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Just back from Doctors. Lump found in Breast

Leahbee
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Hi All. 

This is my first time post and I am hoping for a bit of advice from anyone that can help. Im a 37 year old female. I haven't been feeling great the past couple of months. I've had various different symptoms but nothing the doctor has been able to pin down. Went to see GP today and it started off as a normal consultation but when I described some of my symptoms she wanted to check my breasts. I've been having hot flashes, mood swings, period every two weeks as well as brain fog as well as upper back pain and shoulder pain. She checked both breasts but she was checking my left breast for quite a bit,  She found a lump and kept pushing it asking if it hurt. I couldn't feel a thing. She asked if there was a history of breast cancer in my family (My mums 47 year old sister had it and is in remission) I told her and she referred me to the breast clinic as well as an ultrasound on my ovaries. 

I'm terrified. I didn't ask any questions I just burst into tears and pretty much left after the consultation. 

Can anyone shed any light on what's next? I have a finance and a two year old so panic is setting in. 

Sending love

  • Offline

    Hi [@Leahbee]‍ 

    Sorry to hear you are going through this and don't really have any idea on what this is!

    It is a very daunting time and the wait is actually the worse part of it all, it is good that your Doctor has been so thorough with you and wants to get a second opinion, any scan done on the breasts and even the armpit does go through the Breast clinic rather than the main hospital building.

    Even if you had asked questions it is unlikely the Doctor would have been able to shed any more light on her thoughts as they prefer to leave it until tests are done to confirm anything.

    It is only natural for your brain to jump to worse case scenario and completely freak you out.

    The Breast Team are really great, very kind and supportive and take their time with you. When you have your appointment it is a bit of a whirlwind of tests, but at least it all gets done in one appointment, you see a consultant first, who will examine you and talk to you about your symptoms, then you will have a mammogram and then an ultrasound. If they find anything they do tell you there and then what they suspect, and take biopsies to confirm.

    On one of my appointments they found a fibroadema, they were unsure of what it was so took a biopsy, and then got the result it was a fibroadema, so on that occasion they were unable to tell me right away. So unfortunately sometimes people will walk away from an appointment still not knowing and have an agonising wait for test results. BUt if they are able to say on the day they will.

    I hope you do not have to wait too long for an appointment, I also hope that you get some answers to at least then have an idea of why you are feeling like you do.. that can be just as frustrating, having no idea why you feel so bad!!

     

    Take Care, good luck and please keep us updated.

  • Offline in reply to Kay-D

    Thank you for your reply. I'm definitely going into panic mode as one of the things I was seeing the doctor about with upper back pain and shoulder pain and I am now starting to wonder if this is all related. 

    We lost my Granda a couple of months ago. He had secondary liver cancer. Took in on the Monday and died the following week. We didn't know and neither did my Granda until it was too late so I think this has heightened everything that I'm feeling. 

    I have to have an ultra sound of my ovaries as well and I'm wondering if it's connected. 

    I know people here most likely won't have the answers but I don't want to burden my family with how I am feeling at the moment due to everything that's happened the past couple of months.

    Thanks for listening

  • Offline in reply to Leahbee

    I completely understand, with the family side of things, I didn't tell my daughter or my Dad until after I was diagnosed with Cancer and some of my family members have no idea what I went through this last year. 

    My Nan had Lung Cancer and died over 11 years ago, there is no history of breast or ovarian Cancer in our family, but that's what I got.

    I was bitten by an insect potentially a horsefly over 3 weeks ago on my right upper side back. The lump is still there, but I have been getting all these horrible symptoms, right shoulder pain, back pain, swelling and pain in my right armpit, night sweats, temperature etc... The doctor has seen me and thinks the bite is a red herring and that something else us going on, so of course my mind automatically goes to the what if this is Cancer again. It is a scary journey to go on alone, and  if you feel that telling family members is a burden, please don't, you are not a burden and neither are your worries, they would hate to think of you going through this alone, I had my best friend all through this and I don't know what I would have done without him.

    It sounds like this is really bad timing as your all still grieving and that as you say is going to elevate your worry. Unfortunately waiting on appointments can make you go nuts and people don't know what to say, but just knowing they are there is enough. If you want to get through the first appointments without telling your family then please feel free to message me if you want to chat, but I am sure your family will be very glad to be included and support you in this. xx

  • Offline in reply to Kay-D

    I'm sorry that you have had to go through what you have went through. Sending much love and positivity to you . I'm glad you had your friend there along the way. Has the doctor referred you for further tests? Hopefully it is just a wee bite. Please keep me posted. 

     

    I've told my mum and my best friend and they are of course telling me to be optimistic and it's most likely nothing but I can't shake the feeling of dread and you're right the timing couldn't be worse because of everything that's happened in the last couple of months. 

    I'm here too if you need someone to talk to. I just need to wait the dreaded couple of weeks and hope for the best but I'll keep you posted

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