Morning all, just wanted to jump on as I have joined the waiting room for biopsy results. Have a few questions if you lovely ladies don’t mind?
I wasn’t too sure what too expect when I went for my appointment at the hospital on Monday, but on doing some research beforehand I did come away feeling a bit disappointed and confused.
To start from the beginning I found a lump in the lower outer right breast a few weeks ago and the doc referred me on a 2ww appt. I went on Monday and when the consultant did a physical exam she said, hopefully just a cyst and then sent me off for mammogram and US. The sonographer just said they couldn’t tell what it was and need to do a biopsy, of which they did 3 and put a little clip in. After another mammogram I was sent back to the consultant. This is where I thought she seemed quite dismissive and in a hurry. She basically just said that the lump looks worrying and I will get a letter in the post inviting me to another appointment at a different hospital in 2-3 weeks for the results. It felt like she was kind of saying ‘Goodbye then’ lol!
I had thought from previous posts on here that they can usually give you some idea of whether cyst, fybro etc. I know they can’t confirm cancer until the biopsy is back. I thought I might of got some measurements of the lump as well, as well as maybe what it looked like on the mammo and US. Maybe I was expecting too much lol.
The consultant did mention that I would need to come off HRT if it did turn out to be cancer, but left it up to me whether I wanted to stop it before I get the results.
I have got the phone number for the BCN’s at the hospital and was wondering if j in give them a call would they maybe be able to answer some of these questions for me?
Also I had presumed that the ultrasound would be able to see if it was a cyst as these are fluid filled and not a solid mass.
Apologies in advance for all the questions, you guys must get loads of questions from us anxious newbies. Thanks so much in advance of any replies
Hi @chrissiep I’ve only fairly recently joined here and don’t think I introduced myself properly oops. I’m sorry I don’t have a lot of advice I can give you as I’m only 5 weeks into a string of biopsies and different situation to you, so still inexperienced in all this, but I did want to say this regarding your consultant. Obviously I know they’re all different but my first meeting with mine was very brief but next time I spoke to her she couldn’t have been more lovely. It’s all very daunting isn’t it. This forum has been great support to me so you’re in a good place here
We’ve all been in the anxious waiting room so we know something about how you might be feeling right now.
From experience, they won’t say anything until it has gone to panel. All the specialists from all the disciplines meet every week and discuss all the cases that have presented that week. That way any results you get will have been considered thoroughly.
So this is why it is generally an appointment that you will be told what the results are and that seems to be face to face for most people. The first time I had BC I was told over the phone by a BCN, but this was still in the post COVID days so maybe protocols were different back then. This time, I was told in a F2F meeting.
So, until you’re told it is cancer, it isn’t. If you get told it’s cancer, the panel will also have discussed a multitude of options for treatment. You will be very held throughout.
We are here too. Do your best not to worry for now. Easier said than done. We’re all here in the meantime for you to ask as many questions as you like, or vent any feelings that you have.
Best advice I can offer? Don’t Google anything if you a possibly help it. Did I take my own advice? Hell no! Did it make things worse at times. Yes it did. Use your BCN and ask as many questions as you need to. Never feel you’re burdening them.
Sending love and a willing, listening ear whenever you need it, and I speak with confidence on behalf of everyone who comes on here. x
Welcome to the forum, we hope you find it a helpful and supportive place.
I know you’re probably looking for those who have been through what you’re going through to give you advice, but I thought it best to recommend that you can reach out to our nurses on our free helpline 0808 800 6000 and ask them these questions as well, and they should be able to talk you through them.
Thank you all for your kind words and will no doubt be back many times for your support and hopefully be able to provide some as I progress through this.
I keep checking on my Doctors portal as well to see if they have updated it with the consultation notes and findings from the scans. Wouldn’t help me feel any better I suppose, I just want to be as prepared as I can be.
Has anyone else seen the notes from their appointment and scans uploaded to their NHS app or Doctors portal? I know the results from the biopsy are going to take longer but I would have thought they might have been able to rule out some things with the Mammo and ultrasound?
When I saw the consultant after my mammogram/US/biopsies she told me on the day that it was cancer, but not set in stone and will know more after the results. I was also told to stop HRT immediately until we had the results. She did say the lump was small but think I got dimensions at the results. (My app was 30th november 2025)
I was so muddled by this that I rang the clinic the next day to ask if it said cancer on my results, it didnt.
I’m sorry that you’ve had to attend a breast clinic and waiting for results, it’s horrible waiting.
My experience throughout was that they wouldn’t say anything at all until results are in. I was simply told they had found “something” and would contact me for an appointment. They were the same about results after surgery. I saw my surgeon a couple of days before my scheduled results appointment and the BCN hinted about it so I knew they knew, but the surgeon would not confirm/deny anything saying I had to wait for the appointment.
It’s frustrating, but we just have to roll with the processes. Best of luck. x
I’ve only fairly recently joined here and don’t think I introduced myself properly oops. I’m sorry I don’t have a lot of advice I can give you as I’m only 5 weeks into a string of biopsies and different situation to you, so still inexperienced in all this, but I did want to say this regarding your consultant. Obviously I know they’re all different but my first meeting with mine was very brief but next time I spoke to her she couldn’t have been more lovely. It’s all very daunting isn’t it. This forum has been great support to me so you’re in a good place here 
