Can't stand waiting....

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Hi everyone,

I am so new to this…but eventually decided to post because I am having a pants day!

Story so far…

Found a lump on my right breast, at the right hand side last Thursday night. Got in with my GP as she had a cancellation at 3pm last Friday. She did a quick exam (approx 1 minute) and said it is a cyst because it is not fixed, and that she would refer me to Breast Clinic,and to wait for them to ring me.

Got a message left yesterday, rang them back today and I go next Tuesday…looking at all your posts this seems pretty good, so feel quite ungrateful to just want Tuesday to be tomorrow!

I have probably done all the wrong things…researching on the internet about this and now have got myself really worried. My lump is very hard, and quite easy to find, sometimes feels the size of a five pence piece (well I thought it was at first as I was due on my period and breasts were swollen which pushed lump under skin), now though one week later it ie more like 2 pence piece and with swelling gone has gone back near my chest wall.

Honestly joked today that at home at night, if anyone saw me they would think I was directing traffic, I check my lump every night and feel my left breast in case it has a twin,lol.

Should I think this is a cyst, could my GP know that? Am I right to be worried?

Just hate not knowing…if I knew I could gave a plan, at the mo I have a whole range if plans in my head…
Any advice gratefully recieved…:slight_smile:

Dinkydo x

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Dinkydo,

You should (if you can) hold on to the fact that most breast lumps are NOT cancer.

I think it is as high as 9 - 10 are benign.

So…keep sense of proportion if you can!

Best Wishes

WS

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Thanks Wintersocks…To be honest I thought I was coping really well until today… I think it is because I know my appt is made now it all became a bit too real today, and my hubby is away with work so haven’t told him yet about the BCC appt.

reading the other posts on here makes me feel like a real fraud…what have I got to worry about, this could just be one fell of a sucker of a cyst…lol

Thanks, now repeating a mantra of 9 out of 10 :wink:

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Hi Dinkydo

Although I am being treated for breast cancer (just finished my chemo last week - yay! - now just radiotherapy to go) I have just had a cyst removed. It came up rather quickly, about 2 inches below my mastectomy scar. It was a very definite lump but I know what you mean about constantly checking. Anyway, after my chemo I had an appointment at the screening unit to check the new lump. I had an ultrasound scan and that doctor sent through her findings to the initial doctor. She’d recommended a biopsy - my heart sank, remembering everything from last time. However, when the nurse put the spotlight on the lump for the doctor to do the biopsy he made a comment which I can’t remember but there was something about the lump, under closer inspection, which made him then think it was a cyst. He asked if I would like it removed, which I did because it was quite uncomfortable, so he removed it and sent it off to pathology. A week later my breast care nurse phoned to confirm it was indeed a cyst - thank goodness.

So, yes, it is possible it’s just a cyst.

I hope this may make you feel a bit more hopeful about things. I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you to get a good (negative) result.

Flori
X

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Thank you Flori, glad to hear that for you it was a cyst after all you have been going through.

Here’s hoping that I have a good result too. Feeling much better today, slept quite well, I think because I had exhausted myself with thinking about this chuffin lump.

I still keep thinking that I am 42, a smoker, I haven’t had children, but looking at some of the posts on here I have realised that the BC beast is really quite indiscriminate!

Tuesday still cannot come soon enough, if it is bad news then I will battle it, if not then it’s all good.

Thanks for all your comments which have helped me get grounded again.

Best wishes to all x

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Hi Dinkydo

I’m 47, non-smoker, (was) very fit and active (though have just climbed my firt fell 12 days after finishing chemo), slim and always had a healthy diet but I don’t have children, so yes, it really is quite indiscriminate.

The waiting for a diagnosis really is tough. I hardly slept while waiting for mine. My doctor gave me sleeping tablets but strange thing is, once I had them I actually got a reasonable night’s sleep without taking them. Trouble is, it’s one of those times when you need to sleep just to get some relief from worrying.

I know Tuesday will still seem like a lifetime away but hopefully after that you’ll be able to put it all behind you and enjoy life to the full.

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Hi Flori,

Congrats on your fell climb, what an achievement just after finishing chemo. My husband and I try and get up the lakes once a year for a week of walking, and this is tiring without any other ailments…gobsmacked that you have just done this.

I have kept myself busy over the weekend (re-positioning fencing, and then painting 9 metres of it), I am going for physical exhaustion to take my mind of it.

My only vice is smoking, don’t drink, like to be quite active, there’s just no rhyme or reason for this.

I am back in work tomorrow, so am planning to get focussed on some project work I am doing which should help. Then in work Tuesday before my appt, not sure how much use I will be.

Tuesday still cannot come soon enough…thanks for your message…just helps knowing that I am not the only one who feels like this.

Wishing you lots of spectacular fell walks!

Dinkydo x

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Hi Dinkido,
I hope all geos weel with your app, I know what you mean about the wait Iam driving myself nuts, iam still waiting on clinic app & it just cant come quick enough,
Keep you chin up & post to let it out seems like we are not in this alone xx

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Hi,

Just wanted to say hope your appt goes well. Looks like we got referred on same day! My appt is tomorrow.

Do let us all know how you get on.

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Hi everyone,

Well good news…a cyst…now drained, a bit bruised, but all ok.

For the benefit of anyone else in the waiting position who may read this and is feeling slightly crazy, anxious, unable to think of anything else, and constantly checking their lump, here’s how it went…

Saw BC nurse first who asked some history questions and took some notes. She also did an examination and said she thought it was unlikely to be a cyst, and more likely a fibroadenoma.

From there across to have mammogram. This did not hurt. No where near as bad as I thought. 4 images taken, 2 horizontal and 2 vertical on each breast. Was a trainee radiographer on mammograms so images had to be checked. Asked to go back in for one more image as lump had moved on one and they only got part of it. Got put in some odd positions to get it on imageand I am very unco-ordinated so quite a challenge for them. Managed to sneak a peak at the last image and saw it there, all white and looking quite big and bold!

Then doctor reviewed mammogram, called me in for ultrasound. On ultrasound screen because showed black because of fluid. Said there and then it was a cyst, and they were going to drain it and hopefully make it go away. Used ultrasound to guide needle in (Sharp pain but once in ok), drew fluid, clear fluid colour of weak tea. Also had me watch ultrasound screen so I could see the lump disappearing which I thought was great.

That’s it all done, back to GP if I get any more, and said it is likely due to age (42).

Did not sleep last night, but today strangely felt very accepting of it all. Had done so much research that I understood what was happening (mostly on these forums).

Afterwards felt very strange, slightly nauseous, unable to think really. Hubby took me for some lunch, then I just wanted to get home and go to sleep.

Don’t quite know how to say thank you to everyone in here who has kept my feet on Terra furma for the last week. A cherished group of very special ladies.

Flori, hope you remain well and get some more fella under your belt!
Wintersocks, all the very best of luck with your treatment.
B33 and B40 desperately hoping you have had good (negative) results too.

Am expecting a change of username as I have picked one very similar to someone else on here, but waiting to find out what it will be, but will keep posting to try and reassure anyone else who finds themselves in this position.
Best of luck ladies, and my sincerest thanks.

Yvonne xxx

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Great news Yvonne and thanks for sharing your experience of the appointment. I will be off to my appointment tomorrow, hopefully it will go as well as yours did. Have scrubbed the house today so hopefully be exhausted enough to sleep tonight.

Congratulations again.

B 33 x x

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Yvonne,

So very pleased for you. Now your waiting is over. I think you should have a lovely relaxing Easter weekend!

Best Wishes

Wintersocks. XX

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Flori just wanted to correct my earlier post…meant to say ‘Fells under your belt’, not Fellas …

X

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Yvonne,
brill news for you have a brill easter
J xxxx

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Hi Yvonne,
Thank you for you support iam so pleased for you having a good result, hope all goes well & no more problems, I got my app in yesterday have to wait till 18th April for my app ( cant help but think the worst) still keeping busy. B33 good luck will be thinking of you fingers x
Take care xx

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Hi Yvonne - if you’re still checking the Forum - that gave me a good laugh. Perhaps I should try to get a few more fellas, as well as fells, under my belt!

Oh, and I’m really delighted at your outcome and I think it’s good that you can give reassurance to others who are in the same situation.

X

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Hi Flori35

Glad you found it funny…after what you have been through you deserve loads if Fells…and fellas…in fact all the ladies on here deserve everything their hearts desire.

Hope you are keeping well?

Take care x