I am 28 and have recently been referred to the breast clinic by my GP on a 2 week wait after finding a lump in my breast. My referral was made on the 19th November (3 weeks ago) but I am yet to receive any information about an appointment and I am starting to go out of my mind a little bit.
When it reached 13 days after my referral I contacted my GP again as I had heard absolutely nothing. They sent me a PDF copy of my referral letter (which I never received) and that provided a number for me to contact if I hadn’t heard anything. On ringing that number, they told me it wasn’t them I needed to speak to and gave me an additional 4 numbers to try. The day after this I managed to get through on one of these numbers but was informed there was a delay in the 2 week wait referrals to the breast clinic and I would probably hear something in the next week.
Today marks 3 weeks and I still haven’t heard anything. Today I contacted all 4 of the numbers I was given but couldn’t get through to anybody. I spoke to my manager at work who told me I should contact their PALS team which I have done today. They took some details from me but I haven’t heard anything else since. I am assuming they are now closed for the weekend.
Has anybody else had a similar experience? I really don’t know what more I can do. I have managed to keep myself fairly sane until now, but my anxiety levels are now going through the roof. The lack of communication is driving me crazy! And to top it all off, I’m worried that Christmas coming up will cause further delays as well.
I’m sorry you had no replies to your post. Maybe by now you have heard something but it’s definitely unacceptable, regardless of the pressure they are under. Stay sane and work on your stress levels as the anxiety doesn’t help you (you know this already) and keep away from Google on anything breast-related. Also, don’t keep prodding that boob. We all have done it!
Two facts that might help a bit: 1. 60-90% of breast lumps referred to clinics are benign. Your odds are strong. 2. Cancer cells don’t shoot around the body, spreading havoc wherever they go. It’s usually a slow, steady process. So, if you are found to have breast cancer, quite unusual at your age unless there’s a strong history of cancer in your families, it won’t do untold damage as you may be fearing. I can’t guarantee that of course - I’m no breast specialist - but once you’ve been seen, there are always a few weeks of tests, lab tests etc before you have your final diagnosis and a treatment plan. This is normal but it does reinforce the idea that breast cancer doesn’t usually spread fast.
As regards Christmas, you’d expect delays but they try to minimise this, working on Bank Holidays and putting on extra clinics right now. I’m due a CT scan and was told there’s a 13-week backlog, yet my appointment is Bank Holiday Monday. The man making the appointment was very apologetic for spoiling my Christmas! I also had my first chemo treatment, back in 2018, on Christmas Eve (what a jolly Christmas that was).
Remember, the referral process is protocol. GPs can’t diagnose breast cancer so, unless that are certain it’s a normal cyst, they must refer you to the breast clinic. That doesn’t mean they think it’s breast cancer and, to be honest, if they did they’d be chasing up that referral. That doesn’t help with your anxiety if course. Explore the relaxation videos on YouTube (I always use Progressive Hypnosis) or use Calm or Headspace, the NHS-endorsed apps, and work hard on reducing your stress levels.
I hope you don’t have to wait much longer. All the best and let us know the outcome.
So I had an urgent referral sent 7 weeks ago gp told me urgent are usually seen within 2 weeks it’s 7 weeks on managed to get hold of breast clinic and have been told urgent are taking 11 weeks and you won’t hear from them until 2 weeks before your appointment.
Im going through the exact same experience. I’m 32, and initially spoke to my GP about a large lump on 13th Dec and have been trying to follow up ever since. I managed to get through to the Breast Clinic just before Xmas and they said they are very backdated. Understandable during these times, but of course doesn’t change the worry during the wait.
I’d be interested to hear when you were seen eventually. I’m going to try and follow up tomorrow (hopefully I can get through as it’s a bank holiday) as the lump has grown since my initial call to the GP and I just want to know what I’m dealing with!