Heya 

I'm sorry to hear the worry you are currently experiencing. 

I'm only 22 and since I was 18 have had very scary experiences with lumps in my breast. One experience, to the point where my GP was so convinced the lump she had felt was cancer, that when she rang routinely a few months later she asked if I was undergoing treatment, when it had been all clear. I just want you to know that you're not alone, and that these experiences are horrible to go through. I'm speaking from my experience, so don't take this as a definite, but my urgent referrals have seen me in the Breast Clinic within a week. Sometimes depending on the volume of referrals this may take longer, it took 2 weeks for my Mum to be seen and she was diagnosed with an aggressive form of breast cancer last November. 

For the appointment itself, I saw 2 breast nurses who examined me, and then a breast consultant. This probably differs at different hospitals, but for sure there will be an examination. If they find any lumps or areas that they want looking into more, you may find they send you for an ultrasound scan on the breast, as mammograms dontt work as well for people our age. Sometimes everything can be ruled out by an ultrasound, like cysts etc. But even then they may still take a biopsy to be sure, which the results of can take up to 2 weeks. Both are painless, the biopsy being a kind of short pinch feeling, but on the positive side, you noticed these things and you went to get checked over quickly. A lot of people may not. I've had 3 of these lumps that 'seemed sinister' to my doctors, with my family history being full of cancer, and one turned out to be a cyst and the other 2 are builds up of tissue because like yourself, my breasts are quite dense and lumpy normally. Just try to remember that there are other things this may be, and out of 9/10 women are given the all clear when attending with a lump. These are such positive numbers. 

I wish you the best of luck for your appointment, and I hope I've helped to put your mind at ease a little. You'll find lots of support and advice on here, from people who have been through the same. Try to focus on other things during your night shift, and the appointment will have been and gone before you know it. 

Lots of love, 

Alex xx

Thank you so much Alex. You have helped more than you know. The referral went in 9 days ago and I'm thinking I'll chase it up Monday/Tuesday time simply because I'm not sure I can wait any longer without an appointment in sight. Thanks for explaining how the appointment should go too.

I'm so sorry for all you have been through and are going through. You are so young to be going through the risk and the stress of the unknown. I'll keep everything crossed that you stay clear.

I'm glad I'm not the only one with dense and lumpy breasts. It certainly makes things more difficult when checking which is why I examine them regularly so that I am super familiar with the normal bumps and density.

I'm hoping it turns out that I just have that fibrous thing and/or cysts. Either way something is different. It's such a strange feeling being scared of something that might not even be a thing. It makes me feel like a fraud

Thank you Alex

Lots if love

NightOwl xx

Thanks Mandy. That's more help than you realise as I am in Wales too! Plus it's always helpful to know I'm not alone.

I really hope your biopsy happens soon and that it's favourable news! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

Take care and stay strong

NightOwl xx

I'm so glad I managed to help you. Yeah chase the appointment up and see what's going on with it, and ask them if they are able to give you a rough guess of how much longer it'll be. Its definitely easier having an appointment so you know it's there and is ready to go to, and you can get that day over with!

Thank you so much. I have a rare genetic disorder called Vascular Ehlers Danlos Syndrome too, which is caused by a gene that mutated in me, so I think where genetics are concerned, I'm just a mutant one! Haha. I will definitely be keeping you in my thoughts, and will be keeping everything crossed that you stay clear also.

It does make it much harder doesn't it?! I mean how are we meant to find lumps when they're one big lump! Haha. But yeah, it definitely makes it easier on ourselves to know what they are like normally, so we can notice anything different. If it is something like cysts or build up of tissue, they may show you how to check your breasts in a different way, so you look out for other things too. 

Don't feel like a fraud at all, when something is unknown, it's much scarier. It's the unknown that makes you think of every single bad thing it could be, and which makes you worry more, so you definitely aren't a fraud. Look at those people who go to the doctors because they've sneezed once, now their worrying is a fraud, but yours most definitely isn't. You have good reason to worry. 

