and have been waiting since October to be seen, in case it has returned again. I was seen on 5th January and now have to go through a barrage of tests before I know the outcome, so I know only too well how scary the wait can be.

Many of us are in denial at your stage. We hear about cancer, but never expect to find it at our own door. I know that the wait seems interminable, but you will get through it.

Many people don't tell anyone until they get a definite diagnosis. Eventually, you'll find it a help to be able to talk to others about it.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Oh my goodness, poor you! I can't imagine how you coped waiting from October through to January and still waiting now. I hope you get positive news soon xxx

Hi Treaclepud,

It has been a long time. I have a bone scan tomorrow. This is my first test, so fingers crossed that it will be ok.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Treaclepud,

It has been a long time. I have a bone scan tomorrow. This is my first test, so fingers crossed that it will be ok.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

How did your bone scan go today? When will you get your results or have you had them already (sorry, I'm a bit clueless about all of this so I don't know how long it all takes)

fingers crossed for you that it's gone well xx

Hi Treaclepud,

Thanks for asking. My scan went well today, once they managed to find a vein, which was a bit of a problem. It will take about 2 weeks before I get the results.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Oh gosh, that's a long 2 weeks, I'll have everything crossed for you

To keep me occupied ive started knitting the rest of a cardigan that I've been knitting on and off for a year . Maybe this was just the push I needed to finish it.... xxx

Hi Treaclepud,

This sounds like the ideal project - as you said, possibly just the push you needed!

I am keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hey everyone 

I found I little lump on my nipple last year only got in check out in October. I wasn't worried about it taught it might only be a mole or skin tag. Had my appointment today and the doctor thinks the same she told me not to worry it's nothing but she's still sending me for a mammogram. Does this sound normal. She said because I'm 37 I may aswell have one. 

Hi Cupcakes,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am glad to hear that you finally got your lump checked out and that your GP doesn't think that there is anything to worry about. She is however doing the right thing by sending you for a mammogram, just to make absolutely certain, because even the most experienced doctor doesn't have x-ray eyes.

I sincerely hope that she is right and that your mammogram comes back clear too.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi all, 

Been to my gp today as had some soreness/tenderness on the outside of my left breast.. after worrying it for a few days I found something like a lump gp has referred me to the breast clinic and as I am fortunate enough to have private health I've used that and have an appointment for tests Friday afternoon with results except a biopsy if needed on the same day...

Currently petrified and imagining the worst... Although reading these has helped a little 

Louise

Hi Louise,

A very warm to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear of why you've joined us.  It is good news that you have private insurance and  are getting seen at the breast clinic quickly. I know that it's almost impossible, but try not to worry. We nearly all fear the worst at this stage and, there are so many unknowns that it's a really scary time.

Not all lumps are cancerous. There are a number of different types, especially in younger people. Whatever you do, try to avoid the internet at the moment, as this will only scare you further for no good reason. Irrespective of the outcome, you will feel better once you know exactly what the outcome is.

I hope that all goes well for you on Friday. Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello

Thanks for the quick reply :-)

I am trying not to google, but I can't stop imagining the worst at the moment..  Doesn't help that I've poked the lump so much, I've bruised it so its now really sore on top of everything else!

I will update on Friday

Louise  xx

Hi Louise,

Try not to keep checking your breasts as this will make them sorer.

Not long to wait now!

Keeping my fingers crossed for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx