I feel like I need to post this in a forum where people might understand. I’m sorry it’s a long one!
I’m 22 and in March I discovered a lump in my left breast, I didn’t think much of it until the next day when I found a lump in my armpit. I went to the doctor and explained my symptoms. He referred me as an urgent case (4-6 weeks because of my age, he said he couldn’t refer under the two week rule). That was 9th April since then I have had discharge from the left nipple on several occasions, which appears clear, without any blood, but this is still worrying. The lump is immobile, solid and feels attached to breast tissue. The doctor did suggest Fibroadenoma but it doesn’t feel like one from the information given about them on this site, I think he wants to write it off as a young person worrying about nothing. My boyfriend pointed out some dimpling on the breast that can only be seen when the breast is in a certain position, I went back to my doctor a few days ago with these new symptoms and he told me not to worry as he had made the referral and there was nothing more he could do, I just have to wait for my turn on the list. There is a strong family history of cancer, although nothing in the breast as far as I am aware. My mother died from cancer after it had spread from the bladder as it was misdiagnosed for over a year and my father has recently had the two year all clear follwoing bone cancer in the jaw three years ago, my grandfather also died from cancer, after what happened with my mother I am very distrusting of doctors attempting to give any diagnosis without the required tests. So whilst it is uncommon for young women to get breast cancer, I know the statistics, something just feels wrong and I’m scared that doctors may be dismissive because of my age but because of my family history I know my body and know when something is wrong as I know what normal feels like (thanks Coppafeel!). He has now referred me for a blood test to rule out anything there as I have had serious fatigue for the last two or so months, to the point on some days I haven’t gotten out of bed. I’ve also had back pain just under my left shoulder towards the centre of my back and I am trying to ignore it but I’m aware it is there and it is not going away.
I know my mind has probably gone into overdrive with all of this but it is a lot to take in! I’m worried and stressed and as a uni student studying law I have my first final year exam tomorrow!! So it really couldn’t have come at a worse time.
If you have read this far, believe me, I’m grateful, I needed to tell someone other than my boyfriend (who has been nothing but supportive) and put my fears down in black and white. 5 weeks on from my GP appointment and still nothing from the breast clinic, seems they have a bit of a backlogue in Cardiff!
Hi katie
Please try not to worry to much, the positive is that you have found something and your in the system now, i know its an anxious time waiting, and you are very young, so that is in your favour, i have alot of history in my family, my mother had breast cancer and so did i, have 3 girls all in there twentys and they constantley worry, i think its natural, one of my daughters had a lump checked they told her it was a breast mouse, first time i heard of one of them lol, good luck and try not to worry.
Debbie x
Hi Katie, so sorry you are having to wait so long for a clinic appointment -the anxious waiting is torture .If you have a look at the other threads in this section of the forum you will see that the vast majority of people referred to the Breast clinic get good news and there are non sinster explanations for their symptoms - hope you get an appointment soon - come back and talk to us whenever you need to…Jill xx
Thanks Jill and Debbie for your replies, and for reading such a long post. I’ve felt better for posting and have been advised by my university that I can submit extenuating circummstances for my exams so that if something goes horribly wrong they can know why and account for it. Today’s exam seemed okay even though I was dreading it as I thought I wouldn’t be able to get this out of my head but I did manage to focus for the 3! hours and have hopefully come out the other side okay. One more exam in a couplle of weeks and whilst I’m hoping that I get a clinic appointment ASAP my worst nightmare is now that it falls on the same day of the exam…
Glad your exam today went well Katie - hard to concentrate with such a worry hanging over you .That would be really bad luck if your appt fell on the same day as the next exam .Why don’t you contact the clinic and tell them you have an important exam on that day and ask if it can be avoided if possible when arranging an appointment - Im pretty sure they have several clinics a week to see ladies who have been referred so hopefully that should be possible .
if you haven’t received an appointment in a week may be worth following up ?
I have an appointment next Friday with my normal GP, the one I saw for referral was just the first one available, so I will ask him if there is anyway he can chase it, he’s usually pretty good at kicking clinics backsides into gear. He was the doctor I saw when I hadn’t realised I had broken my ankle and needed to see orthopedics for an op, they were taking ages, one further letter from him and I had an appointment letter! I don’t know what he wrote but maybe he can work his magic on this one.
Sounds like a great GP ,hopefully he will follow it up for you if you haven’t had an appointment by the time you see him .Try and chill out tonight after your exam and put this to the back of your mind -hopefully you will get answers soon to put your mind at rest .
Finally had an appointment through a few weeks ago, 2nd July! Spoke with my GP who advised I was correct in saying I should make sure they take a biopsy if they cannot 100% confirm what it is without one! Only thing is I’m travelling to France that evening and it is a long drive so I’m a bit worried about how uncomfortable it will be, anyone who has had one done shed some wisdom on how to make it as painless as possible once the anaesthetic wears off.