Hello,
I found a mass/ lump and went to see my gp about it (my husband kind of forced me too). I have lumpy bumpy breasts and after losing 8 stone I have a lot of loose skin too so it’s very hard to know what’s what. I am very diligent around checking my breasts however and this lump is different and new.
When I saw my GP and she examined me she said I should thank my husband for forcing me to come along… said in a nice way. She then said she wanted to refer me to a one stop clinic. I suspected this would happen so I wasn’t too alarmed. However on the NHS app this morning I logged in and checked my referral. There are two pathways. One is for symptomatic cancer and cancer is not suspected but says in brackets patient will still be seen in two week. The other is fast track where cancer is suspected and a referral should only be made if it is likely the patient has breast cancer.
She ticked the fast track box. Now when we were talking she gave me the impression that I had done the right thing and gave me little reassurance about it being something benign but I assumed it was because she just couldn’t tell.
Now I am worried she saw/ felt something more sinister and that’s why she has fast tracked me. Given the other referral route is two weeks I would have assumed I would be put on that as I don’t have any other symptoms at all.
Am I reading too much into this? I have had other scares in the past from smear tests but this is really my first time needing a referral for anything! I’m 39 and otherwise healthy.
Hi hottea345
Thanks for posting.
It’s understandable you’re feeling concerned about your referral to the breast clinic and worried about what this might mean.
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence produce national guidelines for referrals to the breast clinic and state that anyone over the age of 30 with an unexplained breast lump should be referred using the suspected cancer pathway.
The majority of people referred to the breast clinic in this way will not have breast cancer. Breast changes, including breast lumps can happen for many reasons. They may be due to injury, due to hormonal changes as part of your monthly cycle (if you are still having periods) or due to benign conditions (not cancer). It’s always important to get any new symptoms checked out so that breast cancer can be excluded so you have done the right thing by going to your GP and being referred to the breast clinic as outlined in the guidance.
Breast cancer is uncommon in women in their 20s and 30s so the new lump you have noticed is more likely to be because of one of the reasons mentioned above rather than cancer.
You are welcome to call our helpline if you would like to talk this through or have any further questions. The helpline team have time to listen, talk things through and signpost you to additional support and information if necessary. Your call will be confidential, and the number is free from UK landlines and all mobile networks.
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Best wishes
Val
Breast Care Nurse
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