I noticed a very small lump about 7 years, i can’t even remember how I found it. Anyway, I went to the one stop clinic and was told it was a small cyst, so small that it wouldn’t need draining.
I noticed another lump in April '10. I examined myself periodically but by no means on a regular monthly basis. Again, I was referred to the one stop clinic, had an ultrasound scan by a very sing songy radiographer, she said it waas nothing to worry about but the doctor would give me the daignosis. I felt a bit silly really, being sent away being told nothing to worry about, large pendulous breasts (gee thanks! what a lovely description) and it’s just a cyst. Like I had made a fuss over nothing. At the same time, i applied for a new job on promotion and worried about the lump as I would never had accepted the post had I known I had BC. getting the all clear, i starte a new job.
I began to notice a change in the shape and size of my breast around June/July '10 but didn’t worry about it too much. I thought I had the all clear didn’t I?
I even forgot to mention it to my doc when I went for repeat contraceptive pills in Sept. it wasn’t until Dec when I went for more pills (I had borrowed packs off my friend and sister in the summer and paid them back hence the revisit within a few months for more pills). I casually (thinking I was fussing over nothing again asked the doc to check out my breast and again got a referral to the one stop clinic. This time, I went on my own and only told my boss, BF and son. i even told the consultant not to worry about the lump as this was a cyst! I had a mammogram and ultrasound, biopsy and fine needle aspiration in the lymph nodes. I got my Dx on 23rd Dec (crappy christmas) and an attempted therapeutic mammoplasty on 10th Jan. My path results showed the tumour was 76mm and IDC of 94mm (600 gms removed)I had 4 nodes removed and all 4 showed cancer cells. I didn’t have clear margins either. I have chosen to have chemo now and then a Mx and a reduction on the other side as a g cup and no cup is just not fair(not really faced that yet). Will also have herceptin and tamoxifen and if not a hysterectomy, some injection to stop the ovaries working
Amazing isn’t it that a cyst less than a year ago can grow so quickly! I have asked how a cyst can turn into cancer and still don’t feel that I have been given an adequate answer. I’ve had ‘we’re getting a radiographer to have a look at the original diagnosis’ ‘we only do ultrasounds on younger women and it wasn’t apparent’ ‘mammograms are not routine for under 40’s’. Have also been told that I’ve probably been carrying this about for years so wonder why I got the cyst diagnosis. Not sure if I will take this further, I want to concentrate on getting better for now.
Really fed up today!
Hi lisa, what a long route to dx you had. No wonder you are feeling p****d off. I had mammogram plus ultrasound when i was dx, but just had first annual mammogram and they wouldnt ultrasound me, said its not necessary. Am not impressed with that. It seems there is little consistency. Hugs to you tho lisa, you’re in the middle of a rotten time but it will pass. Xxxx
I was called to have my first mamogram at the end of November,( I am 52) which I was not concerned about at all as I have always regularly checked my breasts, as my mother had bc, and had not noticed any changes at all. I was recalled 2 weeks later and had further mammograms, ultrasound and a biopsy and was told immediately that they suspected that there was cancer -it was high up near to my armpit and very hard to find by feel. I also had the confirmation of dx on 23rd December, so not great for Christmas! 18 mm IDC with 6/19 nodes affected. I think it is very good news that screening will start from 47 in future. I have afriend who is 56 who has refused to attend any screenings - so silly.
hi all i found mine by chcnce
it was at the end of the dreaded monthlys just had a shower and was sitting in bed watching a little tv when i placed my hand on my breast (left) i could feel a hard lump right under my fingers infact you could see it just to add this lump wasnt there the night before i called my daughter to come take a look and she too could see it so monday was off to doc to make sure doc said she thought it was a cyst as she could move it freely anyway with in 7 days i had an appointment throught for the bc wot you have to know is this wasnt my first time here 10 yrs ago i was here with a lump only to be told it was all todo with hormons and im one of many to have lumpy boobs also they put it also my mother had breast cancer some yrs back too so i didnt really know wot to think . had a lovely doctor who thought it was a cyst but was a bit more unsure cos of the shape so had scan from that he went and ask the top doc wot he thought he thought it was just a cyst too dont worrie but after a few words (between top doc and under dog ) i had a needle stuck in and fluid was taken out cyst yes so i thought he also did a fine needle test told to go have a cuppa dont worrie almost sure it was just a cyst well 30 mins later they drop the bomb shell it was bc and my story still goes on only thing that i didnt like was not once did the top doc say sorry to his under study who thought somethink wasnt right from the start
I had my first mammogram towards Jun’09 just before I was 50. That was clear and I used to check my breasts irregularly. Found a lump at the beginning of Dec '10. Saw my GP within a couple of days and got a referral to the breast clinic. I took up the offer of a cancellation there and after an examination, mammogram us and biopsy that day I left with the info that I almost certainly had BC and would need a lumpectomy and radiotherapy after confirmation. I had a lumpectomy and snb on 22nd Dec and needed a re-ex to get clear margins. I had 32mm stage 2 tumour and clear nodes.
