I’m a 23 year old female and a few days ago I notice a very hard lump about 2 cm embeded in the tissue above my nipple just by chance. I normally self check while in the shower and never really knew what I was looking for! My breasts are a D cup and have always been a bit ‘lumpy’.
While in bed I rolled over and my hand brushed against my breast and I knew it wasn’t something I had felt before. I was quite calm untill I googled it! Now I can feel it under my skin when standing up through my clothes. You can’t see any lump protruding but I can feel it.
I went to my Doctors this morning and he had a good feel and noticed it straigh away. He said it ‘doesn’t seem too sinister’ and because of my age it’s unlickely to be cancer. But he has asked for me to return in one month to see if it is still there and if it is he will refer me. I don’t know if I am being overly paranoid now but I just have this gut wrenching feeling. I’m wondering if I was an older woman would they have referred me straight away. So I now have a whole month of just waiting to see if it goes away and well I’m just concerned. I have no family history of bc either but I know my breasts and Im worried.
anyone else been in this situation?
Hello Tenamand
Welcome to the forums, this must be a very difficult time for you. I’m sure other users will be along to support you soon.
In the meantime, maybe you would like to talk things through with a member of our helpline staff who are there to offer emotional support as well as practical information. The free phone number is 0808 800 6000 and the lines are open Monday to Friday 9.00 to 5.00 and Saturday 10.00 to 2.00.
Best wishes
June, moderator
Hi Tenamand
If you are very anxious please go back to your GP and explain. If the lump is palpable I see no reason why they wouldn’t refere you to the local breast clinic just to put your mind at ease. Four weeks is an awful long time to wait if you’re worried.
Hope you get on ok
Karen
Thank you for your concern Karen, I think I will give it two weeks then go back. I think he wants to check its not just hormones but I have never had breast issues while having my period before and it just doesn’t seem right.
Hi
you might want to call the helpline and discuss Your situation. They are very helpful and know a lot of details.
the reason for a 4week wait is maybe to see if your hormones make it disappear. If it is still there, ask GP for a 14 day referral.
Two things to remember, 90 per cent are all clear on referral and BC goes no where fast. You have done the right thing in starting the process, which is important.
best wishes
Hello everyone just to update you I wanted to post, I had my period and waited a week and the lump is still there. I went back to the docs today and he said I shouldnt worry but hes referred me to the breast clinic. I was hoping he would also mention the word cyst or breast mouse but he didnt so Im not sure if im being paranoid! He also said I might have to wait up to 6 weeks for my apt so I have decided for a private referral and pay for it. I hope its nothing but I just want to know now! Not sure what to ecpect at the clinic as im only 23. Anybody else been in a similar situation. There isnt any change in the lump so far is that a bad thing or good thing?
Sorry for all the questions! Thanks
Waiting 6 weeks is too long - tell GP you would like an urgent referral - i.e. no more than 2 weeks!
Hi, I have been popping into the forum as a guest for the past 2 weeks and decided to register today, a part of me felt i had no right to post after reading so many heartfelt journey’s.I just discovered a lump 2 wks ago (under right nipple, origionally quite large) saw the GP within 2 days, she was confident that it was nothing ‘nasty’ possible cyst or fibro and requested that i wait a week until i had a period, after my initial panic I thought ’ get a grip listen to the gp its all going to be good’, I returned today, the lump seems to have gone down, GP checked again and said that’s not the lump i felt last week, so i now have 2, one seems quite flat and smooth and the other feels a bit ‘knobbly’! if thats the right word, she has made a ref to the breast clinic and said i will be seen within the next 2 wks, im a bit worried as im away most of next week, which she frowned at! but told me to go with plenty of sun cream!!
I occasionaly feel a tingling,pin feeling in the area and a couple of times a ‘stabbing’ pain, crossing everything and going to TRY and put it to the back of my mind until the appt, anyway, thats little old me, I will continue to pop on and read this forum which out of all the sites I have visited makes the most sense! gd luck everyone x
Hi jam1
It is a scary thing when you find a lump, but sharing it with other people really does help! My partner isnt a man of many words and just posted on here has made me feel far better. From reaading everyone else post it seems the waiting is the hardest but try not to let it spoil your holiday! You’ve been to see your gp so that’s a start. Keep us posted!
T
Hello,
i just wanted to say hi and send you some support during the worst part…the waiting.
I had a terrible few weeks of waiting and it’s so easy to let the worry totally consume you. Try to keep yourself as busy as possible and don’t go googling because it’ll scare the hell out of you for no good reason. When is your appointment? The clinic is nothing to worry about. I had almost every test going and it was all pretty straightforward…I just kept thinking that I was just glad to be there and that the waiting was over.
I too considered paying privately as my local hospital said after a 2 week wait that I had another 8 week wait to go, despite my GP making an urgent referral because of a family history!. In the end for me, my GP made a million phone calls and referred me to another hospital a bit further away and I was seen in another 2 weeks. I would have paid privately though if she hadn’t have gotten involved, so I would agree with you there…I guess if you can afford it then do it.
I’m 33 so you’re much younger, but if you need a shoulder or an ear to vent to, please feel free to get in touch. It wasn’t great news for me but I’m a positive little madam who has every intention of getting over this hurdle and then getting on with the rest of my life as planned 
All the best of luck, look after yourself,
Kam. x
National guidlines which your GP is obliged to follow direct him/her to refer you within 2 weeks after initial consultation with your GP to a local NHS one-stop breast clinic. That is your right as a citizen and your GP should not be making you wait or causing any delay in your finding out what is causing the lump in your breast. All the more reason because you are young. Good luck!
