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 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 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

Hi guys I have my biopsy today and I'm really scared. Could anyone advise any good tips or anything to help? Is it painful afterwords? I don't think I can go through with it but I need to remember it's for the best and to get this sorted to know what is what. 
Help would be appreciated guys.

Hi Sarah,

I am so sorry that nobody replied to your post before you went for your biopsy. I was working today and, have only just come across it. I hope that all went well with your appointment today  and, that you didn't find it too painful. You are so right. This all needs to be investigated, so that you can finally get some answers. Did they give you a date to return or did they say how long it would take to get your results? Here's hoping that it's not too long and that the outcome is better than you're expecting. 

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Sarah,

I am so sorry that nobody replied to your post before you went for your biopsy. I was working today and, have only just come across it. I hope that all went well with your appointment today  and, that you didn't find it too painful. You are so right. This all needs to be investigated, so that you can finally get some answers. Did they give you a date to return or did they say how long it would take to get your results? Here's hoping that it's not too long and that the outcome is better than you're expecting. 

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

[@Jolamine]‍ 

Hi Jolamine, went to clinic this morning, done all the checks, everything is fine. Thanks for your help and support！Have a good weekend!

xx

Hi Paolazk,

Many thanks for your update. After all of the worry that you've been through, I'm delighted to hear that  you got the all clear. It's so good to get some good news on this site.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Morning, 

I have an appointment at the breast clinic on Friday after finding a painless lump in my left breast about 3 weeks ago. The GP was very reassuring that it's rare at my age (29) for it to be anything too sinister. Although, she didn't give me much to go off at my appointment other than there's definitely a lump! 
I have two small children 4&2 and have been very anxious since my GP appointment. There's not much point to this post other than to tell others as I've kept it to myself, other than my husband, and it's been stressful. 
 

thanks for reading x 

Hi Bramble,

A very warm welcome to our forum. There are a number of different reasons for lumps and not all are cancerous. People in your age group often have benign cysts or fibrous thickening. Your GP has done the right thing by referring you to the breast clinic. She possibly didn't tell you much, because she didn't have much to tell you. The only way to be sure that all is ok, is to have some tests done, usually an ultrasound and/or a biopsy. There is usually another 1-2 week wait for the results of these.

You have done well to keep this between your husband and yourself for this long, as it is always a very worrying time for us all. I am glad to see that you don't have much longer to wait. It is only natural to worry even more when you have two young children. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 12 years ago and again 11 years ago and my thoughts immediately went to my children. I lost my mum to breast cancer too, so I immediately thought the worst. Since then I have seen my two leave school, go to university, graduate, gain meaningful employment, marry and have children of their own and I am still living a busy and meaningful life.

Please bear in mind that only 1 person in every 8 referred to the breast clinic 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

Thank you for your kind reply Jolamine. I am trying to see it as a positive that I've been referred quickly to the breast clinic and am having all of the relevant tests done tomorrow. It's so easy to get swept up in all of the 'what ifs' while you're waiting. Posting here and your reply really settled my anxiety around the situation, brought back to reality and being more rational with my thinking! 
 

I will be glad tomorrow when it's all over. 
 

Bramble x 

Hi Bramble,

Most of us are referred to the breast clinic within a two week time frame. Even this can feel like forever when you're waiting. It is all too easy to get swept up in the 'what ifs', but just remember that 'it isn't cancer until you're told it's cancer.' Even then it is all quite  manageable.

I am glad to hear that my reply helped you a little and helped to rationalise your thinking. I am sure that you will feel very relieved when tomorrow is over, but here's hoping for good news.

Please don't forget to let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Yes it's good that they refer people quickly. You're right, the kind starts to gk a million miles sometimes! You're words have helped a lot so thank you so much for taking the time to reply. I'm sure you've helped a lot of people on the forum over the years! 
 

I am keeping busy this morning with a trip to the zoo with my 2 year old before my appointment at 3pm. I will update when I can  

Bramble xx 

Hi Bramble,

The zoo sounds like a great idea to pass the time this morning. I hope that you enjoyed it. The people at the breast clinics are generally very helpful and understanding.

Keeping my fingers crossed for good news.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Bramble wishing you well at your appointment today. 
could you tell me how long you waited for referral? 
 

I phoned GP this morning and requested to be referred rather than going back to GP in 3 weeks. I am in Scotland ( Lanarkshire) and was wondering what waiting times are looking like at the moment? 

Hi Alster,

As far as I know waiting times in South Lanarkshire are about 2 weeks.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx