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 Jolamine,

Thank you so much for your reply & can I just say you're an inspiration! Always replying to people's concerns, so caring & thoughtful when you're going through so much yourself! You're a star! 
 

I have read that it doesn't usually come with pain, I'm only concerned because it's just that left side which just happens to be the side I had the op on my nipple. Also the side the large ovarian cyst was on & I ended up having that ovary & Fallopian tube removed. It's probably all just coincidence though & I do like to overthink things.

 I'm going to try my best to stay positive & busy as there's absolutely nothing I can do before the 16th other than drive myself mad with it & make myself ill. So I'll try & help my 17 year old son as it's apprenticeship week according to school so that will keep me busy finding ideas & probably drive him mental, haha!
 

Thank you again, I really appreciate your support & will keep you informed.

Kind regards,

Emma

xx

Hi Emma,

Thank you for your very kind words. Helping your son during apprenticeship week sounds like the ideal way to keep yourself busy during this wait, which, I know, seems interminable.

I am hoping and praying for good news.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you so much Jolamine,

I will be in touch & hope you are keeping well.

kind regards,

Emma 

xx

Hi,

I'm 49 and have had itching in both nipples for a few weeks which at first didnt worry me I just put it down to menopause which I started early as a result of stress from losing my husband to cancer almost 3 years ago at age 46.

On Thursday of last week I noticed slight discharge from my left breast and that sent me spiralling. I stupidly googled it and am now convinced i have breast cancer and more specifically Pagets disease. 

I went to my GP on Monday who gave me a thorough examination  and couldnt feel any lumps which was a relief she is not specially concerned but has referred me to the breast clinic for tests which I'm glad about but also absolutely terrified about.

I have 2 wonderful kids 14 & 21(this Saturday) and theyve already been through so much I cant bear the thought of them having to deal with anything else and my biggest fear is anything happening to me and them being left alone. 

The GP gave me hydrocortisone cream which I applied right away. Everyone said it was less of a worry because both were itchy but now since using the cream the right is ok and only the left is itchy and yesterday i noticed the skin on the left was dry and flaky. I'm unsure if that is just the cream but again I've convinced myself that it's another sign of cancer. 

I'm strong and I've dealt with a lot but this has taken the feet from me it consumes my every thought and I'm truly petrified, not for me but for my kids. 

Got my clinic appt in today and it's not until 11th March which is a bit of a wait but nothing I can do it's also a week before my husband's anniversary - this time of year is tough enough and this isnt helping. 

I know theres a million things it could be and no one here can tell me what the outcome is going to be but it helps to talk 

J x

I found a lump in my left breast. Saw my doctor last week and she said it feels like a cyst and she isn't concerned, but referred me to the breast clinic to be sure.

My appointment at the clinic is on Monday. I was feeling fine because the doctor seemed so chill about it, but now I think I can feel something in my right breast. I'm not sure if I'm just imagining things because of the stress...

My husband is taking me to the appointment but he might be turned away due to Covid rules. I'm so worried that I might have to be by myself and get bad news...

Hi Jujumama,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am so sorry to hear about the loss of your husband at such a young age. This must have been very difficult for you and your young family, so I sincerely hope that it isn't breast cancer. You are right that there are many different things that this could be due to, but you are doing the correct thing in getting this looked into. Waiting for a referral is always a scary time, as there are so many unknowns and, our imaginations also go into overdrive.

It's a good sign that the cream has stopped the itch in one breast. Maybe it'll just take a little longer to combat it in the other? We all tend to worry more about our children than ourselves at this stage, but don't let your mind run away with you. Please remember that it isn't cancer until you're told that it's cancer. Even if it is, this is one of the more treatable form of this disease. I felt like you when I discovered a lump 11 years ago. Since then I have had two bouts of breast cancer, but I am still here and leading a busy life.

11th March is not that far away. It is unfortunate that this is around the time of your husband's anniversary, but there is never a good time for something like this. Try to keep yourself busy in the meantime to distract yourself from the wait.

I sincerely hope that this doesn't show up anything too untoward. Please keep in touch and let us know. Remember that we are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Underredskies,

A very warm welcome to the forum. I am glad to hear that you have got your appointment through so quickly. It is reassuring that your GP felt that this was more like a cyst. It is possible that this new lump you've found is just another cyst. It is not unusual fo us to imagine things because of anxiety. 

Your husband may well be turned away because of the Covid rules, but try not to let this upset you. If there was the slightest suspicion of cancer, you might be given scans and a biopsy. There usually follows an anxious 1-2 week wait for the results, so you are more likely to get a full diagnosis at your second appointment and, you can usually bring someone with you when you get these. If they are just cysts, your consultant may be able to confirm this on your first visit, but not always.

I hope that it all turns out well for you. Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi first time on here .and am absolutely terrified I have breast cancer or somewhere else. I went to doctors as after a week of itchy nipple and the areola around it was red and have a burning sensation aswel as my right breast been much bigger to what it normally is . My mam died of cancer in the womb and breast cancer when I was only a baby . .I don't know family history much as dad died two when I was baby . . I just don't want to leave my 4 children and grandchildren  . And I've been remarried 4 years ago .so am all happy and settled and now am just crying and carnt stop thinking the worse . I have my appointment on Saturday 27th .10 days after seeing the Dr.  When she checked me .she said she asnt seen anything like it .but checked me and she couldn't find any lumps . But did not like the look of my breasts.  Am 59 years old .so big 60 birthday coming soon .am so scared. 

