Feeling anxious and sick!

Appointment tomorrow in the breast clinic.
I found a raised area on the top of my left breast, not sure if I can feel an actual lump but it’s definitely raised.
I have lost over 4 stone since October (thanks to weight loss injections!) and only noticed it after I had lost weight.
I’m so panicky and anxious about this appointment, I have it in my head that I have cancer and I’m going through the motions of how to tell my 2 young children, how I’m going to live a normal life, will I still be alive this time next year. This is so horrible :sleepy:

3 Likes

Hi @kcjexx welcome to the forum despite it being the last place you want to be. Whatever the outcome of your appointment, you will find lots of support here.

You are in the the worst phase right now when something is suspected but nothing is actually known. In the absence of fact, the mind fills the void with worst case scenario. Firstly, the majority of breast anomalies are benign, there are 8 or 9 things it could be without being cancer. Secondly, if it does turn out to be breast cancer, there are so many different treatments these days that the chances are very high that you’ll get through it and out the other side to a cancer free life, like most of us do. If it does turn out to be cancer, it would be considered a primary and no-one dies of a primary breast cancer as your breasts are not organs like your liver or brain. I know it’s hard but try not to think the worst until you have a diagnosis.

My recommendation would be to say nothing to your children until you know what you’re facing but this may help you to think about what to say if and when the time comes Mummy's Lump (BCC164) | Breast Cancer Now.

Good luck with the appointment. Come back to ask any questions you may have afterwards or just to let us know how you got on.

1 Like

Dear kcjexx

We have all been there and now we are here with love and support, At the moment take one day at a time, all very easy for me to say when you’re pulling hair out with worry.

Will be thinking of you with fingers crossed for a good outcome from your hospital appointment.

Please come back and let us know how you’re getting on. Wishing you lots of happiness with your little ones.

Hugs Tili :rainbow::pray::rainbow::pray:

Thank you for the well wishes it is much appreciated.
Went to my appointment, doctor marked 5 areas she wanted the radiologists to look at, after waiting for 3 hours I was called back in to say they had gone home and I need my appointment to be rearranged. So haven’t had a scan and I have this worry and wait for another 2/3 weeks.
I cannot believe it. I am a mess and this is the last thing I need.
I am looking at phoning a few private hospitals tomorrow to get the screening done via them instead. If this is a sign of things to come then I am terrified for my life to be in the hands of the incompetence that is my local hospital.

Hi @kcjexx, i’m so sorry to hear that they sent you home. That really is not good practice. The waiting really is the absolute worst part and as others have said, knowing the diagnosis and the plan is easier than not knowing. If I were you, I’d be ringing up today to ask for an earlier appointment. If you were referred from GP on 2 week pathway, they should see you and assess within 2 weeks. Maybe your GP can help too.

I hope you are seen soon and get some peace of mind.

X

That’s pretty awful @kcjexx. If you had been waiting for three hours they must have known you were there, for them just to bog off home is unacceptable. Can you register your displeasure with the PALS team at the hospital?

For reference, I had an MRI and a CT scan with contrast over Christmas privately at a Nuffield Hospital (this was on my bowel - all good). Together the scans came to around £2k. The experience was, in the circumstances, first class.

I hope you get some progress and some answers quickly.

Hi @kcjexx,

I am sorry you are going through this. It is unacceptable for them to make you wait 2-3 weeks for a scan. Please raise this ASAP with PALS. You should be scanned within 2 weeks of your referral, go back to your GP and see if they can get things moving or refer you elsewhere.

I am 39 and was diagnosed with breast cancer 4 weeks ago. I was lucky in that I was seen 2 weeks after referral and I was told even before the cancer was confirmed that it was very likely going to be malignant due to what was seen on the ultrasound.

They did mess up a little with appointments at the beginning and I was left for 3 weeks waiting for an appointment and MRI that had in fact been cancelled. Nightmare. I became very low in that time, feeling like I was forgotten and that cancer was ravaging me and no one in the medical profession cared. It was very lonely.

I must say things have turned around significantly since then as my biopsies came back showing triple negative cancer and it’s aggressive so it needs treatment quickly. They have now given me back to back appointments for the last two weeks for all my scans and prep work ready for chemo.

I understand how frightening this time is, there is too much time to think and I was mentally preparing for my death. I have an 11 year old and was just crying all the time thinking of him not having a mum.

My advice is to advocate for yourself and if possible get a family member on board to help you. If you can afford the scan privately and it can ease your mind, it might be a good option.

Everyone here has been so kind and you will find comfort in the people here, as I have, and remember that no matter what your scans find, there are so many treatment options now.

I hope you get a resolution soon x