My boyfriend was playing around grabbing my boobs on Saturday and felt a lump on my left boob. I saw the dr today and he has referred me to the hospital. My appointment with him was 11am today and the hospital have already rung me and booked me in for Wednesday - is this normal for it to be so quick? (im not moaning just panicing!)
Also my doc was a bit vague and I wondered if anyone can tell me what to expect from my appointment on Wednesday? The lump is about the size of a large grape I think, is smooth and hard. No family history, no prior problems and ive noticed my boobs are slightly itchy sometimes.
It is best to get anything unusual checked out. You are lucky to get an early appointment, so I wouldn’t read anything into this. The norm is within two weeks. Most lumps turn out to be benign and we do get lots of good news on here. What to expect at the app depends on the hospital you attend. It is worth ringing them up to find out what they will do. Some are one stop shops where they do all the tests in one day. Others do one test at a time and you have to wait for results. What happens at your hospital may help you decide to take soeone with u or give u an idea of how long you will be there. No one can tell u not to worry, but keeping yourself busy is good for taking your mind off things. Good luck with your tests. Dx
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums. I hope you find them to be a good source of support and infromation.
You may find it useful to have a look at the BCC booklet ‘referral to a breast clinic’ as it has information on the different tests you may have. If you would like a copy or to read this on line just follow the link below:-
Hi Paula,
I got an appointment two days after seeing my GP. I think that some hospitals have to meet certain time criteria for breast cancer in terms of scans etc… so this could be why.
Good luck and keep us posted
xxx
Can you clear something up for me - ive been reading all the info and aware of the triple tests they do but can any 1 of these tests diagnose cancer? Ie can they be sure its cancer from just the ultra sound or just the mammogram? or do all 3 need to link in to have a definitive diagnosis? I suppose what im thinking and hoping is that come Wednesday i might have a better idea of what it is from just the ultra sound - or am i way off?
There’s a two week target for a specialist to see all breast lumps. My breast clinic in Oldham does investigations on a Monday and as I went to my gp on a Monday I got an appointment for the following Monday, which was the next day they did them. I had a breast exam by my surgeon, a mammogram, an ultrasound scan and a fine needle biopsy in one day, and was told my lump was cancerous the same day. I am glad my husband was with me. The ultrasound is like the ones they use on pregnant ladies, doesn’t hurt at all. The mammogram was wierd but didn’t hurt. The fine needle biopsy was worse in my head than the actual reality. I am 36 and so needed an ultrasound. Young breast tissue is dense and do msmmograms are not always as effective as on less dense tissue, you should ask for an ultrasound as you are only 35.
Apparently 9 out of 10 lumps are benign. Keep busy til wednesday. Please let us know how you go on,
Hi there
Concur with all of the above, between seeing my GP and my hospital appt had a week’s holiday booked, so appt was right on the 2 week limit.
Had mammogram, US, fine needle biopsy all at that appt, and got the results on the Wednesday.
This is so easy to say, please try not to worry - so much easier said than done I know, but you will be in the best possible hands I am sure.
Hi Paula, mine was a one-stop shop, had mammogram and then u/s, and was warned before u/s that I may need biopsies - which they did there and then (two core biopsies on my breast and a fine needle aspiration of my lymph nodes). I then went back to the consultant directly after, and he told me it was breast cancer - as the biopsies couldn’t possibly have been cultured/checked in the ten minutes between leaving radiotherapy and seeing consultant, there must have been enough of a definite picture/typical picture on either the mammo or u/s to know.
I saw ‘my’ consultant a week later (the first was the registrar, I didn’t know that then!) who confirmed that it was breast cancer, but I’m glad I was told at the first visit, as the waiting is the absolute worst time.
I’m very pleased for you that you’ve been booked in so quickly, don’t panic about the speed - we all would wish for such good service! And do hold on to the thought that most lumps prove to be benign/cysts whatever - if it is indeed a cyst, it may be aspirated there and then, and ‘pouf’ lump will vanish. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you. Please let us know how you get on.
