So as the subject heading suggests, I really am at a loose end. I’m hoping someone can help me. Last year I felt a ‘lump’ in my breast, I’ve never really felt my breasts in the past but something made me give them a feel. I waited a month or so before making an appointment with my doctor, he felt what I was talking about and suggested it may be mastitis, take a course of antibiotics and to come back if it didn’t go away. It didn’t change so I went back and he referred me to the breast clinic. Early October 16 I attended the breast clinic, they too felt what I did and gave me an ultrasound, they told me they saw nothing and it was just ‘fatty breast tissue’. I skipped away merrily in the knowledge that I was fine. I left my boobies alone and forgot about the whole thing. Fast forward to June this year after a 12 hr shift at work I jumped in the shower, while washing my pits I felt this huge thing protruding out the side of my breast so I had a feel, this ‘lump’ has grown and it seems to be making its way into my armpit, the boob that the lump is in has always sort of had a weird ache by the way which I just ignored, I’ve never suffered with painful breasts before and since I noticed the lump has gotten larger it seems to be a lot more tender?! Anyway I left it again to see if it was anything to do with my cycle. Nope, so off to the docs I go again, luckily I saw the same doctor as I did before, he agreed that it had gotten considerably larger and referred me again saying that this time they’ll probably want to get it out. Great I thought. So yesterday I went to the breast clinic again, the doctor felt it and I had another ultrasound, again I was told there is nothing there and that its just ‘dense glandular tissue’ I asked him is it possible for it to get larger? He couldn’t really answer and must have repeated ‘its hormones’ about 20 times, I explained that I’m quite concerned beings as since I’ve had breasts my left one has always been slightly bigger but now my right breast, the one with the lump is bigger than my left. He shrugged it off and said he’d only be concerned if it was a couple of cup sizes bigger. He told me to rub ibuprofen gel on it when it aches. I again told him that the lump doesn’t change during my cycle, it aches all the time and it’s definitely grown and changed the size of my breast. He basically made me feel like I was wasting his time and couldn’t get me out the door quick enough. So I feel like he didn’t make me feel any better about it, I still don’t really know what it is but I don’t know what to do!! Do I just accept that even though it’s grown and it aches all the time that it’s just breast tissue? Or do I go somewhere else and try and get some answers?? The breast the lump is in feels much fuller/thicker than my other breast the lump feels quite lumpy it’s basically took over the top half of my breast but it also feels quite mobile. It is completely different to my left breast which is soft and there is absolutely nothing in there. I apologise for the long winded post but I really don’t know what to do… Thanks for reading
Greenie123. I don’t have any wise words of advice re what to do next, other than a return to GP and get him to demand mammo/biopsy or whatever on the lump, but just wanted to acknowledge your post and say how awful you must be feeling right now. If I were in your shoes i would not be able to accept this diagnosis either unless there had been a triple assessment - i.e. mammo, ultrasound and biopsy -particularly since you sound pretty sensible and pragmatic about your previous concerns and have not panicked, but just done the right thing in returning to the gp. It is so frustrating when you get a health professional that just doesn’t listen.It may be that other ladies on here will have some bright ideas, but if you are not confident in the diagnosis then you need to get a second opinion, preferably after more tests than just Ultrasound.It may well be “just hormones”, but you need to have your mind put at rest. You certainly won’t be wasting anyone’s time -that’s what the NHS is for, and your taxes (and everyone else’s) are paying for it. Let us know how you get on. xxxxxx
Thank you for your reply optimissy I really appreciate it. I’m guessing they aren’t doing a mammo because I’m 26. I know I’m probably just being silly but something just doesn’t sit right with me, especially the fact it’s grown. You’re definitely right, it’s so frustrating! X
Anyone else able to offer advice?
Greenie
One thing you could do is contact the hospital’s PALS (Patient Advise and Liaison Service), and talk through your experience with them. They then will investigate for you, you can go to them for advise and support or to make a complaint.
If you ring the main switchboard of your hospital and ask for the PALS team, they should put you through.
Helena