Thanks so much for your kind words, which really helped settle my nerves.

I had my breast clinic appointment today. They have confirmed that the first lump is either a cyst or prominent modular breast tissue, and not anything to worry about. I've to go back for an ultrasound to confirm which it is, and if it's cyst have it drained.

The second lump was in fact nothing, I was just freaking myself out due to all the stress.

Good luck to everyone else, will be thinking of you all.

Thanks so much for your kind words, which really helped settle my nerves.

I had my breast clinic appointment today. They have confirmed that the first lump is either a cyst or prominent modular breast tissue, and not anything to worry about. I've to go back for an ultrasound to confirm which it is, and if it's cyst have it drained.

The second lump was in fact nothing, I was just freaking myself out due to all the stress.

Good luck to everyone else, will be thinking of you all.

Hi underredskies  am so pleased that you had a good results  and the big weight as been lifted off your shoulders.  Now you can put this all behind you and enjoy life .take care .such good news .x

Hi Underredskies

So delighted for you that your tests showed nothing sinister, what a relief that must be!!! Thanks for sharing your results - gives me hope for a similar outcome. Take care and keep well.

Jx

Hi Underredskies,

Phew! This is fantastic news - I bet that you feel relieved. I am glad to hear that you are being sent for an ultrasound to confirm whether it's a cyst or prominent modular breast tissue and hope that all goes well from here on. 

Please keep in touch and let us know which it turns out to be.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi first time posting been reading this thread and has been really helpful reading other people's stories. I found a lump under my left armpit about 8 weeks ago , didn't think anything of it as I am prone to ingrown hairs. Any way the lump wasn't going away then I got a kidney infection 7th feb which wiped me off feet so when I spoke to the dr about this I mentioned my lump and got a face to face appointment which was on Tuesday she examined my breasts and she said there was definitely a lump under my armpit and she could feel a lump under my nipple and my nipple is inverted red and inflamed, she has referred me to the breast clinic. I haven't been feeling well for a good few weeks now, dull painful ache in my left leg and arm, extremely tired no energy at all hot flushes nausea and a burning sensation in my nipple. I'm not sure if this is all linked I've had blood tests today and just awaiting my clinic appointment gelling really anxious and scared. I'm 37 and have 3 kids 17, 15 and 12. xx

Hi Peanut,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am sorry to hear about your symptoms, but you are doing the right thing in getting them checked out. Waiting for your clinic appointment and then waiting for a diagnosis are some of the worst times of your life. There are so many unknowns that our minds are all over the place. It usually only takes 2 weeks to get seen at the breast clinic, although it can be slightly longer in some areas, due to the current pandemic. 

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 11 years and, am currently under investigation for a third. The fear never goes away. I had 2 teenagers when I was first diagnosed and my immediate thoughts fled to them. Since then I have seen them go to university, graduate, get gainful employment, marry and have children of their own.  Breast cancer is one of the more treatable forms of cancer, so try not to panic. 

Try to keep yourself busy in the meantime to take your mind off the wait.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Peanut

Oh gosh what a worrying time for you, such a lot to think about and such a young family. I completely understand and empathise it's a horrible horrible time and there's no point saying dont worry because I know I'm finding that difficult too until I get to the clinic on 11th March.  I found Jolamines words "you dont have cancer til they tell you you have cancer" really helpful to try to keep perspective and hope and I'm trying to move those thoughts to the back of my head, keeping busy and staying away from google!  I think for me what happened was the more I read the more I convinced myself I had all the other symptoms that they describe with breast cancer, I never felt particularly tired, but suddenly I was, I started to feel pain in my ribs, my back I completely spiralled.  The mind is a powerful thing and it can take you to very dark places, I'm trying my best to stay out of then for now. 

Sending love, strength and a virtual hug to get through these difficult days 

Jx

Hi Peanut 

Wondered how you were doing, hope you're managing to keep busy as best you can 

J X

Hi 

I still haven't had my appointment through I have to call back on Tuesday as there is delays due to COVID. I'm still not feeling well and had to go to hospital for some more tests, they examined my breasts and could feel the lumps they could definitely feel them but they are unable to quicken the process and said I just need to wait for my appointment I'm trying not to think about it too much but it's still a very worrying time xxx Thankbyou for taking the time to ask ️ Xxx 

Hi

I'm so sorry I hope I didn't upset you further by bringing it up I'm going this Thursday  and the wait is awful and you came to my mind I wondered if youd heard anything and how you were.

You'll be in my thoughts. Stay strong 

Jx

Hi Peanut,

Four weeks appears to be a long time to wait for a breast clinic appointment - you must be climbing the walls! It certainly seems worth contacting your GP to see if she can extradite matters. Without a consultant's name you will find it difficult to see where you are on the waiting list at the hospital.

I sincerely hope that you get seen soon. Please let us know how you get on on Tuesday.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx