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referred to breast clinic

Ali22
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Hi everyone, I'm new to this forum! 

I found a hard smallish lump in my left breast and went to the GP on Tuesday, who has now referred me as an urgent referral to the breast clinic. My GP did say my lump felt like a lymph node in my breast. This didn't really reassure me as isn't it a weird place to have an enlarged lymph node?! I also have a newly enlarged lymph node on the left side of my neck. It all seems a bit surreal as I have no family history of cancer and I'm still relatively young.

I was called the day after seeing my GP with a breast clinic appointment for next week, all very quick! My appointment is at 5.40pm and I'm told can take 4-5hours, which scares me a bit that I'm going to be in the hospital for so long and so late. I have been doing some research online about what to expect at the appointment. Will they be able to tell from the ultrasound if its nothing serious? or is a biopsy to be expected? If the lump is benign do they tend to remove them anyway?

Sorry for all the questions! The 'unknown' and waiting is making me anxious!

 

 

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    Hi , I was told at the appointment mine looked suspicious so I was a little more prepared when I went back a week later to confirm it was cancer. That was February and since had lumpectomy, radiotherapy and tamoxifen for 5-10 years. I am coming through the other side now and living life to the full. Whatever the tell you you will deal with , hopefully it’s good news for you. Big hugs nicky xxx

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    I believe an ultrasound can't tell if it is cancer if it's a solid lump or calcifications, but it does give them a pretty good idea.  If they still unsure they will do a biopsy to make sure I would presume.  The length of time could be waiting in between whatever tests may need to be done. Not sure what they do with benign lumps, long long ago I had one which they took out and I've heard of some being drained (fluid filled) lumps, regardless they will advise you.
    I know it's very worrying, but you really must try not go to Dr Google you will drive yourself crazy!! Try keep yourself busy and don't play with the lumps.

    Please let us know how you get on and hope you get good news.

    JBee

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    Thank you both for taking time to reply to my original post!

    To cut a long story short, I had my breast clinic appointment today and was told the lump was just normal breast tissue. So thankfully all is well!

    However, my experience isn’t really what I expected and maybe sharing it may help someone?! I was seen by the consultant initially who took a brief history and then examined me. He asked me where I felt the lump and just felt that area and that was it. I expected to have both breasts examined as my GP did or at very least the whole of the breast in which I had felt the lump! He just said I would need an ultrasound and didn’t say anything else.

    I waited around 1.5 hours for my ultrasound. The dr who performed this was in short quite rude and abrupt! He didn’t introduce himself etc, the nurse just told me to undress and lay down. He came in, asked me where I felt the lump, he said he couldn’t feel anything (despite it being an obvious lump!). He eventually said he could feel it and then performed the ultrasound scan, where he literally scanned over my breast over about a minute and that’s it. I have no idea if this is normal, but again expected him to scan the underarm and even the other breast.

    After he said ‘all looks like normal breast tissue, I didn’t really see a lump as such’…what does that even mean?! There is a very obvious round hard lump, very different and distinct from any other breast tissue.

    I’m annoyed at myself for not asking more questions particularly as I am actually a paediatric nurse! I suppose anxiety and shock clouds your mind in such situations.

    I was then told I would see the consultant again, who read out the ultrasound report about everything being ‘normal breast tissue’ and said he would write to my GP and that was that! I know they are experts and know what their doing but everything seemed so rushed and impersonal that the anxiety remains! I didn’t know a single hard lump was normal breast tissue!

    I will just try to put this put of my mind now and make sure to look out for any further changes.

    I realise how lucky I am and wish anyone who reads this all the best in their journey x

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