Hi both,
Thankyou for your friendly advice I really appreciate it, unfortunately because of my age my gp was honest and said they would probably put me to back of the list. So a six week wait could be expected, I also think I’m doing the right thing by paying at least if its all ok I can get on with things! Fingers crossed! I spoke to the receptionist today and she said my referral would be ready tomorrow with a day and time but I guess because I am paying it would be within the next week? I will keep you updated, I think it will all be ok as I am so young and the odds are in my favor. Im sorry that you are all going through this!
T
thanks T, I hope the appt letter will be here when i get back, the emotional turmoil is surreal, total calmness one min and then serious freak out! for now ill take my lumps on hols and see how things go, will miss coming on here, but i will be back in 5 days, best wishes to everyone x
p.s because I am in Wales I do not have to be seen within 2 weeks like in England.
Hi all,
I just wanted to update you! I paid to see a consultant hoping it would just put my mind at ease. Unfortunatly it didn’t! He spent all of about 30 seconds having a feel and once he was finished, his words were ‘well I can see why you were worried, it is a bit irregular isn’t it, but because of your age (23) its probably a fibroadenoma. We need to do more test and investigate it more but because your self paying you may want to wait for the nhs appointment as it will get expensive’
So here I am back to square one and none the wiser. My appointment is on the 24th of April a good 4 weeks away, I just don’t really know what to think now. 1. its a good sign that my apt is taking so long. 2. why did he say it was a bit irregular. 3. He’s pretty sure its fibroadenoma (even though he barely spent any time feeling it, my gp was far more thorough) 4. If he’s so sure why am I having more tests.
I know he has to cover himself by doing more tests and he tried to reassure me but why go on about how irregular it is and say he could see why I was worried and then say it’s nothing but we will need to do more tests.
Oh well sorry for rambling on, I hope it is nothing but the waiting is driving me mad and could anyone explain to me what they mean when they say ‘moveable’ because mine moves slightly but is always stuck in the same place if that makes any sense at all!
I hope your all well,
Tenamand
How frustrating for you! I know how you feel about the 30 second prod about - experts or not it’s hard to have confidence in their opinion when they spend so little time examining you ( I had a similar experience recently, and it didn’t do much to reassure me either).
To answer yoru questions, any prominent palpable lump is irregular and wouldn’t be a ‘normal’ finding in any womans breast - even fibrocystic breasts present with lots of lumpiness rather than a single lump. Statistically what you have is unlikely to be BC, and more likely to be a Fibroadenoma. The fact that it moves a little might have been what added to his suspicion that what you have is a benign condition. ( they tend to slip about under the fingers, hence ‘breast mouse’)
HOWEVER - you are an individual, not a statistic, and until that lump is tested no one, not even a consultant can be sure of its exact nature.
The waiting for the appointement is going to be hard, it always is, but you will be able to get some answers when you get there. Even if your lump is something to worry about, another few weeks wont make a huge difference to it. It might be worth noting that younger women tend to have dense breast tissue, so lumps and bumps can get missed on mammograms, bear in mind an ultrasound might be better for you - so ask for one if they don’t offer. Also, if they can’t prove to you through imaging that what you have is a benign lump, insist that they do a biopsy and prove to you that what you have isn’t a serious condition.
I’m so sorry you are having to go through this, waiting is ten kinds of torture. Wishing you all the best.
Hi at45,
Thank you for the response, I’m glad I’m not the only one who has experienced the 30 second prod! It’s awful the waiting and its sad that so many people are in the same boat. It weird how until 4 weeks ago I knew nothing about breast lumps and now that’s all i can think about. The consultant said I would be having an ultrasound and put it on his notes and told me depending on the results of that I may need a biopsy. I really hope it is nothing but I just get filled with dread when I feel it. I will be sure to update you when I know more. I hope your well and thank you again for replying. It’s nice to speak to people that are going through or have been through the same feelings!
tenamand x
I’m hoping it’s nothing too, but I know that feeling of constantly wondering - here’s to the next four weeks whizzing by!
Please do let us (me) know how you get on, I will keep an eye out for your posts. This is a good place to vent when you need to 
Take care, and do some nice things for yourself while you are wating.
Hi all,
I thought I would update you! After speaking to the secretary last week and being told my apt would be on the 24th of April I still had not recieved a letter. I called today to find out what was going on and was told that there was no appointment on the system for me and that she would check with bookings and call me back.
She called me back and informed me that due to a back log my apt would now be the 1st of May making it 3 months since I found my lump. I am so angry and frustrated I just feel like crying. How is this atall acceptable? It means that it would take a whole 6 weeks for me to be seen and have an ultrasound. It’s starting to feel like a bit of a joke now. You always see campaigns about breast awareness and self checking, well being a proactive person I have done that. I found the lump myself and I feel like nobody is taking me serious. I just don’t really know what else to do now, I just feel so fed up I just can’t be bothered to actually care anymore! And also the person who referred me is the head clinician who I saw at the private clinic, he has referred me to himself on nhs, so it’s not like I can complain to my gp?
Sorry for rambling on but I just needed a good rant! Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks for your time in advance
Tenamand x
p.s because I am in Wales not England I do not have to be seen within two weeks.
Oh Tenamand, what a lousy, lousy situation! I’m so sorry to hear things have been yet further delayed for you. Please don’t give up - your health IS important, despite you having to deal with a s****y system. The only advice I can offer is to suggest you contact PALS at the hospital and tell them about this experience - they may be able to get you seen quicker. I’m going to do some homework on what happens in Wales with these things and see if I can come up with anyhting better for you. In the meantime, know I am thinking of you - I have been watching for your posts to see how you were getting on. I’m here if you need to rant to someone 