Last time i was on here i got the all clear from breast clniic, due for another mammogram in April next year, due to what was found and both my mum 2 sisters who died of breast cancer. I went to my doctors yesterday as ive found a lump on my left breast, (which i had mass on last time.) Doctor said my lump is hard, irregular, movable and is about 1cm in size. Ive got to go back and see her on the 14th of this month, for her to check the lump again. Not sure what she will suggest. But if she says its nothing to worry about, should i see another doctor or just leave it. As you do get some doctors who dont like making a fuss or make out its nothing. As the last doctor faxed through to hospital straight away.
Get a 2nd opinion,my friends Doctor wasted 9th months of her life by saying “Its nothing to worry about”
Hi Shelly, personally I would get a second opinion or ask this doctor to refer you even if she thinks it is nothing. My GP thought my lump showed no “sinister characteristics” fortunately he referred me anyway. In my case it was breast cancer. I hope in your case it isn’t but until they do a mammogram/ultrasound and biopsy they can’t be sure.
Best of luck
Fiona
Hi shelly74,
If it would help to talk to someone in confidence then the Breast Cancer Care helpline is here for you, offering support and information. Calls to the helpline are free, lines are open Mon to Fri 9am - 5pm and Sat 9am - 2pm
0808 800 6000
Kind regards,
Kate, Facilitator
Hi Shelly.
I agree with Jellylegs, my doctor didn’t think it was anything to worry about but decided to send me anyway. She said later on that she was so glad she did and had learned never to take lumps at face value as we just don’t know till they’re tested.
Best wishes
Fiona x
my god is this your gp you are talking about ? if so who do they think they are ! they don’t know what it is and could be wasting valuable time. go back to your gp preferably another one tell the receptionist it is an emergency and get an appointment quickly, tell them you do not want to wait but want a referral to the breast clinic in your area. where i live if you go to the doctor with a breast lump you must be referred within 2wks, if it turns out to be nothing then you can relax and breathe a huge sigh of relief but if not then you can get it dealt with quickly.
if you still don’t get satisfaction phone your breast clinic for advice. no-one can know for sure what a lump is until it has been tested.
good luck i hope you are okay
love reneexx
Hi Shelly
I think its unanimous - get another opinion, and the sooner you are seen the better for your state of mind. Like lots of women I’ve presented at GP, got 99% reassurance but referred on and diagnosed - in fact its happened that way to me in both occurrences, 12 years apart. I too hope that everything is fine, but you need to get this sorted.
will be thinking of you
take care
monica x
if you have already been checked in the breast clinic you may be able to speak to one of the BCNs to see if you can access the service that way if your still on their books so to speak.
i would say that anything which feels in particular ‘irregular’ should be checked out at the breast unit quickly and not put off for months on end.
maybe even see a different gp at the practice… and just go in and ask if you can be referred rather than can you be examined.
good luck
I agree with all of the above!
This GP should be cautioned for delaying tatics!
Let us know how you get on
Lynn x
defo push to get it checked out, I was referred and the first doctor I seen said it was only fatty tissue and was sending me home with no further investigation, I wasnt happy with that and she said ok ill send you for a mammogram, thank god I did, yes it was fatty tissue but my cancer was hiding behind it!!!
It makes me wonder to this day, what could have happened to me
take care
Carol xx
I agree with all of the above - this is your health we are talking about and not your doctors feelings.
Ask for a referral and put your mind at rest. The doctor wont have sleepless nights you will.
Good luck and here we are wishing you a good result.
Hugs
Your GP should follow the NICE guidelines as to whether to refer you or not. A lot depends on your age, your history, family history etc I have pasted the link for the guidelines. Have a look, see where you fit in within the guidelines and then armed with that information, you can discuss with your doctor what you should do next. GPs have a tough job trying to decide who to refer but with your history and your family history, if your lump is still there after your next period, then you should be referred so a specialist can decide the next step. GPs are only general practitioners and should not take it upon themselves to be specialists.
i would go see another doc at the practice and say ur really worried so wanted to be seen again.
I found a lump 2 years ago(lived in telford area then)saw gp on monday was at hospital on thursday,full check,mammogram,ultrasound,xrays,blood tests,biopsy ,all done there and then.
