Hi. I’m 30 years old and last week I discovered a lump in my right breast. This was the day before my period was due and in my head I put it down to hormonal changes/a cyst and would wait a few days to see what happens. Not much has changed in 6 days (although part of me thinks it might be getting smaller?) but today I decided to ring my GP to get it checked out just in case. However the first appointment they had was 2 and a half weeks away. Should I get an urgent appointment rather than waiting? I’m slightly worried I would be told to wait a bit longer to see what happens with the lump if I did get an urgent appointment
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Hi Sarah, hope you are okay. I would ring up again and ask for an urgent appointment, say that it is causing you alot of stress and you are concerned. If the GP wants to refer you to the breast clinic after seeing you there is usually a 2 week wait for the referral (even if considered urgent). So it’s best to get the ball rolling quicker. It may all be completely fine, but if I was you I’d push harder as we need to advocate for ourselves.
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Hi @heysarah
Although most lumps in breasts are not anything to worry about we still need to get them checked.
The guidance I have found is that if you are over 30 in England, N Ireland and Wales and have a lump in your breast or armpit you should be referred to a breast clinic. The wait for the Breast clinic could be another 2/3 weeks. So I would ring again and make it clear why you are calling. I know it’s hard to share with the receptionist but it’s important to do so.
Keep us updated. Fingers crossed it’s nothing to worry about.
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Hi Sarah
Welcome to this forum, it has lots of friendly and supportive people on here, all wanting to offer help and guidance.
Personally, I would try peruse a quicker appointment. Did you explain your symptoms when booking? Do you normally get cysts?
My GP practice use an on line portal to request appointments and needs a typed summary of condition to be triaged for an appointment.
I found my lump while away during bank holiday weekend. As soon as the portal opened 8am on the Tuesday, I sent my request. The surgery phone me within half an hour and asked if I could get there for 9am.
Cysts often do appear during the menstrual cycles but as untrained medics it’s hard for us to determine if it’s something to be worried about or not. The doctor can not determine if it’s just a cyst by examination alone so you may be sent for scans and biopsy. That way they can be sure of what it is before they give you an answer.
Hope all works out well for you x
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Thanks all. I rang back and asked for a more urgent appointment and told them what was up. They said to ring tomorrow morning to get a same day appointment (I’m unfortunately in NI so no online booking system or anything 
). I’m hoping it’s nothing but terrified as well. It literally came out of nowhere last week and large enough that there’s no way I wouldn’t have noticed it before and I check often.
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Hi all. Just a quick update. I got in to see the doctor today with an urgent appointment. Confirmed it was a lump but she didn’t think it was anything to be too concerned by because of my age, the fact that it was moveable and the shape of it. She still has to refer me because I’m 30 but she was saying that could be 3-4 months at the minute?? Is this because she doesn’t think it’s too serious? I’ve seen a lot of people on here say that it’s meant to be 2-3 weeks? I’m also in NI so it could just be our waiting times.
I was also saying to her about planning on starting a family next year because she checked my blood pressure for the pill and she was happily chatting away to me about that. Are these all good signs??
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Glad you got to see the doctor today. The referral thing is meant to be 2 weeks I believe. I got a referral appointment letter within 2 weeks, but the actual appointment was 5 weeks later….and that was a priority appointment.
There are certain characteristics of tumors, hard and unmoveable being a couple. The doctor may have an idea based on characteristics, but they can not say for certain. Hence the referral.
It does sound promising, and I hope your appointment comes sooner than later to help put your mind at ease.
Take care x
The referral is supposed to be 2 weeks but last year when I was diagnosed I had a mammogram within 2 weeks which was the reviewed and they called me back 3 weeks later for ultrasound and biopsy with meeting with breast surgeon as part of the Breast clinic.
As already said the GP knows the characteristics to look out for but the tests at the breast clinic will be able to tell you for sure. I had a physician associate( not a doctor, don’t get me started) say mine was probably nothing to worry about. I was 54 and I ended up with 2 primary cancers one in each naughty boob! I was told by the surgeon just touching and checking only gives them an idea not a definitive diagnosis.
Give it two weeks and if you’ve not heard ring your health board and ask to speak to booking for the breast clinic. As you are over 30 it’s should be an urgent the 3-4 months seems more like under 30 non urgent. It may be nothing but there are quite a few younger women on this forum.
I’m hoping you get an appointment soon.
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Yeah she was saying she’s not too worried about it but because it’s a lump and I’m 30 I would still need to be referred to double check it’s all ok.
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Yeah I’m wondering now if it’s been flagged as non urgent and that’s why she said it would take 3-4 months? I’ll wait a couple of weeks to see what happens then ring. I might see about going private if I can’t get anything sooner
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Good idea. That was my first thought that they had said non urgent which goes against guidelines.
Although devolved healthcare can be problematic. I’m in Wales in the border with England.
Yeah waiting lists seem like a very big problem here at the minute unfortunately. I’ll wait a couple of weeks then will take it from there. Thank you!
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Hi, Sarah. I had my first abnormal mammogram ever and I had the same problem with my GP. I called and called and finally went to the office in person. That made all the difference. The receptionist could see how worried I was and got the NP to come out and help me. I was at the breast center the next week. Don’t be afraid to be persistent. Good luck!
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Thank you! I got in to see my GP and have been referred now so just waiting on a date.
However hopefully more positive news is the lump has been decreasing in size making me think I more than likely have a cyst.
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Dear homebabe,
So sorry to read your post, wishing you health and happiness going forward.
Take one day at a time, make notes before your appointment, let us know how you are getting on.
With the biggest hugs Tili 
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Dear haysarah,
Thinking of you, hopefully your appointment will come through very soon, fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Big hugs Tili
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