I'm so glad I helped you, keep smiling and thinking positive (hard i know). I hope you get your appointment soon too, that'll be a weight lifted on it's own. 

Remember to message me any time you want someone to talk to, and please let me know how you get on. 

Lots of love, 

Alex xxx

I received a letter today confirming my referral and telling me I would an offered an appointment soon. Although it's not an appointment just knowing that they have received my referral really helps for some reason :)

Oh wow! That sounds quite scary. Why do all medical names sound scary? Lol. 

It would be useful to have another way of checking them. I've lost count of the amount of ways I've "found a lump" because of how they are normally. This feels so different though even without all the added symptoms. I've now found a 2nd lump close to the other one. 

It's nice to hear you don't think I'm a fraud. The unknown is definitely scary. I know what u mean about those who go to the doctors for a sneeze. I so rarely go and I live in constant pain every day so if im truly worried about something then it's usually worth me worrying. Lol.

Thinking positive is so very hard. Every time I think I've got a handle on things the panic creeps in again. Lol.

As soon as I hear anything more ill let you know. Thanks again Alex. It really helps to know im not alone.

Lots of love

NightOwl xxx

Hi Night Owl,

I'm in a similar position; I'm 30 and a single mom to a 2-yr-old and found a lump in my breast last week. My GP did the 2ww referral on Monday morning and I'm yet to hear from them. I've chased it up but keep being told that I will hear sometime next week with an appointment. 

It's agonising isn't it. I feel so sick everyday and suffering with bad headaches; too many sleepless nights spent worrying. Im dreading having to wait up to two weeks for the results of any biopsies they do, too. 

Claire x

Oh that's something then, knowing the referral hasn't got lost somewhere is always a good thing! Hopefully you'll get your appointment soon now.

All medical terms sound scary don't they? Haha. I'm glad it's not just me who thinks it. Especially when they come up with terms that sound even worse than what the thing actually is, I'm sure they could come up with nicer names Haha. 

It is quite handy having another way to check, because people like us aren't the norm, so can't really follow normal guidelines on checking can we. And I know what you mean hun, you can tell when there's something just not quite right, I'm so glad you noticed it though and got straight into the doctors, no matter what it is, I'm glad you noticed it. 

And I don't think you're a fraud at all, you're frightened and that's completely normal. Oh man, how annoying is it seeing those people sitting there with a cold when you're sat there in agony and don't even go to the doctors about that? Haha, I'm sure my face must say it all when they say they're there with a cold. I'm like you, I'm in pain all the time due to my veds, so an arm or leg has got to be dropping off for me to actually ask for help Haha. See we are the ones that try not to bother doctors, so when we do have to, we still feel like its wasting time, but in this case it most definitely isn't. Just hope you didn't catch a cold from all the ones there with it hahaha. 

It is hard not to panic, just as you think you're doing well, thinking wow I haven't thought about it for a while, that makes you think about it, and bam, you're back to panicking. I swear our brains aren't wired the right way when it comes to stuff like that Haha. But as long as you're trying to not panic, then that's good anyway. 

And good, like i said, I'll be thinking of you. And there's no need to thank me, I'm just so glad I was able to help you in some way. Keep smiling as much as you can! 

Lots of love,

Alex xxx

Hi Claire. How are you doing? Have u heard anything yet? I'm still waiting and have just found out that I've been put down to a routine examination for my age so depending on what the doctor says at my appointment tomorrow I may have a 6 week wait ahead of me. Good luck with everything. I'm sure u will be fine xxx

Hey Alex,

Well I've chased the appointment up and found that I've been put in for a routine appointment rather than an urgent referral. They were lovely when I phoned though and have put me on the standby list in case of a cancellation.

I've contacted my GP now and I've got an appointment tomorrow for him to check the lumps out and he said if necessary he would write a letter to them to try and speed things up but he said that due to my age he's not very concerned. That makes me so angry. It's no wonder the survival rates for this age group are lower than that of someone even in their 80s. It's because "there's no concern" so it's often missed.  

To make things worse I've just found out my father in law has bowel cancer. 

Anyways how are you? Lol xxxx