Appointment after Mammogram

I had a mammogram on Friday (GP referred me). They told me I would get an appointment for the Breast Clinic within two weeks. Got a letter yesterday with an appointment for General Surgery. The consultant is a breast surgeon (found this out via google). Is this the norm? It seems a bit of a jump from the mammogram to a surgical appointment.

Ive been back and forward to GP for almost two years with breast pain. Had routine mammogram last July that was clear. Pain persisted and sometimes is worse than before. GP was going to put me on HRT recently and I happened to mention again the breast pain and the fact i hadn’t had a period in 18 months (I’m 53) should surely mean the pain wasn’t to do with the menopause. She looked like she’d never heard me mention breast pain before and referred me for the mammogram. 

Pain is in both breasts. I have a lump at the top of one that I’ve had for about 15 years that’s been checked and has never got any bigger. 

  • Hi 

    Am I reading this right - they haven’t told you the results of the mammogram? 

  • No they haven’t told me anything. I just got a letter with the appointment for general surgery.

  • I would contact the surgeons secretary for more information. Only they will be able to update you and hopefully put your mind at ease.

  • I will thanks. I’m away for a few days. I asked my husband to open the letter over the phone today. He had no idea it was related to the mammogram or wouldn’t have told me. He thought it must have been for something else. I’m going from panicking wildly to thinking they surely can’t make a leap like that. I thought there would be further scans, biopsies etc at a breast clinic if there was concern before anything else. 

  • Can’t see how anyone could go from mammogram to surgery without more tests. Could there be an admin error? I would be asking the mammogram clinic for results.

  • Thanks so much for replying. That’s why I’m thinking I’m when I’m being rational. I would have called today and asked but as I said I’m away just now and with my mum. I haven’t told her to worry her and couldn’t get away to call.    I’ve been googling all day when I get the chance. If the letter had been from a breast clinic I could understand it but it just says general surgery and I only know it’s a breast surgeon because I googled it. Sorry I’m repeating myself. I’m kicking myself that it’s now the weekend and I can’t call now. The hospital I had the mammogram in is different to where the appointment is although in the same NHS trust. Thanks again for replying.

  • I think all breast surgeons come under general surgery as I don’t think it’s a discipline in its own right. So wouldn’t read anything into it and I’d certainly wouldn’t be entertaining Dr Google. 

    I’m at a loss to suggest what may be going on. I’ll look to see if I can find the nhs pathway and post it if I do.

     

  • Obviously if they suspected cancer you’d be offered further scans + biopsies

    which makes me think this is not cancer but perhaps cysts or something that the surgeon may

    want to talk to you about removing. However, only way to know for sure is to call the clinic - I would check to see if it is open tomorrow, some open weekends.

  • Thank you for your responses and sending the link. I really appreciate it. If I get a chance I will call tomorrow and see if they’re open but I think it will probably Tuesday once I’m home. I will let you know how it goes. Thanks again. 

  •  

    Hi MissMoise,

    A very warm welcome to our community. Have you been allocated a breast care nurse? She should be able to tell you why you've got this appointment. If she cannot, your surgeon's secretary (number usually at the top of your letter) should be able to tell you more.

    I hope that you are doing your best not to let this spoil your holiday, as worrying won't change anything at the end of the day. What will be will be regardless.

    How soon is the date you've been given? I hope that you can clarify this soon and that it turns out to be nothing too serious.

    Please keep us updated. We are always here for you.

    Kind regards,

    Jolamine xx