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

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

Hi Alster, 

I visited my GP on the Friday and she then referred me to the Breast clinic & had the appointment booked for exactly 2 weeks later. So it was all done quickly. I hope you can get a referral sooner, the waiting is the worst. Good luck x 
 

I had my appointment yesterday and they have said it's a cyst, I just have to keep a check on it and make sure it doesn't change at all. They were all very kind & reassuring there. It took about an hour with the ultrasound and consultation. 

I'm glad it's all over with now and I can stop worrying. 

Bramble xx 

Hi Bramble,

I am delighted to hear that this turned out to be a cyst. I hope that this sets your mind to rest and that you can now return to enjoying time with your family, without any worries.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hello, 

I have noticed some symptoms in my left breast. I went to my doctor on Monday, was told that it was likely just a cyst, but was referred to a breast clinic. I received a call today and have an appointment tomorrow. Is this speed concerning, or am I just fortunate in being able to be seen quickly? 
 

Thank you! 

Hi Lilteej,

A very warm welcome to our forum. Please don't worry about how quickly you're being seen. All people referred to the breast clinic usually have to be seen within two weeks.  You have been fortunate to get your appointment sooner rather than later. This can happen when the clinic has a cancellation to fill. It doesn't signify anything sinister, but it does save a lot of additional time worrying.

I hope that all goes well for you tomorrow and that it does turn out to be a cyst. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Lilteej,

A very warm welcome to our forum. Please don't worry about how quickly you're being seen. All people referred to the breast clinic usually have to be seen within two weeks.  You have been fortunate to get your appointment sooner rather than later. This can happen when the clinic has a cancellation to fill. It doesn't signify anything sinister, but it does save a lot of additional time worrying.

I hope that all goes well for you tomorrow and that it does turn out to be a cyst. Please keep in touch and let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine, 

Thank you so much for your kind and reassuring response. I have read through all of the posts in this thread and this community is so fortunate to have someone so supportive and caring. I will update you when I know more. Best wishes! 
 

lilteej 

Hi Lilteej,

Thank you very much for your kind comments. I have had such tremendous support from this forum throughout the past 12 years that I am happy to give what little I can back.

I look forward to your update. CanI ask where you found the 63% statistic?

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi everyone

Hope everyone's doing okay.

I was referred to the breast clinic today under 'urgent suspected cancer'. I'm 22 which I know is very young for breast cancer but I have a lot of family history and my mum first had it when she was 25. She then had a very rare form of skin cancer in her nipple when she was 36 which they think was as a result of the radiation treatment she had for the first cancer. She had breast cancer again when she was 45. She's currently almost 60 and has been fine for years but we are waiting on biopsy results for a lump on her shoulder where the radiation scars are. My maternal aunt also had breast cancer as well as a host of other cancers (I think it was liver cancer that she sadly died from a few years back). My dad also died of cancer when i was 18 (unknown primary cause cancer) after a very short illness (a month).

A couple years back I was refered for what I thought was a lump and it turned out to just be a bit of lumpy breast tissue and that was all ok. This time it isn't a lump. I went to the GP today and saw a nurse practicioner. I've had a kind of sore on my breast near the nipple for about 4 months that hasnt' healed and is a bit inflamed and scaly. She didn't seem overly concerned at the appointment but said she wanted to refer me but wasn't sure where (breast clinic or dermatogoly) and the systems were down so she would call me later. Got the call this afternoon and she said she had spoken to a collegue and they wanted to refer me to the breast clinic. She said i'd hear within 2 weeks. I saw on my records on the NHS app that it's been done under the urgent suspected cancer which has freaked me out. She didn't seem overly concerned at the appointment but she also didn't know what it was and i think I'm now reading into things but she seemed overly nice and caring on the phone which made me think she might think its something bad. 

Sorry for the long post, just feeling quite lost. Haven't told my mum because I dont want to stress her when she's waiting for biopsy results. Told my boyfriend but didn't tell him about the suspected cancer bit because i didn't want to stress him out

Hi Fh001,

A very warm welcome to our forum, although I'm sorry to hear of your concerns. Please don't concern yourself about a 2 week urgent referral. This is normal for the breast clinic. You have done the right thing by getting this investigated and, I hope that it turns out to be nothing untoward again.

