I am currently on the 2WW pathway and have my appointment with the breast clinic on 24th August. I found what I felt was a lump in my right breast coming up for 2 weeks ago. Made appointment the next day and saw a nurse practitioner. She felt my breast briefly and said she could feel a thickening and that she would refer me and I’d be seen in a breast clinic. Has anyone else had breast tissue thickening and not a lump? I have been reading through a lot of the topics and the majority speak of a lump. I should also mention I have breast implants.
I was surprised I didn’t have a more in depth examination but I can only think it’s due to not being an expert in breasts and so the nurse felt I’d be better having a proper examination with the correct clinic.
Just wondered if anyone here had a thickening and not a lump and what was the outcome xx
Hello, yes, I had what I would call a mass. It felt thicker, flat, definitely would not describe it as a lump. The nurse would/ should refer you for any changes you have noticed. They cannot tell what it is by feeling it. Try not to worry, most referrals turn out to be nothing of concern. It is imprtant to check and good that they are thorough x
Thank you for your reply… If you don’t mind me asking, did yours turn out to be cancerous? I’m trying to be positive but can’t help keep thinking what if X
Hi, my small but aggressive breast cancer first felt like a slight hardening or thickening of the skin. The nurses at the breast clinics are very experienced at picking up small abnormalities so you’re in the right hands..good luck, as you say, it might be something to do with your enhancements.
I am afraid mine was cancer. I am sorry, that’s not what you want to hear. Best to try stay positive, I know it is difficult not to worry but I have wasted so much energy on unnecessary worry these past few years. Distract yourself if you can. I do hope it turns out to be good news for you x
Hello Nika… Thank you for taking the time to reply. I am hoping it will be scar tissue and nothing sinister. Trying to stay positive but also want to be prepared for the what if’s.
Please don’t apologise. I believe it is good to hear the good the bad and the ugly so that we are prepared for the worst case scenario. Trying to stay positive for the 24th.
Thank you for taking the time to reply. Most of the posts on here talk about finding a lump and not so much a mass or thickening, although when I initially found it, I feel it felt like a lump. I am keeping positive for the 24th.
I’ve had various thickening (often hormone related), a fibroadenoma and a cyst.
My last referral to breast clinic was about lumpiness I felt was related to my HRT. That was definitely the case but whilst it was being checked I was very lucky they found a tiny lump which was too small to be felt yet. As a result my treatment was shorter and simpler.
As others have said most breast cancer clinic referrals aren’t cancer but it is always worth getting things checked.
Hello and so sorry you’re in the anxious wait club! Well done for getting checked
I had an area of what felt like thickening as opposed to a well defined lump which is why I went to the breast clinic unfortunately for me it was cancer but the lady next to me with the same thickening was fine the majority are so that important to remember too good luck and wishing you well x
I had a routine mammogram and was shocked when I was recalled. I had a thickening but could not feel anything. After the usual biopsies etc I had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy. My cancer was oestrogen positive so I am on Letrozole and Ibandronic acid and Adcal. Good luck with your diagnosis.
Mine was a thickening that neither myself nor my GP detected, but the consultant detected immediately, the way she performed the check was very different, with the whole flat of her hand and firmer pressure. I then wondered how I could have missed it. (I’d gone with changes to the nipple)
I had invasive lobular carcinoma which tends not to form a lump.
That said, there’s every chance yours will be scar tissue or similar. The waiting is the worst!
Best wishes to you and hopefully you will have better information soon.
Not sure if this will help but have you had radiotherapy? I had implants and after the radiotherapy (I also had surgery and chemo) my breast became very hard. Some of this was due to scar tissue but also capsular contraction affected the implant. Subsequently both implants have now been removed. The hard scar tissue still remains.
I have a thickening. Feels like a hard flat rock almost with some smaller lumps in it. The thickening was so big you can actually physically see it petruding when I lay down. Scanned and it was dense breast tissue. Hope your appt goes ok and I know it’s worrying, but try not to google xx