I had a lumpy left breast all my life and had been referred to a breast clinic on two occasions. The last referral was in Feb 2009. My husband found a ‘hardness’ in the right breast in Jan 2010. I ignored it as I’d been for a mammogram and didn’t want to be one of the worried well. It did get bigger but so gradually that changes were hard to spot.
I had a routine smear in September. The practice nurse at my GP surgery asked me about breast checking and I told her about the changes. She told me to see the GP.
Even when I went to the breast clinic, I was convinced they would send me home and it would be nothing, as before. This was until the tests. I remember someone came in to take a core biopsy from my breast an FNA from my armpit. I was in such shock that I signed the forms and just lay on my side and wept very quietly.
Seeing the surgeon afterwards was hard as I was on my own. His words were: “We have found something and I need you to come back next week. You should bring someone with you.”
I don’t know how I drove home from the hospital, or how I got through the next ten days.
I went back to the clinic on the 14th October.The news was no surprise but I was shocked by the size and spread. I had chemo upfront (FECT), mastectomy and axillary clearance. My tumours (several due to crumbling effect of chemo) measured 140mm, 9/12 nodes affected, plus vascular invasion in breast and lymph fat. I am not large breasted and still feel really stupid for not going to the GP when the thickening was first found. I suppose I expected anything sinister to be a definite lump, like the lumps I had experienced in the left breast.
I am very grateful for the practice nurse who asked the right question and made me see the GP. She may have saved my life.
This is a great thread and it has felt really liberating to share my experience and I feel very humbled by reading others’ stories.
Adding to my earlier post on this thread.
I’d been referred from my GP to the breast consultant a few years earlier (age 47) when I’d found a thickened area in my breast, which they checked with a fine needle biopsy and turned out to be a number of small cysts. So when I found a similar feeling patch again (age 50), which I thought was in the same place, I ignored it for a while thinking it was just cysts again, and after all I’d had a clear mammogram only a year or so earlier so it should be OK. Then I felt a lump next to the thickened area and thought I’d better get it checked. My GP thought it wasn’t anything to worry about and that I’d got lumpy breasts, but I should get it checked out anyway. Thank goodness for that! The lump turned out to be a cyst again, but it was the thickened patch that was cancer. And I was wrong in thinking it was in the same place as the last time - it was the other breast. It just shows how relying on your memory of earlier health problems can be a mistake - and how it pays to play it safe.
Sarah x
hi ive been having routine mammograms since my early 20s. my auntie and mum both had breast cancer. it was a routine mammogram that found my lump. xxx gaynor
I was visiting my mother and after a 4 hour drive had a pain in my left breast that came an went for 48 hours. I went to the Dr and she thought she could feel a small lump, I could too but as I had ‘done everything right’ she tried to reassure me it would be ok. Saw the surgeon, he could hardly feel it but sent me on the one stop road. I had mammogram, showed nothing, had ultrasound scan, the radiographer looked worried. Had another mammogram with enlargment plates, still showed nothing clearly. I was told I had the breast of a 30 year old woman, I’m 57. Too dense to see anything clearly on the mammogram. They took a biopsy from the lump and a week later was told Grade 2 DCIS. Went through WLE but only 2 sentinal lymph nodes taken due to new procedure, microbubbles, which allowed a biopsy of my sentinal nodes before the op which showed clear. They take 2 during the op just to be sure and they were rechecked. Still clear. The bad news was I was upgraded to Grade 3.
I then had to choose for myself whether or not to have Chemo or just go with rads and Femera. Thanks to this website I received lots of useful opinions and am now on day 11 of FEC 1.
I missed a routine mammogram last JUune due to appointment coming for when I was on holiday. I phoned from Dover docks with the appointment letter in my hand that had arrived that morning. Didn’t rush to make another appointment and lucky for me I didn’t as it wouldn’t have shown the lump and I might have ignored the pain, thinking eveything was ok.
Hi I found my lump while showering, it was quite prominent and hard and I hadn’t noticed it before. I went straight to my doctor who referred me to the hospital.
I had a needle thingy to see if it was a cist, I think because of my age, 30, the doctor had first thought that this was more likely. Nothing came out with the needle so I had a mammogram and an ultra sound and a needle biopsy (which was so bloody painful I nearly kicked the doctor) Nothing showed on these apart from abnormal cells and I had a moment of hope when the doctor doing the ultra sound said she though that everything looked normal and she didn’t think there was anything to worry about.
But thank goodness, my specialist wasn’t happy to leave it at that so did a core biopsy which showed it was indeed BC and was about 2 cm.
When I think what could have happened if I hadn’t noticed it or had not gone to the GP or if the specialist hadn’t done further checks, it’s scary.
I had a lumpectomy and nodes removed for testing. The lump had grown onto a lymph note but not into it, and the margins were clear.
I am now on my last fec chemo which is this week thank God then onto rads x20 then Herceptin. But I have decided to take part in clinical trials which you have Herceptin for 6 months or a year to see how effective 6 months will be in the hope it can limit any heart damage done by having it for 12 months, anythings worth a try.
