Thank you so very much for your post, worryingly,  my armpit lump has no pain, but my feelings were the same when I got the urgent suspected cancer referral.  I go to the hospital on Friday, and am overwhelmed with thinking the worst. I am so happy for you and for worryworts like me, your wonderful news  is such a comfort.  Wishing you the very best.

Lyn xx

Hi Lyn, 

Good Luck on Friday - I hope everything goes well for you.  Remember, 9 out of 10 people who get an urgent referral do not have cancer.  I know it's hard to stay positive when you are worried and it's easy for me to say now but try to relax. 

Let us know how you get on x

No I did not have a lump on the breast but when I had more mammograms done on both breasts they found 2 areas of calcification on the other breast that looked suspicious.  After core needle biopsies, they were found to be benign. x

That's great news, thanks for letting me know :) this group has been a godsend! X

SallyNew, I agree with you, I found it a godsend too.  I hope that all the tests go well and put an end to your worry. x

Thank you SO MUCH [@Christmas2018]‍ and [@AMEGLW]‍ for your support and words of encouragement. This forum really is a godsend! I'm making a donation to CRUK on payday - it's the least I can do! 

I had my appointment at the Breast Cancer Care unit today - after all that worry it turned out to be just a simple cyst underneath glandular breast tissue which made it feel hard and fixed to the breast wall. The nurse did a physical examination and then an ultrasound - I couldn't bare to look at the screen for ages but there it was, clear as day, a black circle (about 5mm). So strange as it definitely felt long and oval (my GP noted it down as 2cms), and not like any descriptions I had read online. It wasn't soft, round or what I would have described as moveable - although the nurse said she thought it was moveable in her terms. 

She said I didn't need anything else and sent me off home. I'm pretty sure, now I've looked into cysts (I had ruled them out a couple of weeks ago) it was caused by going on a higher oestrogen contraceptive pill for 3 months. 

For anyone reading this who has found a similar lump and is desperately trying to get info, mine is in my upper inner quadrant of my right breast. It doesn't roll around under the skin (at least how I would describe that) and it feels quite large and firm - and oval shaped, like a firm ridge. My right breast has always been bigger than my left but I could have sworn the difference had got bigger too. And after finding the lump, I discovered my lymph node under my right armpit was bigger than my left. But it was just a small cyst in the end, and a whole lot of panic and Googling. And my lymph nodes were normal - she struggled to even find them for a while.

Wishing anyone else going through this lots of luck and sending calm, positive thoughts your way xxx

SallyNew, I am so happy for you, what a relief!  You can now relax and get back to normal without that black cloud hanging over you. xxx 

Thank you, time to focus on only the important things in life :) xx

Hi All, 

staarted the frantic googling tonight sitting here beside myself, ive discovered a lump under my right armpit its not painful, quit firm and i can grab hold of ut as i google it the results  tell me ive just diagnosed mysef with cancer i cant help it my GP cant see me till

monday im driving myself up the wall. 
 

reading your tread and that some of you have had a similar lump and its been a cyst is reassuring me slightly. I cant sleep its now midnight i wish i could calm down. 
 

am i being u reasonable ? Husband said its nothing to worry about im upset he doesnt realise how stressed iam

over this. 
 

dani x 
 

Hi Dani !

It is almost impossible not to worry and Google doesn’t always help. 

From my own experience, I felt worse after seeing my GP because I wanted to be told it was nothing to worry about. My GP has since told me that they are advised to err on the side of caution and she thought my under arm lump did not feel right but she’s not an expert in that field so I was given an urgent referral. 

I would say it is far better to get thoroughly checked out even though it is stressful. It’s the not knowing that was most worrying for me.

Try not to let the worry takeover. You are doing the right thing getting checked quickly.

I am sure your husband does understand how stressed you are, my husband done the same thing. If your husband started to panic and stress you would feel worse.  My husband didn’t want to think that I might have cancer so he went into ‘it’ll be fine’mode, worrying for nothing etc. 

Good luck on Monday and let’s us know how you get on x

Hi Dani,

I feel you - it's such a stressful time. The GP will always certainly refer you (that's when I really started to panic) but as AMEGLW says, it's because they always err on the side of caution.

Try to keep yourself busy and do things that make you smile to pass the time.

I have one slightly larger lymph node on one side and through the process realised i could feel both of them quite prominently compared to some people - I think because I'm fairly petite and do yoga. But I discovered that in the height of my panic about my breast lump and my fear just spiralled. 

I googled endlessly and diagnosed the worst and drove myself to exhaustion while I waited for my referral. It was horrendous so I really really hope you can stay off Google and keep yourself busy and distracted. Someone lovely on this forum told me her advice was to not worry about something until there was something to worry about - I now try to take that mantra in life. Wise words.

