Hi Xemx,

So sorry you are going through this. I'm not sure I can really help, but I'm 17 weeks pregnant and found a lump and have been referred to a clinic. I have an appointment on Tuesday. From what I understand it is normal to refer a lump in the breast and it is more likely to be something that isn't serious. I'm quite worried too, so have been doing a bit of googling (trying to stick to reliable pages like cancer research uk) and even if cancer, they are very positive about treatment even during pregnancy.

I hope you get your appointment soon and try not to worry.

Hi paddy4321

Thanks for your reply. Do you mind if I ask when you went to the gp and how long it took for your appointment to come through? I know it is more likely that it will be nothing sinister and sometimes I feel it and think that it's just something of nothing and other times I'm paranoid lol. 

I hope your appointment on Tuesday goes well, I'm sure it will

Hi Xemx, The GP put a 2 week referral time on it, and got the appointment info a couple of hours after seeing the GP, but I'm on holiday that day they originally gave me the appointment. I tried to see if I could rebook it before the trip or a couple of days later than it would be after my trip and that wasn't possible (they said I'd need to cancel the appointment and go back to GP after the trip and get a new referral, which would have been another two weeks...). I was going to cancel the trip, but I'm very lucky I have health insurance through work which I found out yesterday would cover this, so I've been able to find the appointment privately.

I think from posts I read it is quite common to put a two week referral, so I'm trying not to worry too much about that. From talking to the referral coordinator at my GP practice as far as I understand there are the two week referral and a normal referral, where you get queued up on first come first turn basis. If may be worth calling you GP practice and see if they can put you through to the person who organises the referral and see what they say. It is horrible waiting for these things and pregnancy feels full of worrying waits, so hard not to be paranoid, but the stats very positive. 

Xemx,

I just wanted to update as have seen the specialist, and he said immediately he thought it was normal breast tissue, but did an ultrasound anyway and that looked fine. He said it may feel bigger when breast feeding (and go back to  GP if concerned). He gave me instructions to check my breast regularly - which I do currently, but not very often. And recommended mammogram for women in their 40s - I'm mid 40s, so will go for one when not breast feeding after pregnancy. 

While waiting for to see him, I did look up a bit what would happen if was BC in pregnancy, and it was actually really quite encouraging that there are treatment options. 

And from this experience I've learnt that a two week urgent referral is very normal from a GP - so not as worrying as it sounds if you haven't experienced it before. 

Xemx I really wish you the best with your appointment, I know it is difficult but try not to worry, as it is much more likely to be OK, but we have both done the right thing to get it checked out. 

Paddy4321

thank you for your update. I am so pleased for you that it all looks good, that's great news! :) It is also reassuring to hear that there are treatment options if it does turn out to be BC.

So I phoned the GP to check on my referral, it went through fine and they said to phone the first appointments department at the hospital to check if there are any updates on when appointment might be. To my dismay, even though my referral was put through as urgent (so normally 2 weeks) the current wait time is 10 weeks! I live in Wales and unfortunately Wales do not have the same rule as England where urgent means within two weeks. I was so shocked at this I have just yesterday signed up for private medical. I am waiting for that to all be approved and once done I will contact GP again for an open referral so that I can then phone Bupa and get the ball rolling, hopefully a lot quicker than NHS. I understand that it is not their fault but I couldn't believe the wait time was 2 and a half months for urgent.

Anyway, I will keep you updated on an appointment, hopefully in the near future. and thanks again for responding x