I have also been having Zoladex injections, much to my dismay but in hope of preserving my fertility (fingers, toes and eyes crossed) I have been having terrible hot flushes, to the point of almost having to swim out of bed in the morning
Going back to work in 3 weeks so can feel like I’m getting back to normality. My hair started growing back 2 weeks ago but I look like a baby chick But I have been lucky apart from some sickness for a few days after chemo I have been really well and stayed really positive, here’s to staying strong and beating this thing
I had no lump but noticed while in the shower that my nipple looked different, one was flat, also i just hadnt felt right for a couple of months, really tired mostly, i already had an appointment to see my doctor so mentioned it, she said the top of my nipple had a thickening so referred me. The rest is history!
Hello I am newly diagnosed 21st April. Got lobular cancer, went undetected for two years. Presented with sysmptoms but told it was begnine hormonal changes. Almost relieved when finally diagnosed. Had MRI showed just in one breast although multiple sites. Has anyone else been misdiagnosed with this type of cancer? Feel so angry now, as may have avoided mastectomy, which I now face.
i had a thickened area on upper right breast felt muscular but different went to a lady gp she had good feel but said it didnt feel like anything to worry about so was pleased, went away but it was worrying me just felt odd and bigger went to male gp about 8 wks later he referred me straight away to breast clinic, just wish she had been more vigil or that i had gone back sooner maybe it wouldnt have been in lymph nodes who knows? did write to surgery didnt want her turning other women away got a letter of apology from head gp there saying they would have a meeting to stress this happening and how lumps must be referred.have always been breast aware took my eye off the game for few months due to job change and daughters wedding and it was suddenly there!the rest is history …well actually very much the present.x
I went to see my GP when I found a lump - after examining me she said she did not think it was anything to worry about but because I was worried she would refer me to the Breast Clinic. Subsequent mamogram, ultrasound and biopsy proved her right, it was just a harmless mass. However, these tests did pick up another lump that I had no idea about and that unfortunately was cancer. It was quite deep inside my breast so I would not have noticed it for a long time and I was not due to start routine mamograms for another 4 years. I therefore feel really lucky that it was found by accident - I dread to think what the outcome would have been otherwise.
i too was misdiagnosed at 36 eventually dx at 40 with large tumour, this was mixed ilc/idc and ilc throughout breast area, i too underwent mastectomy ETC…I was told it was a fybroadenoma by gp.
i had noticed lump, then 4years later dimpling and breast distortion.
I am still here and 2 years ned.very lucky I have been told.
hi
i was diagnosed in jan at the age of 27 i kept on feeling a ache in my left breast was convinced my youngest daughter aged 2 kept on elbowing me there whilst climbing on me all the time!i was also pregnant at the start of january but miscarried 3 days after my diagnosis i think at the time i put the change in my breast down to them 2 things i rubbed my breast as it hurt and i found a lump but saying that around 2 months earlier dry skin appeared in the area i later found the lump. i’ve never self checked as no one in my family or anyone i know has had breast cancer. i was under the impression that people over 50 get breast cancer as that is the age the nhs offer screening. what done my head in was in december i went to my gp about my lump/aches in my breast and he said if i was 45 i would be going to hospital faster than my feet touched the floor! but due to my age it was proberly a cyst (sorry forgot how to spell it), the gp said come back in 4 weeks then 2nd week of january. but my partner was concerned as my breast was really starting to ache 2 visits later (no way was i waiting 4 weeks with that pain) i got a refferal to breast clinic at local hospital they did a scan and a core biopsy. 2 weeks later on the 7th of january was my results. i never even thourght that my lump was breast cancer. when the surgeon told me i was in complete shock. i went back to the gp on the 10th of jan as i was miscarrying and told him his cyst was grade 2 breast cancer and i asked him why didn’t he reffer me asap? his answer was people your age do not normally have breast cancer. i do think screening should be reduced to 20 as i have seen posts on here with younger women than me
I dont self exam, or go for screening. one morning i was in bed, with my pint mug of tea resting on my left breast as usaul, when for some reason i rubbed my breast. the mug had dragged it over to one side. my fingers brushed against a pea size lump. i sat up and then could not find it so got on with my morning. when i got up and got dressed i looked in the mirror and to my horror saw a dimple, as if my breast was play dough and somone had poked their little finger in. proded the dent and there was the lump.went to the gp and now going for a one stop screening in two days. All a bit scarey, but I cannot believe it is something bad. Still think i am going to waste their time. I suppose that is good that it means i can enjoy the time before my results. mind you have just discovered lots of moles on the underside of that breast. old and saggy so not looked at that bit for ages. hope its a co-incidence. The other breast has no moles
I didnt have any lump or symptoms, but was having yearly mamograms due to family history. I had my usual mamogram beginning of Feb and thought nothing more about it and waited for the all clear letter to come through the post. A week later a letter arrived telling me I need to go back for further tests. I knew then that I had cancer. Not sure why but it was a gut feeling. Low and behold I was diagnosed with high grace dcis ten days later and had a lumpectomy and then was diagnosed with two invasive tumours as well. I have been incredibly calm throughout the whole thing, and have amazed myself with how I have managed to be so positive about it all.
