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Been referred to Breast Clinic and freaking out...

sophthegreat
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Hi all, 

I'm sure there are lots of messages like this one, but I thought I'd post a message anyway as it seems like a good place to vent my worry without unnecessarily alarming other people in my life!

I went to see my GP yesterday as my right breast has been feeling a bit tender lately. My breasts are quite naturally lumpy but recently it's felt like there is an area of my breast which is more solid than the rest. I don't know why, but I kind of expected the GP to say it was nothing and for me to carry on with the rest of my day as usual. Instead as soon as I mentioned slight pain in my right breast her general demeanour went from bright and breezy to serious and concerned. She asked me if I had any family history of breast cancer, and I told her my grandmother had it (she passed away from breast and lung cancer aged 68). I also remembered after my appointment that my mother's cousin had it, although my mum and aunt are fine (at least so far). She examined my breast, and although I hadn't actually mentioned finding any lumps she immediately found the place that I had identified myself. She said she wasn't sure if it was a lump, or just a nodule as my breasts are quite nodular, but she would refer me to a breast clinic for screening. She would recommend all available tests. She said she thought they would want to see me "very quickly". So as you can imagine I left the GP surgery alarmed. I also got a call from the hospital the same day (yesterday) to arrange an appointment - which also alarmed me as I figured they had prioritised me because they suspected it was cancer.

The appointment is for a week on monday. I'm not sure if I can wait that long because psychologically I'm already finding it very tough.

This year is a very big one for me as I'm getting married in three months. The wedding is abroad, everything's already organised, many people have booked their flights and accommodation. Me and my fiance are planning our life together. I can't imagine everything being disrupted by a breast cancer diagnosis. 

More than that, I can't imagine trying to face breast cancer if that is the diagnosis. The GP said I should try not to worry, and that most cases are benign, but I am upset that I was referred so quickly. 

I tried to talk to my Mum about it, especially as my stepdad is a retired doctor, but both of them immediately dismissed it by saying if I have any pain the likelihood is that it's not anything serious. My boyfriend is being very understanding, and saying that if it's serious we can postpone the wedding, we'll do whatever it takes. But I already have a lot going on in my life and I'm struggling to imagine the possibility, however unlikely, of taking breast cancer on as well. 

How do people cope with this? I don't want to mention it to friends as I don't have a diagnosis of anything yet. But at the same time I find it hard to socialise etc as normal with this dread hanging over me.

Sophie x

  • Offline in reply to Bramble91

     

    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

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    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? 

  • Offline in reply to Alster

     

    Hi Alster,

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

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx

  • Offline in reply to Alster

    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 

     

     

  • Offline in reply to Bramble91

     

    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

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    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! 

  • Offline in reply to lilteej

     

    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

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    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 

  • Offline in reply to 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

  • Offline in reply to Jolamine

    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

     

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