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 Michelle-Them,

I am sorry to hear that you are feeling more scared after reading some of the posts on our forum. Many people find it even more scary when they don't know what to expect, so we tend to tell things as they are in the hopes of making things less scary. Try not to touch your lump too often, as this will only make it more painful. If you can manage this, the pain should gradually die down.

It is reassuring to know that the lymph nodes in your neck are normal and nothing to worry about. Your appointment may seem ages away, but it's not really. You will find that if you phone your consultant's secretary once and tell her that you are willing to accept any cancellation, she will contact you if one comes up. In the meantime try to keep yourself busy to distract yourself from the wait.

I sincerely hope that all turns out well for you. Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Thank you I am very busy which is good but still finding time to think . I'm telling myself it's a cyst and trying to drill that into my head . Thaks so much for you reply I am going to call today and ask for cancellations. Will keep you posted once I have been. Take care 

Thanks [@Jolamine]‍ My breast was quite painful last night, which make me worried. But it's better this morning, but I can still feel something over there. 

I am trying my best not over thinking too much.

Xx

Hi Paolazk,

You could drive yourself insane by overthinking things. Try to remind yourself that 'it isn't cancer until you're told that it is.'

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Michelle-Them,

I sincerely hope that it is a benign cyst. I hope that you manage to make some headway with the breast clinic today.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi everyone I went to my GP today in regards to my breast size difference and a lump on my bigger breast. My GP felt and said that it was quite big the lump so it couldn't be a cyst. I'm now getting referred to the breast clinic for an ultrasound and biopsy. I'm really scared and just keep thinking the worst? I don't think this is gonna end well :( 

does anyone have any adivce or help? 

Hi Sarah,

A very warm welcome to our forum. I am so sorry to hear what your GP told you today and I sincerely hope that she is wrong. You will normally be seen at the breast clinic within 2 weeks. 
It is not unusual to find your emotions all over the place during this wait. Many of us become tearful and we nearly always seem to expect the worst - fortunately, this is seldom the outcome. 
The best thing that you can do at the moment is to try and keep yourself busy to try and help the time pass more quickly. This doesn't have to be all work. Do you have any hobbies or pastimes that you could get stuck into?

Try to remind yourself that 'it isn't cancer until you're told that it is.' We always advise people to steer clear of Google, as this will only scare you further and serve no useful purpose.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

hi im new here ive been reading some of the posts. im 43 and i found a lump under my right armpit a few months ago around december maybe im not great with times. it was realy small at first i had to realy dig deep to feel it. anyways ive been keeping an eye on it over the months and its grew to what i can feel maybe the size of a grape cut in half sorry its the only way i can describe it. its silly realy i no i shouldnt have left it so long i think because it hasnt bern giving ne any pain but on the 14th of may i was booking an appt for routine bloods an mentioned it to the secertary to see if i should see a dr a few hours later dr rang to see me next day. she checked my breasts an coller bones first she didnt feel any lumps then she checked my armpit she found the lump so she referred me to the breast clinic they rang me 2 days later with appt for 1st of june. obviously im worried ive 4 kids at home the youngest being 2. i havnt told anyone about my appt only my husband hes more worried than me altho i do worry at times ive lost a few family members over the years to all different types of cancer on both my mum an dads side of family but reading thru these post has helped me be less anxious about things on tuesday and im hoping for the best 

sorry this post is so long x

Hi Faith,

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear why you've joined us. It is always a worrying time when you are waiting to be seen at the breast clinic. I'm glad to hear that you have told your husband, so that at least you can discuss how you feel with him. My hubby was really worried when I was first diagnosed too. I had a second bout of breast cancer the following year.

I have lost a number of family and close friends to cancer, including both of my parents, so I naturally thought the worst at the beginning - most people do this. They also naturally worry about their children. I certainly did, but  in the last 12 years I have been fortunate enough to see my children leave school, go to university, graduate, find gainful employment, get married and have families of their own.

Only 1 person in every 8 who attend the breast clinic will get a cancer diagnosis, so here's hoping that you will be one of the lucky ones. I shall be thinking of you on Tuesday and am keeping my fingers crossed for good news.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi All,

thank you for this post.. having spent an afternoon trawling the internet for something of comfort I've finally found this.

I found a lump on Saturday having never had anything like this before - I've never wished a bank holiday be over but the anxiety is awful. I went to the dr's today (not a go I've been to before) I've been referred to the clinic and already have an appt booked for the 10th June with my GP making sure I acknowledge the message we assume it's C until proven otherwise.. has anybody else had this message or am I to take it as she's interpreted something quite telling?

Thank you

Hi All,

thank you for this post.. having spent an afternoon trawling the internet for something of comfort I've finally found this.

I found a lump on Saturday having never had anything like this before - I've never wished a bank holiday be over but the anxiety is awful. I went to the dr's today (not a go I've been to before) I've been referred to the clinic and already have an appt booked for the 10th June with my GP making sure I acknowledge the message we assume it's C until proven otherwise.. has anybody else had this message or am I to take it as she's interpreted something quite telling?

Thank you

Hi Kaim,

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear why you've joined us. This is always a worrying time, as there are so many unknowns. I'm glad to hear that you managed to get seen today and that you've been referred to get your lump checked out. It is really impossible to tell what your lump is until some tests have been carried out. You have done the right thing by getting this investigated.

Not all lumps are cancerous. Many are benign cysts or fibrous changes. It is also a fact that only 1 person in every 8 referred to the breast clinic will get a cancer diagnosis, so the odds are still in your favour.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Kaim 

When I was referred about 6 months ago, the referral stated suspected breast cancer,  which really freaked me out.  Thankfully when I went, everything was fine.  I think they just have to rule out the worst case scenario.  I really hope that everything goes well for you at the clinic.

Gill

x