I found a lump on friday went to the doctors on monday and have a referal to my local breast clinic on thursday tomorrow. I am convinced that the speed indicates my GP’s concerns and that it must be malignant . Although the rational part of me knows that all referrals are due to a suspicious lump.
I am 33 and adopted but I know that my birth mother had bc in her thirties. I have looked at the various info on some web site and find it all quite overwheling regarding statistics etc, hopefully I will know tomorrow one way or the other with the family history I am prepared for bad news but trying to stay tearfully positive.
I have added a link to a Breast Cancer Care publication on “Referral to a breast clinic” that you may find helpful and please feel free to contact our confidential helpline, our team of specialist nurses are able to offer you further support and information. The helpline number is 0808 800 6000 and it is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm.
Hi Hollymay.
The waiting game is definatley the hard part! I am currently waiting on my appointment to come through! Like you I have read all the statistics and convinced myself of the worst! All I can recommend is positive thinking and if you really want to offload then use this forum! Everyone is so kind and supportive, it really is great to know you’re not alone!
Good Luck!
Em x x x
The time it takes for the referral etc to be made varies in each area. Referrals marked urgent can take up to 2- 4 weeks in some parts of the country. Take the view that you are fortunate to be seen quickly, as your local NHS trust is organised! (I am assuming you are having NHS treatment, if it is private then I would have expected a rapid referral). Don’t look too deeply into it, at least you are getting the tests over and done with quickly. It sounds like you have an excellent GP who has followed the BC protocol- they are few and far between.
Stay positive and good luck. Let us know how you get on.
Hi Hollymay,hope everything goes well for you.Five years ago I found a lump.I went to the doctors on the Tuesday and was at the breast clinic on the Friday.It all turned out to be fine.This time,I went to the doctors on the Monday and have a 2 week wait to.My appointment is the 23rd October.Don’t know why I got seen earlier 5 years ago,maybe things have changed in this area.
Like many of the ladies using this site referrals are quick, not wanting to be at all political here but it is part of targets to speed up times between referral and treatment (If needed).
Please do not feel that because of the speed it means you have BC, in fact like emma6979 says the waiting becomes the hard part.
You sound like me in wanting to know as much as possible about BC as possible. Going by my experience I would say try not to read too much at this time perhaps just enough to ask questions should you need to. I found having a note book with me at consultations helped. I had questions written in advance, but most were answered before I asked them, I also took notes on what was said to me. Reading may scare you unnecessarily and there are too many scenario’s to get your head round until you know whats what.
I really really hope you do not have to ‘join this club’ but if you do there are an amazing amount of treatments, support and positive stories out there.
Just wanted to wish you good luck for your appointment today. If (and its a big IF) it turns out to be bad news, please don’t despair, we’re all here for you if you need us.
I would think myself lucky with this one at this stage! If I had been seen that quick my tumour ‘may not’ have gotten so large and I may not have needed a Mastectomy?
I’m a nurse and I worked until my DX, predominantly in surgery. So I had an inkling of what could be up with me, yet I guess I’m one of those lucky or maybe unfortunates that has to be positive about everything. I spent hours and hours trolling & researching on line, read through my books and notes from Uni. I totally convinced myself that it was a fibroadenoma and nothing to worry about! I sat in the consulting room after 3 MONTHS of investigations and you could have knocked me over with the shock of what he said!
In fact to be totally honest I have carried this positivity right through from last April (when I saw GP) through to about April this year when I had the all clear… now I am a wreck and I am struggling… but hey that’s another story
hI Hollymay
It is just awful playing the waiting game but hopefully everything will be fine. Good luck and please let us all know how you get on. I only joined this site a few days ago and already find it a tower of strength. Thanks to you all
Sandra