It is always an increased worry when there is a family history of cancer. I am pretty sure that the nurse would have said if she had suspected anything, as they tend to tell things as they find them. I hope that your mum's biopsy results come back soon, as it sounds as if she has had a tough cancer journey so far.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi all unfortunately find my self here and have read through the whole thread which is so reassuring. 
my story is I found a lump in my left armpit around 6 weeks ago. Was really run down so blamed it on that. However at the weekend I found a lump in my left breast so contacted gp who was lovely & examined me this morning. I was really expecting to be in and out and told I was being silly. However she found a "mass" in my right breast ans seemed pretty concerned. She has done a refferal but I have been knocked side ways. Didn't want to not comment so here I am. I hope you are all well xx

Hi Jolamine

thank you so much for your message. 
 

my appointment is on Monday morning. They had some slots on Friday they suggested I take but I'm going away on Friday for a weekend away with my boyfriend so said I couldn't do them. Not sure if this was the right thing to do as worried I'll now be stressing over the weekend. 
 

they said the appointment will only be 15 mins and will be an examination and if they think I need more tests I'll probably have to come back on another day and there's a slim chance I could have them the same day. Is this normal? When I had a referral previously it was at a different hospital but they did everything (just exam and ultrasound in the end) in the same day. I'm worried this will just drag it out even more and I'll have to take more time off work (I've told my boss I have a hospital appt so will work from home but not sure how long the appt will last). 
 

I keep yo-yo-ing between "it's absolutely fine there's no way it's cancer" and "I definitely have cancer". Finding it really hard to focus and feel so anxious and tearful. If it wasn't for my mum having breast cancer when she was 25 I wouldn't be so worried. I was referred last year for testing for the BRCA gene but we put it on hold because of Covid. 
 

I feel like I'm now imagining things like an aching pain in my breast (which I know isn't usually a symptom). I also feel like maybe I'm just wasting their time and it's nothing. 

Hi Fh001,

I am glad to hear that you don't have much longer to wait, as I know how stressful this can be. It is unusual for the clinic to limit your appointment to just 15 minutes. All of my referrals in the past 12 years have had all preliminary tests on the same day and, I am usually there for 3-4 hours. Possibly, your hospital is trying to catch up on a Covid backlog.

Unfortunately, the way you are feeling is perfectly normal. We nearly find that our emotions are all over the place, we become very tearful and, we then start to think the worst. Fortunately, this seldom comes to pass. Even if you did get a cancer diagnosis, this is one of the most treatable forms of cancer nowadays. I lost my mum to breast cancer and, I have had 2 bouts in the past 12 years myself, but still lead a busy and fulfilled life.

Please let us know how things go on Monday. In the meantime, try to put it to the back of your mind and enjoy your weekend away.

Kind regards,

jolamine xx

Hi Laurah,

I am so sorry to hear about your symptoms and know only too well how you feel after your appointment today. You should be seen within two weks of your doctor's referral. I can understand how you feel knocked for six. I know that it's hard not to worry, but try to remember that'it isn't cancer until you're told that it is.' 

Even if you do get told what none of us want to hear, breast cancer is one of the most treatable forms of cancer nowadays. I myself have had 2 bouts in the past 12 years and, I am still leading a busy and fulfilling life.

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

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Jolamine,

thank you so much for replying. It's an awful time waiting. I have read your comments throughout this thread. You are so kind to keep commenting. 
do you know if I will get results on the day? 
much love. 
Laura xx

Hi Laurah,

It depends upon what type of clinic you're attending. Some are walk in clinics which usually do give you the results on the day. Most are just clinics within a hospital and here you usually have to wait for 1-2 weeks to get your results. It will also depend upon your age and what tests you get done.

I have had 2 bouts of breast cancer in the past 12 years and, on both occasions, my consultant told me that he was pretty sure that it was cancer at my first visit, but I still had to wait for my test results to confirm this.

Waiting is one of the worst times of our cancer journey. Try to keep yourself busy to detract from the wait.

Here's hoping that you will get your appointment through soon.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx