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Breast Clinic appointment next week - expecting the worst

bethany4747
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Hi everyone 

 

I have my first appointment at the breast clinic this coming Monday and I'm hoping to join this lovely site just for some support and information really :happy:

 

Over the last year or so I have been noticing a sharp stabbing pain in my left boob. It usually only came when I laughed or coughed but had never caused enough pain for me to think about getting it checked out. But I went on a little getaway with my friends a few weeks ago and it must have been all the laughing that I was doing because I noticed it causing me actual pain for the first time. 
 

I tried to do a self exam and I couldn't feel anything at all, but it was hard hard to be sure exactly where the pain was coming from as it just caused a deep burning sensation in my whole boob. 

 

When I got home I called my GP and had a telephone appointment with him and after telling him about the pain he slotted me in an appointment at the surgery straight away the same day so he could do an examination.
 

He couldn't feel anything around where I'd said I thought the pain was coming from, but he did find a lump a little higher up in the same boob.
 

He said he would be referring me to the Breast clinic. He told me he suspected it could be a fibrodenoma but asked me if I had a family history of breast or bowel cancer. I've just had my appointment date come through as next Monday.
 

I'm really  hoping that I will be able to come back to this post In am few weeks and prove myself wrong, but I can't shake this unwavering feeling that it's breast cancer. I'm only 22, so the odds really should be in my favour, but ever since I felt the pain it's like my brain has prepared me for the worst.  What's strange is that it doesn't even feel like a worry. More just like something that I know is happening and am getting ready to deal with. Did anyone else feel like this when they were in the early stages of finding out what was wrong?  

 

My dad passed away from lung cancer when he was 29, so "you're too young/ there's a one in a million chance of this happening" doesn't ease my nerves in the slightest and is  possibly the reason my brain has already gone into fight or flight mode. 
 

Anway, thank you for reading. I would really appreciate any words of wisdom you have to share.  

 

Love and light to you all,

Bethany x 

 

 

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    Hi Bethany 

     

    I have my fingers and toes crossed for you! I'm also 22 and have just been referred to a breast clinic too. I've got a dimple on my breast and the doctor referred me today. I was told my appointment wouldn't be a priority because of my age (kind of understandable), but also told that I might not even get one because of my age (not so understandable). You're right in that the odds are in our favour but this sadly doesn't put minds at ease. I keep thinking what if I'm the other statistic, the one who does get breast cancer at a young age - it's not like it's never happened before. 
     

    Keep us posted. Jess x 

  • Offline in reply to JessC987

    Hi Bethany,

     

    I'm 26 and have just been referred to the breast clinic. For me, it started with small bruising which turned into raised bumps and a swollen lymph node in my armpit area. 
     

    I went to the docotor expecting that I was overreacting and came out feeling like the bottom fell out of my world. It's so scary, so don't feel alone in that sense. 
     

    I've cried and every so often, it hits me that it could be serious. I would say it comes in waves and that's totally okay. 
     

    How long did you wait for your referral in the end? Hoping everything comes back clear for you. 

  • Offline in reply to JessC987

    Hey Jess

     

    So sorry you're going through this too. I wish they wouldn't be so dismissive because of age.  I've been lucky because my doctor put my referral through as urgent and so my apppintment came through really fast.
     

    No way is it right that you might not get one. Maybe call your gp and ask if they can put it through as urgent or press to make sure that you're definitely seen.  The 2 week waiting rule should apply regardless in my opinion. The waiting is bad enough when you know you're definitely being seen let alone waiting to find out if you're even going to be checked. 
     

    I keep thinking the same. Someone has to be part of those statistics :( everything crossed for both of us lovely, let us know how you get on x 

  • Offline in reply to RebeccaF123

    Hi Rebecca 

     

    Im so sorry you're going through the worry too. It's unbearable isn't it. Did your doctor mention anything about what he suspected? Its really reassuring to know it comes in waves, hopefully I'm just at the top of the wave right now 

     

    It will be exactly 3 weeks from my first GP appointment when I go into the clinic. 
     

    They sent my referral through on September 31st, then I had a telephone cosultation with the breast clinic a week later where they went over everything the doctor did, and then they called on Sunday giving an appointment a week away, this coming Monday!

     

    x 

     

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