Biopsy & Christmas Waiting Times

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
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Hi,

Sorry if this is all a little jumbled I’m not really sure how I feel right now and feel a bit stupid as I’ve not even been given a diagnosis.

I found a lump and managed to get a next day GP appointment, she didn’t seem too worried but wanted to send me to the breast clinic just to be sure.

I had my appointment Tuesday, it’s a bit of a one stop shop where I am.

Probably naively I expected to have the ultrasound and be sent on my way with it being a cyst or something

Ultrasound, consultant and ended up with a biopsy.

I’ve got to say it was one of the loneliest moments of my life, my husband was in the waiting area for family but waiting with the other women and seeing others leave with relieved looks and realising you’re one of two women left was excruciating.

Anyway, long story short, they struggled to “see” the lump to start, despite being able to feel it, they then saw something. They kept saying it was small but wanted a biopsy. My original doctor said it was about the size of a 50p, that’s not small and I was so surprised when she said that size as I regularly check and am so cross with myself for missing something that size.

I then saw the consultant, I can’t remember what she said exactly, but she did say if I was called back, given the nature of where we were it would be bad news, but again said it was small and not in lymph nodes which was good.

I then had the biopsy, they took three and again they struggled to locate it again.

The nurse was very different when I had the biopsy to when I had the original scan, she kept telling me to go and enjoy Christmas and we’d deal with this in the new year.

Im now over thinking it and analysing everyone’s words and actions and realising this is going to be one bloody long 7-10 working day wait with Christmas and I’ve lost my opportunity to ask questions.

Don’t even really know what I’m asking, just hoping I’m not alone in this long wait over Christmas and if anyone has had a similar experience maybe

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I’m sorry that you have found yourself here. The waiting time between appointments is really hard, especially with the holiday potentially adding to the wait. Have you been given a date for your results?

I think the consultant’s comment wasn’t perhaps terribly helpful if I’m honest. Try not to over analyse what anyone said to you. You will only tie yourself in knots worrying. Hopefully you will get your results early in the new year and will find out what exactly you are dealing with.

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@staffordlump firstly welcome to the forum, we are all here too support you.

Understandable you are extremely worried what’s coming next, please have a note pad to hand scribble down what ever is worrying you, as we have so much going on, we forget the most important questions.

You could call breast clinic nurses, explain how you are feeling, and ask if they could explain what the consults outcome was, she should be able to put your mind as rest until your next appointment, as you said this was a very lonely time for you. I can understand how hard this was, so pleased to read your husband was waiting for you.

Take one day at a time, once you have a treatment plan, should you need it, things will fall into place, however fingers crossed for a good outcome.

Please let us know how you’re getting on, wishing you health and happiness going forward.

With the biggest hugs Tili :rainbow::folded_hands::rainbow::folded_hands:

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Thank you.

No I’m kicking myself I didn’t push for a date, it all just took me by surprise.

All I have is 7-10 working days, not even sure what the nhs class as working days.

Thanks, I’m hoping I’m just over thinking what she said.

It was great in that it all happened in one day, no extra waiting but on the other hand you don’t have chance to gather yourself and think sensibly about questions x

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Thanks Tili, not a place I wanted to find myself, but this has got to be one of the kindest places on the internet.

thank you for the advice, I’ll definitely start making some notes and questions for when I go back if I need them.

Hopefully the wait isn’t too long. I’ll keep you updated xxx

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Hello and so sorry you have had such a stressful few days. It’s rubbish that you are having to go through this over the Christmas period with the worry about what “working days” actually are. While there might be some disruption over the next week or two, my experience is that the specialist clinics are not hugely disrupted by public holidays (wonderful NHS), so hopefully your results won’t be too much delayed by that.

I absolutely understand your comment about your appointment being the loneliest moment of your life. That appointment when you are taken from one department to another in such a short space of time is terrifying.

Anyway, that hideous appointment was for me over ten years ago. I did have cancer but am still here now and happier than ever. I really hope your outcome is different but I’d like to say that there is life after all this turmoil, no matter what the result. Easy to say I know but enjoy your Christmas and all the days around it. xx

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Thank you so much, this has made me feel a lot better. Just nice knowing you’re not alone in your feelings

I do feel bad hoping the staff don’t have much holiday but still hoping for some quick results that are good news xx

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Bless you - I remember that awful feeling when others were leaving looking relieved clutching leaflets about benign breast conditions - just me and 2 other women sitting socially distanced in our masks ( lockdown ) one of whom was crying. My friend had brought me but wasn’t even allowed in the waiting room.

I had my first procedure done under local anaesthetic on 16th December 2021 and I knew at the time for various reasons that it had failed. However the results came back with some positive tissue samples and as it was a very small tumour there was a chance that that was all of it so they elected not to bring me in for surgery on New Year’s Eve but to wait for the bleeding to settle down so that they could get a clear enough mammogram to be able to tell if there was anything left . I had that on 6th Jan then there was a further 2 weeks waiting for the results knowing all the time what they would be yet unable to stop myself hoping just a little bit that it was all gone.

That last 2 weeks was torture but my Christmas was wonderful . The reason it was wonderful was partly because I hadn’t been able to spend time with my family the year before . Also somehow I was feeling everything more deeply including happiness and my response to nature and beauty was heightened as well - that Christmas Day really stands out even now in my memory, how happy we all were in each others company , how much we all laughed . It was my first Christmas as well after my Mum passed away but it felt good to be with other people who had loved her .

I’m sure you thought the staff were mad when they told you to enjoy your Christmas but if you can then try to put it aside and whilst people are having their holidays try to give yourself a mental break from it - and now you probably think I’m mad as well . On the Bank Holidays and weekends nothing is going to change - no letters / phone calls / appointments - working days will be the ones in between those . I remember finding it harder to relax on the days that weren’t Bank Holidays or weekends . We all worry about what is happening inside of us while we are waiting but if it is cancer the majority of cancers are very slow growing and very treatable and a few extra days awaiting results won’t make any difference to your condition . The waiting can be awful but do whatever you can to make this time as good as it can be .

Sending love xx

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This was me last year. I had my biopsy on 19 December and got a notification on 7 January to come for my results on 9 January. I wasn’t told and didn’t ask at biopsy what they thought it was as I had gone to the appointment alone. It was a very stressful time, veering from thinking it was fine to thinking I had cancer and it had probably spread. Christmas itself was a good distraction but it wasn’t easy and I hid the fact I had biopsy from everyone but my husband because I didn’t want to spoil anyone’s Christmas before I knew for certain. Turns out it was early cancer. I have had the full works of treatment this year and even so am in a mentally better place than I was last Christmas.

I really hope it turns out to be benign for you, but if it isn’t, you will cope and feel better than you do now.

Wishing you all the best.

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