Fortunately it was a cyst.
I found a lump in may this year,gp didn’t think it was anything to wrry about but sent me to breast clinic within a week(now live in leicestershire)all tests done,went back in 2 weeks to be told it was cancer.now having chemotherapy.
You ask for 2nd opinion,even just for your own peace of mind.
Good luck,Boatgirl x
I saw me gp today. Asked if i still had lump i said yes. Asked me if it is the same breast i had the biopsy done about 6mths ago i said yes. She examined me and now says the lump is quite mobile,the area affected is the left side of my left breast. The lump is in the middle at the side of nipple. But above and below the lump is bit swollen. Due to family history, my history etc… she has fastracked me to the hospital, i should get an appointment in a couple of days.
i go to the breast clnic on thursday morning. Ive had some stuff come from my nipple left breast. I now have a lump and hard part on my right breast. Will feel bit better i think once ive been to hospital on thurday.
Hi Shelly, I am glad you have got an appointment at the hospital on Thursday. This is a step in the right direction at last. I hope all goes well. But the waiting to see someone or waiting for results is the worst bit I feel. We will all be thinking about you on Thursday. Please keep in touch and let us know how things go, love Val X
hi shelly,
agree with val we will be all thinking about you on thursday, hope it gooes ok, some gp’s make me mad i think they like to have a bit of a power struggle and they think they have the right to make all the decisions, stuff what the most important person thinks, the patient.
when i went to see about a new lump in my breast the 2nd time round, i got an emergency appointment at my gp’s and saw a locum, first off iwas made to wait 1 and a 1/2 hrs, then she told me that was because the person was really ill implying i wasn’t. then when she examined me said oh yes we will have to get this looked at given your previous history, she said she would write a letter at end of surgery and if i phoned her in a few days just to make sure she remembered i said! if you phone breast clinic they will give app over the phone for following week. she looked at me as if i was mad and said! oh no i prefer to write, all the time i was thinking this woman is nuts! there is no way i’m going to wait all that time so i decided just to let it go and when i got home phoned my breast clinic told them the situation and because i am a patient said they would sort it out. that afternoon same gp phoned me with app and apologised. it wasn,t till the nxt day i realised there was a postal strike on, so i would have had a long wait for app.
some docs are just unreal.
also when i had first lump removed my tumour was also surrounded by fatty tissue, so you just never know.
take care everyone
love reneexx
I saw my consultant at the breast clinic. Firstly i had to explain what was wrong. Once id done that he examined me. As when i last saw my gp on the 14th only had lump on left. But last friday a lump came up on my right. Large,hard idendical to the left. He asked me today are you sure the lump on your right is new, i said yes. Never had it on the 14th but suddenly appeared on the 18th. He wouldnt do another mammogram due to the fact i had one done on April this year along with an ultra sound and biopys. So he sent me to have ultra sound scan done, if anything suspision shows then biopys would need to be done. So i went to ultra sound department but they couldnt do it today, busy, will ring me at home. When i did see the consuktant today he did a good examination of my breast, but never checked under my armpits, should of he of had? Ive waited 10 days for the appointment i had today, now have to wait for an ultra sound and a possible biopys. Felt so angry, annoyed.
hi Shelly, As I said in my last post to you, the frustration and hell of waiting for results and tests is the worst part of all this. But I think your Consultant will take everything into consideration and if she is sending you for another ultrasound that is the next step to find out what is causing the lumps. Do you have a breast care nurse you could talk toi at the hospital? She may be able to make enquiries to let you know how long you can expect to wait. I think it should be fairly soon but if you don’t hear for a week do not hesitate to check up with your Consultant’s secretary to find out what the hold up is. I am sorry Shelly. We all know what you are going through but take courage as things are in progress now and you will get there. I can fully understand that you are annoyed and most of us have questions we forgot to ask when we have been in to see the doctors. Try to write down a list of any questions you forgot to ask so that you can get answers the next time you see him/her. Meanwhile we are thinking about you. Keep in touch with us through the forum whenever you need to express your worries or anger. You will get lots of support on this site. Love Val XX