OMG i’ve at last found the courage to actually write on here, i’ve been reading questions, answers on here for the last week & wanting to write but felt as if there is more deserving people then me that actually need help & advice, well after yet another sleepless night maybe i do need the help & advice that you wonderful women give. Please bear with me if i go on & on, found a lump beginning of Dec09, thought no it’s not “a lump” i wouldn’t have 1 those, Christmas Day comes & our poor Sally Webster tells Kev the news. I tell myself right then girl it does happen, i had a good feel that night & yes i could definately feel a lump, done loads of research as i didn’t want my Dr to say well it could be this or this, & me sat there thinking whattttt. I went last Monday still half expecting him to say that’s normal it’s always there, but he didn’t he confirmed that it is a lump, 80% of lumps are benign, he said if i am in the 20% it’s early & small!!! i’v had blood tests & waiting for an appointment for a scan & biopsy which he said would be about 2 weeks, is this the norm??? I have no pain whatsoever the only sensation i’v had recently is like a deep burning sensation in the lump, Thank you so much for listening to me, any advice would be hugely welcome, You’re all an inspiration honestly. ( i feel better already)
Hi helzbelz,
You have done the right thing getting your lump checked out. Your doctor is right that lumps are usually benign, being a breast cyst or a benign fibroadenoma. But all breast lumps found are referred under what the medical profession term ‘the two week rule’. It just means that you will be seen within 2 weeks for mammogram and ultrasound to hopefully exclude anything suspicious. Don’t worry too much as it is normal and good luck with the appointment.
Hi helzbelz
Welcome to the forums where I’m sure you’ll get lots of support. While you’re waiting for your fellow forum users to reply, I’ve put for you below the link to one of BCC’s publications ‘Referral to a breast clinic’ which you may find helpful to read:
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/referral_redesign__final_14_feb_08_0.pdf
If you wish to talk things through at any point please call our helpline on 0808 800 6000, it’s open weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2, our team of specialist nurses and trained helpliners are there to support you.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Helzbelz,
Well done on finding the courage to get your lump checked out, I was exactly the same when I found my lump in October - tried to convince myself that I was imagining it / it would go / it was hormonal etc etc - but finally gave in and visited the GP at the beginning of November. Very glad now I didn’t put it off any longer!
Your doctor is right that the majority of lumps are benign so try to hold onto that for reassurance while you wait. I don’t think the presence or absence of pain is much of a clue as to the cause of the lump unfortunately, I know of women whose lumps were cancerous who had no pain while mine was very sore, equally there are many women whose lumps were simple cysts that were also pain free.
As far as the wait for tests is concerned most NHS referrals for investigation of breast lumps are classed as urgent which means you should get an appointment within 2 weeks so, yes, 2 weeks is the norm.
Hope you get an appointment through quickly and the time goes fast for you - the waiting is by far the worst part.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.
Linda
xx
Hi helzbelz,
You’ve done one of the most difficult bits in taking that first step and going to GP. There is a rule whereby referrals are supposed to be within 2 weeks.The waiting around with all the uncertainty is the worst bit. I won’t say you’ll be in the 80% but if you are unlucky enough to be in the 20%, you’ll get plenty of help and advice from those on here who’ve been through it.
Good luck anyway, Liz
Hi Helzbelz
hey that just what i did , looked on from the touch line for a while. No point saying don’t worry, but just ask away, and don’t let your imagination run away with you. Your doing the right thing getting the lump checked. waiting is hard work, but hang on in there let us know how it goes.
rhian x
helzbelz youve done the right thing getting yourv lump checked, you will probely get a appt quickers as others have said they have guide lines, the waiting is the worst, i know its hard but try to occupie your mind, doesent help when its on the tv aswel
i do hope you get good news julie x
Hi Everyone, Thank you all so very much for all your comments, I can’t believe i’m here talking with you all, i guess this is what everyone thinks too, but last week i was the only 1 in the whole wide world 2 have “a lump”, now of course im in the real world found this amazing site & more amazing people, once again thank you .
Love Helzbelz xx
My appointment came today, Wednesday 3rd Feb, there was no info in the letter & no mention of a breast clinic, is this the norm??? Thanks again
Helzbelz
Breast cancer care has a leaflet on what to expect at the breast clinic. One of the hospitals I went to sent out information, the other one did nothing so I think practice varies.
Mole
Hi helzbelz.
Here is a link to the BCC info on what happens at the hospital.
breastcancercare.org.uk/upload/pdf/referral_redesign__final_14_feb_08_0.pdf
Good luck with your appointment. We all know waiting is very hard.
Jan xx
Good luck on Wednesday, Helzbelz. (wish I’d thought of that name)
Not too long to wait thank goodness.
Love Alison.x
hi
i was refered straight to a breast care clinic , i suppose its different were you live
take care julie x
Hi Helzbelz, well done going to your GP and good luck for Wednesday.All the ladies are right, the waiting IS the hardest.Please let us know how you get on and we will be thinking of you.
Ann
Thank you all so much for taking the time & talking to me the last 2 weeks, i went to my hospital apointment on wednesday & yes exactly as all you wonderful ladies told me would happen, did, the treatment i recieved was 1st class. I have a benign lump, no treatment at the moment, if it gets bigger or im concerned about appearance i can ring the breast care nurse & they’ll get me an appointment if not i go in 6 months for another mammogram, wat the Dr said then “that’s now maybe it’ll be diferent next time”, have any one been in this mode i am absolutely thrilled that there is nothing serious, maybe a little guilty that i am ok when so many of you wonderful ladies are not as fortunate, & also is this lump like a time bomb waiting to change, im in the mirror all the time looking or got my hand down my top feeling, am i normal???
Thank you again Helzbelz xxx
Yeeeha! helzbelz. Great to hear good news. Don’t feel in the least guilty. I personally like to hear about ones who get away and I’m sure most of us do.
You’ve had a scare and it’s bound to take a while for the worry to go away. Hopefully you’ll think about it less and less every day until eventually you relax.
best wishes
Jan xxx
Thanks Jan for your comforting words, 4wks on my lump is still there, no bigger thank goodness although there is still this burning/stinging deep sensation right in my nipple, The tiredness is still the same & also now i’v got a lovely bald patch (10p size), the top of my head. Thank you for listening to me again & any advice would be so grateful, love to you all
Helzbelz xxxx