HI
IVE JUST BEEN TO THE DOCS TODAY AND THEYVE GIVING ME AN APPOINTMENT FOR 6WKS TIME FOR MAMMOGRAM. I HAVE A LUMP ITS SITUATED AT THE TOP OF MY LEFT BREAST ITS INLINE WITH MY BREAST BONE. NOW IF THE DOCTOR WAS THAT WORRIED HE WOULD HAVE GOT ME IN EARLIER? IS THIS RIGHT? ANY ADVICE WOULD BE GOOD HEAR.
THANKYOU
KEL73
Hi Kel, I think if the doctor is very worried they usually get you seen within two weeks BUT I would definately harrass them to see you sooner, I was told three times my lump was nothing to worry about and not to get anxious waiting for a mammo well surprise surprise mine was cancer and had spread to the nodes by the time I was seen, my motto now is a good lump is a lump in a jar!!!
Get at em…6 weeks is too long.
Ps I paid for an ultrasound I got so sick of waiting it cost me £300 at Bupa but was obviously worth every penny
If your GP was seriously concerned about the lump then he would have made an urgent referral and you would have been expected to have an appointment within 2 weeks.
I was seen the same week but only because I had private medical insurance and when I spoke to the BC nurse at the hospital that did my radiotherapy I mentioned that I had initial diagnoses and surgery done private due to the waiting list for the NHS clinic and she told me that in the big scheme of things a delay of 4-6 weeks would have made no difference to the outcome, other than the psychological side of things of course.
I won’t say try not to worry cos I know we all do. What I would advise is to be very careful about the amount of research you do at this stage - there is so much scary information about breast cancer on the internet and it is too easy to read too much and scare yourself rigid.
Hi there,
I thought there was a maximum of 2 weeks before they had to see you?
I agree with nixxic - even for me 2 weeks was too much of an agonizing wait and I went privately (I do have private medical care but would have paid anyway) to a one-stop clinic where they should do all the tests there and then. I went to my GP last Wednesday with a lump and saw a breast consultant on Friday - had an ultrasound, fine needle aspiration and core biopsy (they found 2 lumps).
Anyway, results today, a week later, and all is fine. They’re lactatin adenomas which happens in pregnant women (I’m 39 and a half weeks pregnant), but during the ultrasound, they said it wasn’t related to the pregnancy so I was extremely nervous.
Hope all is well with you nixxic -
dandushx
Hi Kel. You are lucky you only have to wait six weeks i have bc in the family and i have got pain in right breast got to wait eight weeks to get it looked at im scared stiff not sure what to do or say to my kids about it my hubby is putting his head in the sand and hoping it all goes away i lost my aunt to bc scared ive got it. just hope you can get seen sooner rather than later. try to get it sorted out please.
As far as i was told by my doctor everyone that they see for a lump has appoint ment within 10 days for mamo so I would chase him tell him your worried sick, cant wait etc anything to get that appointment sooner you pay for it use it hun
Joanne
I think i’ll have to get intouch with docs as im getting worried now and i’ve still got 6wks!! thankyou.
I think you should have been referred under the 2 weeks rule as per the nice guidelines:
Urgent referrals to a specialist breast clinic
According to the NICE guidelines, you should ideally get an appointment within 2 weeks for an urgent referral. The guidelines list symptoms that generally mean your GP should refer you to a specialist within 2 weeks. But they also point out that the GP has to use their own judgement. For instance, they say it may be appropriate to refer someone even more urgently if they’ve had a worrying symptom for months, but not been to the doctor before.
The symptoms that need urgent referral for possible cancer of the breast are
* A fixed, hard lump in the breast at any age
* Women aged 30 or over who have a lump that is still there after their next period
* A women with a lump that appears after menopause
* Women under 30 with a lump that is getting bigger, is fixed and hard or who have other particular reasons for concern, such as a strong family history of breast cancer
* Anyone who has had breast cancer before and has another lump or other suspicious symptoms
* A rash on one nipple or in the surrounding area (this is very rare), that has not responded to treatment
* Nipples that have turned in (inverted) recently
* Blood stained discharge from the nipple for no apparent reason
* Men, aged 50 or over with a firm lump under one nipple, with or without changes in nipple shape or to the surrounding skin
Source: cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=5522#Top
I would personally go back with this list and politely ask why you haven’t been referred under this rule. There’s may be a good reason but the doc should tell you.
Hope this helps.
Angie
GET onto Doc kel 73 You will go bonkers waiting that long. Bobbie
Dear Kel,if you don’t mind me asking,how old are you?I would definitely demand another,sooner appointment.Hope you’re ok.Best wishes x
hi dita
im 35 years old. i also have breast implants ive had them about 3 years now. ive always felt the implants but this is definately different. the doctor felt the lump he didnt examine anywhere else but adviced to go for a scan.
Hi Kel73
I just wanted to let you know that you are welcome to call our freephone helpline for some advice if you are concerned about your appointment waiting time, you can call on 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Lucy