Doctor thinks I have breast cancer

Hello,

I was first referred to the breast clinic in October 2023 after feeling a small lump in my right breast. After an ultrasound, this was diagnosed as normal active breast tissue.

Within about four months, this lump had grown significantly, but I put off doing anything about it, as I assumed it was the same normal tissue. However, I mentioned it to my GP two weeks ago (nearly a year after it had grown) and was referred to the breast clinic again.

I went to the breast clinic on Tuesday. The doctor felt my breast and said it didn’t feel suspicious and may be a cyst, but they would do an ultrasound to check. I then had to have a mammogram, a second ultrasound and then a biopsy. After reviewing the scans, the doctor who, two hours previously, had said it didn’t feel suspicious, said it looked like a breast cancer. I burst into tears.

I now have an appointment for the biopsy results this coming Friday and I’m terrified. How can it be written off as normal breast tissue, then have a doctor feel it a year later and say it doesn’t feel suspicious, but then be told it’s probably cancer?

My mental health was already low before knowing the diagnosis and now I’m worried I’m not going to survive this and that I’ve wasted my life.

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Hi Joy
Sorry you are going through this , it’s tough when your given news like that without grading or proper biopsy results , all sorts of things go through your mind wait and see what results come back with might not be as bad you think the treatments / surgeries are so much improved
I know the waiting is the worst
Good luck for Friday xx

Hi @joy_ofbooks

So sorry that you’re in this situation . It is hard to get your head around it when the investigations give you a false sense of security . Most breast cancers are relatively slow growing and for the vast majority of us the fear we have between being told there’s something wrong and getting results and a plan is the worst of it . I think we have all had some of those thoughts that you are having now . Remember that they aren’t real and try to keep busy and do something that will get you out of your head a bit if you can.

On Monday maybe you could ring the helpline and speak to the Nurses on 0808 800 6000 from 9am and talk it over with them . In the meantime it’s good there’s almost always someone here if you want to reach out again. With love xx