Hi ladies,

I'm a 33F, living in London but at home in Ireland due to Covid. Basically, my whole anxiety over my left breast started on December 1st when I suddenly noticed a small spot with a white head at the centre of my nipple. No other symptoms then, no pain or discharge, lumps or bumps that I could feel but after a stressful few weeks, it seemed to appear overnight.

It won’t pop (it needs to be lanced I think), it doesn’t get bigger or smaller, just stays put. I've never had children or been pregnant – has anyone else here had a similar spot??

I went to a doctor in London on December 8th who following a phone consult from a different doctor who put me on antibiotics in case it was an infection (it wasn’t as they did nothing), said they wouldn’t pop it in case it got infected said it was fine to leave alone and following a breast exam - I sat in a chair as opposed to lying down as I have reduced mobility and the bed was too high for me to get up on - where she detected no lumps, said a referral to a breast clinic wasn’t necessary.

I was relieved but as I was flying home, decided to book an appointment with my own GP a week later on December 14th just to ask her advice and see if she would lance it (she said no). She said the same thing RE the spot, that it was fine and to leave it be. I’m assuming it’s a blocked duct though I’ve never been pregnant and thought they only occurred when breastfeeding?

But, here’s the thing: she did a breast check - I lay on the bed this time - and she said the left breast (where the spot is) definitely “felt a bit lumpy” in comparison to the right. Baring in mind this is the first time I’ve gotten a breast check by her as I’ve never felt any lumps etc before. She didn’t say she found a specific lump but told me to return for another check-up when my period finished as it started the day before I went to see her.

Then, when I went home, I did my own exam again and found it: a small, moveable, round smooth lump in the tissue of the left breast at the bottom of the breast which I assume was the lumpiness she was referring to. I went back to my GP today and she confirmed the lump was definitely there now – that you wouldn't miss it.

The thing I’m wondering is: is it possible the doctor in London simply missed it? Or thought nothing of it so didn't mention it? Whether I’m sitting or laying down, it is detectable so, I find it hard to believe that it just appeared in 7 days or was skipped over!

I'm waiting for a referral to a breast clinic but due to Covid and being in Ireland, it could be a few weeks. I was told that the lump couldn't have been missed so is it really possible it literally just appeared overnight? I'm also worried about the spot on my nipple but I was told that it and the lump are not related (the lump is very far from the nipple area).

Any reassurance RE sudden lumps appearing would be great! The waiting is hell already. My grandmother on my Mam's side had breast cancer so it's in the family. 

XX