Hi!
I found a small lump in my left breast about 6 weeks ago and finally convinced myself to go to the GP last Monday. I’d been telling myself that ‘it’s always been there’, ’ I’m imagining it’, ‘perhaps the doctor won’t be able to feel it’ etc etc! Well, she did feel it and referred me to the breast clinic.
I got a call yesterday from the breast clinic and my appointment is at 2pm today. There’s only my hubby that knows (he’s coming with me), as I don’t want to worry my best friend, sister and daughter (age 17) etc. My hubby keeps saying ‘everything will be fine’ as he obviously wants me to stay positive, but I need to get a few worries off my chest (pardon the pun) before I go.
My obvious main worry is that it’s BC and although I would be worried about treatment etc I would worry more about the financial implications of me not being able to work. I stopped working in education 2 years ago (which was a secure job with sickness benefits etc) and now work for a company who don’t pay if you’re off sick. It is probably stupid of me to even be thinking like this before I’ve even been to the hospital but I’m one of those really annoying people who have to get things sorted in my head!!
I’ve been reading the posts since last week and finally plucked up the courage to join as I thought it might help to get this out of my head and onto the screen! There is a wonderful font of knowledge on this site which is really helpful, so thanks to those of you who have shared your experiences on here to date and I wish you all a speedy recovery.
I’m working until lunchtime today (though my head isn’t on my job at the moment!) and then I’m off to the hospital. I’ve read the leaflet on here so I know what to expect (ish) but have been feeling my boob all morning in case the lump has disappeared and I imagined it all along! One question, is there any of you that were worried that the hospital WOULDN’T feel anything and think you were being stupid? And, before your appointment did you start to notice other aches and pains and wonder if you’d gone mad?!
Hi shellybee, well done for having the courage to post! Waiting for appointments and results is a very stressful time. I certainly didn’t tell anyone else beside my hubby I was going, but was glad the gp referred me as the uncertainty was worse. My clinic did the triple assessment, I had a mammogram, FNA and physical exam, and then had to come back the next day for an US. Unfortunately, none of these were conclusive and I had to go back again the following week for a core biopsy and then wait another two days for the bc dx. So you may not get all the answers today but hopefully nearer finding out. Yes, all of a sudden everything hurts, the lump, the breast etc. My bcn said that’s quite usual. Hopefully there will be a breast care nurse to help answering any further questions you might have. All the best for today. Don’t worry now about work. Let us know how you get on! Tinax
Hi michelle,
firstly there are no stupid questions in breast cancer, especially when you get to the experts.they would love there to be no lump or for it to be innocent as they are all there to make sure that all their patients get ghe best outcome for themselves, so ask away. Yes we all are acutely aware of every little ache nowadays too and yes we have all been where you are and terrified. Good luck today, you have done one really hard step already by facing up to the lump and getting the ball rolling. This website obviously shows that women in their 30s do get bc but don’t forget how rare it is and that nine out of ten lumps are innocent. Financially, if it is bc, some ladies work throughout thevtreatmebt,even chemo. And you would slso poss be eligable for benefits too, there’s s leaflet on this site about it plus citizens advice is good. But first focus on your health as chances are ghats a prob you won’t even get to! Good luck today, will be thinking ov you, pls let us know how u get on.
Sorry you’re going through all these worries. Well done for having the courage to go to the GP and post on here.
I went through similar worries. When I went to my GP last year, I only started my job for just over 3 years (my 1st proper job after graduation and aged 24 at the time). I didn’t want my life and career to be interrupted by cancer, etc. I didn’t want to worry my friends and parents until I was told it is def. cancer, etc.
I used to play a lot of badminton, kept on thinking the aches in my shoulder was because I pulled my muscle. I works with computers, kept on thinking the aches in my neck are related to work… until the the diagnoses were dropped in front of me like a bombshell.
Hope your appt went OK today. Please feel free to share anything.