I have been to the breast clinic twice regarding a lump I've had for a few years. I was always too scared to get it checked out and eventually got up the courage. It has grew larger in that time and has got harder.
They only done a physical examination back in January and told me to come back in a few months just to check it again. I was there a couple of weeks ago and they only done a physical examination again. They said it feels like a nodule and they don't want to investigate further. They basically dismissed it once I said I'd had it for years and been through 2 pregnancies, the woman said oh well, if it was cancer you'd have known all about it by now. She also said it's nothing 'because of my age' (I'm 26). I know this is pretty much crap because I know it's uncommon but people can have slow moving tumours and cancer doesn't choose based on age.
I feel like they're not really feeling properly in the area where the lump is. Both appointments I've had have also been just before my period started and my breasts are really swollen so you have to dig slightly harder to feel and they won't do that. The rest of the month it's right under the surface of the skin and feels solid. My whole right breast feels harder than the left, as though there is is some solidness under the skin (I don't know how to explain). I also get pain under my right arm and it feels swollen sometimes. I told them that too and they said that's nothing.
I have really bad anxiety and I've had PND since having my 9 month old. It took so much for me to finally get this checked and while I know it's unlikely to be cancer, I don't feel like my mind has been put at rest by a physical examination that the GP already done. The GP said the lump felt hard and irregular, which it does. I thought I'd at least have had an ultrasound/mammogram and that would have put my mind at rest more than just getting it felt.
Am I expecting too much? Is there anyway I could ask for further testing or would they refuse? They gave me a card with a number to call if anything changes so I don't have to go through the GP again. Am I able to go private just for an ultrasound?
There isn't a history of breast cancer as far as I know, I think an aunt on my dad's side. There is a history of cervical and ovarian cancer on my mum's side with quite a lot of the women having it.
Sorry for rambling on and thanks in advance x