Sending hugs to you - keep us posted with how you get on xxx

Hi, 

thank you so much for your reply, the rational calm said of me knows to just take it as it comes im driving mysef and my husband insane. Dont know why this time it just feel different its silly but the fact it doesnt hurt is bothering me more. If it hurt id be thinking okay cyst etc. 
 

ive kept busy all day but il admit its just been a shadow over me, i keep thinking the worst when im generally a positive person. Just want monday to hurry up the waiting is the worst. 
 

I will certainly let you know what GP says im expecting a referral  il keepmof google as its making me worse. 
 

thank you 

dani 

Hi, 

thank you so much for your reply, the rational calm said of me knows to just take it as it comes im driving mysef and my husband insane. Dont know why this time it just feel different its silly but the fact it doesnt hurt is bothering me more. If it hurt id be thinking okay cyst etc. 
 

ive kept busy all day but il admit its just been a shadow over me, i keep thinking the worst when im generally a positive person. Just want monday to hurry up the waiting is the worst. 
 

I will certainly let you know what GP says im expecting a referral  il keepmof google as its making me worse. 
 

thank you 

dani 

Hi Dani,

I was exactly the same...totally rational one minute and then beside myself with worry the next!

If it puts your mind at rest until you know more, my breast cyst was completely painless...I still have it. Never had any pain with it. Except when I was crazy prodding it all the time wondering what it was!

Try to enjoy your evening - thinking of you x

Hi, thank you so much for your reply, its been a long weekend 13 hours and counting il see GP. 
 

just cant settle your advice about your cyst not hurting helps. Its only painful when I squeeze it i just always associate pain with a cyst/abscess etc. 
 

thank you again im going to gontry distract mysef. 
 

dani 

Hi Dani,

Just wondering how you on with the GP ?

M. 

Hi, sorry i couldnt log back in just reset. 
 

Just to update seen GP monday she said it was mobile ? And my breast tissue felt Smooth ? She then said il be sending you to breast clinic on a urgent referral: i got a call today and they're going to see me tomorrow morning. Im so scared ive convinced myself of the worst outcome. 
 

cant sleep cant think straight wonder if theyll tell me anything tomorrow or if il have to wait again for results. 
 

dani x 

Hi, 

sorry for late update i seen GP monday she said lump

was mobile and smooth and sent me on a uregent referral to breast clinic. Im getting seen tomorrow AM. 
 

not sure what to expect a mammogram? Will theybdo a biopsy- if its nothing will they tell me there and then? 
 

my minds doing loops. The waiting is the hardest part. 
 

il let you know what happens tomorrow just cant stop worrying about the worst case outcome. 
 

dani x 

Hi Dani,

That's so good you have your referral so quick, it can be up to 2 weeks but I imagine covid might have quietened things down.

I hope it goes well this morning. I believe you get an ultrasound first (like they do for pregnant women - bit of cold jelly is all!). Then if that's not conclusive they do a mammogram although not sure how that works with an armpit lump. Then they might do a biopsy if they need but I think that can often be unobtrusive.

Let us know how you get on. We are willing it to be good news.

Deep breaths and try to listen to a podcast or something to distract yourself xx

Hi Dani,

How did you get on? Have been thinking of you.

Sally x

Hi, 

its been a crazy week. I got a refferal monday and they seen me yesterday. 
 

they did a ultrasound of lump and she said she was confident it was inflammation of the lymph node? She told me she wouldnt do a biopsy and that to come back in 6 weeks if it hasnt gone down she will do a biopsy then . 
 

 to say the relief is over whelming is is a understatement. 
 

im still a bit confused though as im still anxious she wants to possibly do I biopsy in 6 weeks rather than now does this mean shes happy its not the worst case and she didnt see any indicators of cancer ? 
 

im being nuerotic i know i cried mysef to sleep last night. Dont think i realised just how stressed i was. 
 

dani x   
 

Hi Dani,

I believe if there was even the slightest chance of cancer they would have done more tests.  I am guessing you are under 40 ? I'm in Scotland and as soon you hit 40 you are given a mammogram for suspicious lumps.

i couldn't stop touching and squeezing my lymph node which is probably why it was so inflamed....it will be tough but try to leave the whole area alone for a few weeks. If you keep touching it, it will never settle. 
 

It is a stressful but you tackled it head on which is very brave. You've been given positive news so enjoy it and try not to worry.

Please keep us posted on how it goes over the next few weeks. 
 

Have a great weekend x
 

Hi, 

thank you for your reply, and of course your right injust think my paranoia is making me irrational im so relived its just inflammation and yes I definitely need to stop touching it. Its so hard not to. Thank you so much uou have reassured me that they wouldnt of let me leave without more tests if it had of been something else. 
 

its certainly have me the fright of my life and the kick up the backside i needed to get my health sorted. Im 35 and with PCOS i need to get on a serious diet.

just want to thank you all for the messages i wouldnt of got through this week without this forum to vent my fears  to. 
 

thanks you so much 

dani xx