First breast screening after finding lump at 22

Hi everyone,

I'm a 22 year old who found a lump in her right breast a two weeks ago. I attended the GP and since I have both family history of Breast cancer and I have congenital heart defects, my GP refered me on to the breast clinch to receive a mammogram and an ultrasound.

 

This is where I am worried though, my doctor said it would take up to 8 weeks to get an appointment, but the service rang up that day with an appointment for next week. The breast clinic also said that it would take 3 hours for the whole appointment. So is this time for an appointment usual and I am wildly over-thinking or do I have something to worry about. 

As a lot of you can probably relate, I'm anxious and worried about the prospect of me having breast cancer at such a young age so is there any chance you could share some words of wisdom to me. 

 

Thank you 

  • Hello

    I am 21 and went to the GP about a lump also. I was referred as a non cancer suspected patient but I got seen at the breast clinic today in under 2 weeks. I think they aim to see everyone within that time frame if they are able to. As for the duration it is mainly the waiting around that takes so long. Everyone gets advised it may take 2-3 hours. When you first go there you will see a consultant who will initially examine you like they do at the GP and then you will have to wait again to see a radiologist. I had an ultrasound as well as a biopsy but the time I was actually being examined still wasn't that long. At our age if they think it is a tumour it is usually benign which is a fibroadenoma. They can normally diagnose this just from the ultrasound. I'm panicking a bit now because the radiologist told me that he couldn't confirm it wasn't cancer from the ultrasound which is why he did a biopsy. But the chances are the results will come back benign.

    I wouldn't worry - there were plenty of young women in the clinic I was at today who started being seen at the same time as me but by the end seemed to have been dealt with pretty quickly. Its probably rare to need a biopsy at our age, and if you do, a lot rarer to actually have the results come back with cancer!

    Good luck xx