Hi Mummy to 2 boys,
Welcome to the forum - you’ve come to a good place for support and advice.
You did the right thing seeing your GP, getting referred and having the scans etc. Did they give you a follow up appointment to get your results? Usually (pre-covid times) this is a week later. It’s a stressful time waiting for results, try to distract yourself as much as possible and have a think about who you can ask to go to your appointment with you (or potentially join by phone) depending upon how your hospital is working.
As I’m sure you are aware there are many causes of breast lumps, including cysts, fibroadema etc.
breastcancernow.org/information-support/have-i-got-breast-cancer/breast-lumps-benign-breast-conditions
There are also many different types of breast cancer. Hence the breast team usually need the results of the biopsy before they can say for sure what the cause of the lump is, which does leave us in limbo for a week or so waiting for results. It’s a difficult place to be, I think distracting yourself as far as possible and trying some mindfulness is the best we can do at that time. Also be very kind to yourself.
The first part of your experience is similar to mine, I was a similar age to you, only rather than being elbowed I was determinedly wrestling boxes up into the loft, immediately after which I found part of my boob hurt, felt a lump and a fair sized bruise rapidly came up. A week or so later the lump was still there so I went to the GP who referred me to the breast clinic on a precautionary basis.
I had done a fair amount of reading about causes of breast lumps (don’t do it!) and was aware that something called fibroadenoma could feel similar to a hard bc lump and look similar on scans. I didn’t have wide inflammation, only localised slight swelling linked to the bruising. On the day of the mammogram, ultrasound and core needle biopsy I was told they had spotted the lump (I’d seen it on the screen too) and when I asked if it could be fibroadenoma the oncologist said yes but it could also be bc, and went on to say they were sat on the fence, needed the full results of the biopsy and suggested I think about bringing someone with me for to the results appointment. Unusually I also had really bad bruising after the core needle biopsy, I can only guess due to the lump being very hard. Mine turned out to be invasive ductal carcinoma, which is one of the more common forms of breast cancer.
The breast team at the hospital were very good, my surgeon great (and very neat). I’m now 6 years on and pop back on the forum primarily to give back.
I think the oncologists just try to warn us if they think it might be bc (when they can’t say for sure without the results of the biopsy), so that we are a tad more prepared for results day (in case it turns out to be bc).
Just so you are aware, besides the forum, you can phone Breast Cancer Now and speak to a nurse or message the nurse in the section on the forum.
Sending you a gentle hug. I hope you don’t have too long to wait for your results. Do post again if you think it would be helpful in any way. I’m sure other forum members will post soon in response too.
X Seabreeze