How quick do you get diagnosed ?

hello everyone ! 

 

I'm 43 with a grown up son and a not so grown up husband. 

i felt a lump last weekend on left breast, but can only feel it when i am lying down. according to the docs its grape sized and need to be urgently referred to the breast clinic for scan/biopsy.  I am so very lucky to have private healthcare through my work, so i have an appt on wednesday at the private hosptial.

I havent told anyone except hubby and one friend as i dont want to worry anyone, the more i read the more i seem to tick every box for BC. 

Can anyone tell me what to expect on a first appt and will you find out if its cancerous or not on that day? due to covid no one can come in with me so i was just going to drive from work to the appt and then back home. My friend thinks this is a bad idea.

thank you 

  • Hi [@Mrsdonald78]‍ 

    Sorry to hear that you are going through this, it is never an easy time and our minds actually make things worse for us, we don't realise how much we then focus in on what is happening, it is great that you are being seen so quickly. I completely understand not wanting to tell people, I have a grown up daughter who I didn't tell until I got the diagnosis and it was a friend who took me to the hospital for the appointments and although like you no one was allowed in with me it was comforting to know he was outside waiting for me.

    For the appointment you are asked not to wear deodorant, which if you are going straight from work might be difficult for you, I would also suggest wearing a loose fitting top as this will make it easier for the undressing and dressing part.

    I am going to assume that the process is going to be the same regardless of what hospital you go too, at a breast clinic you would see a consultant first, you will need to take your top and bra off and they will examine you and talk to you about your symptoms, you then get dressed to go to another area where you will be asked to take your upper clothing off again and wear a tabbard style top, you will then have a mammogram - slightly uncomfortable positions you need to get into and the pressure placed can be uncomfortable also but this lasts just a few seconds. After a mammogram you will then be taken in to another room to have an ultrasound. 

    Generally you will not see any men whatsoever in this area of the hospital, and all the staff are really patient and friendly and talk with you any concerns, if they are able to give you answers on the day they will, but sometimes it just isn't possible and a biopsy will be done to check. If a biopsy is done it can take upto a week to get the result.

    So the waiting for results is the worse part, on the day as you are seen by so many people in the time you are there, it can take at least two hours, but it's all done and out of the way.

    When I went in for my results I did decide to go to the hospital on my own and not have any support and although I was fine with it, I think if I went through it again I probably would choose to have someone outside waiting for me.

     

    I hope all goes well for Wednesday x

  • Thank you so much for the reply ! 
     

    fingers crossed xx 

  • Hi, Sorry that you have this worry.I have had many breast clinic appointments over the years and luckily they have all turned out to be cysts.You will have a mammogram and an ultrasound.You will be there for quite a while mainly in the waiting area so I would take a book and some water.If it turns out to be a cyst and it is large they may aspirate it which involves a fine needle extracting the fluid.It sounds horrid but it honestly doesn't hurt, I've had a few done.I've always gone on my own and felt ok but it's up to how you feel.Hope your appointment goes well.

  • Hello Flores,

     

    thanks for this i am praying its a cyst, needles etc dont bother me so if that all it is i can certainly live with that

     

    xxx