Oh, and I had mammo before the u/s, to answer your question of whether u/s alone would be enough. I’m not sure if that’s the same everywhere, but the mammo is nothing to worry about, honestly. I’m 41, so it was my first experience of a mammogram, and I was a bit anxious (tales of boobs being squished and stretched from older friends!), but the whole experience was more ‘odd’ than ‘ouch’, and the radiographer was absolutely lovely. It only took five/ten minutes from start to finish.
Hi Paula
Good luck for tomorrow will have everything crossed for you! I had all tests done at the same time, a poke around first, mamo, us, core biopsy and fine needle aspirations of the lymph nodes, I wasn’t told it was bc until 1 week later, I think it depends on what the see on the mamo/us and they may take samples to make certain .
Waiting is really hard , try to keep busy, and ‘chatting’, really can help
Take care x
I feel like I need to be prepared and aware as much as poss as to whats gonna happen. I will try and prepare for the fact that I MAY be given a diagnosis tomorrow.
I had CIN3 and CGIN 3 years ago and have campaigned tirelessly for lowering the age of smear testing, I am also climbing mount kilimanjaro for Jos Cervical Cancer Trust in March 11 and have raised over 5k to date. I got so much help and support from the Jos girls when I was going through my scare then that I felt I had to give something back. Its kind of ironic that I find myself here now facing this. I have a feeling I have a lot more fundraising to do therefore I havent time to be ill!
Thanks for your good luck wishes - i will confess im a needle phobe and cacking it, but im gonna be a brave soldier!
Paula xx
You’ll be fine (hug), don’t worry. Just imagine the centrefold pose you’ll be lying in, should you need a biopsy - flat on your back with one arm alluringly above your head, breast bare to the elements…
and not even getting paid to do it. <sigh></sigh>
Hang on in there, I’m still hoping it’s just a cyst or similar and you get out of there fast with minimum hassle/discomfort and anxiety.
Hi there
As Sophie said, and it seems hard to do at times, just think of the ridiculous!! Centrefold pose, my, I wish I had a £1 already for everytime I have already done that since I found my lump…
I always thought I had my body back for good (except for the lovely smear tests) after having my kids 20 years ago…just proves how wrong one can be…
All sorts of people have now seen my boobs, particularly the left one, but hey whatever it takes…
Anyway sending you lots of positive vibes and hugs
I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping it will be a benign cyst. I had a gp appoitment on Tuesday and hospital appt on Saturday with U/S, mammogram and fine needle biopsy.
Consultant examined me yesterday said i was a bit lumpy but there was no hard golf ball type lumps he could feel and he said he wasnt worried. He sent me up for a ultrasound and my lump presented on the screen as black with a small mass of white next to it. I was then given a core biopsy and they took 3 samples, I have to wait till a week Friday to get results. Dr said it was a cyst and they had to just check what the mass was.
Anyone have any ideas? Does this sound good or bad?
As others have said the liklihood is that is is nothing BUT you’ll drive yourself nuts worrying until next friday - You honestly do just have to wait and see & take comfort in the fact that you have found it and are now getting it properly checked out - whatever it is it needs dealing with so you are in the best of hands and will get your definitive answers hopefully next week. I know it seems like an eternity but it honestly is a quick service for all this - My dad had to wait 6 weeks for results of a biopsy on his tongue so a week is good.
My advice would be try if possible to stay distracted from it. worrying won’t change anything - it is what it is (so much easier said than doen I know!) try not to read too much - it scares you especially as it is likely to be nothing serious. when you do go to the results meeting take someone with you as emotional support for either way. you may need it just to deal with the relief of it all.
I hope that is a little bit helpful
XXXXXXXXXXXjoXXXXXXXXXXX
Hi Paula
Can only agree with what Jo says, save the reading until you know exactly what you are dealing with, keep busy and distracted (yeah right), and definitely take someone with you, for both emotional support (sometimes good news can be as emotional as bad news) and to write down anything you are told.
Hi paula your news sounds encouraging fingers and toes crossed i think they know what they are looking at just by the ultrasound i was told i had breast cancer on the same day as all the test
I get results of the core biopsy on Friday morning, up until now ive been ok but today im having a huge wobble and feeling a bit scared. My partner whom I know idolizes me has been acting really awful and has admitted he doesnt know why but has now vowed to give me his support. I came out of having the biopsy on Wed evening and all i needed was a hug and he got frustrated with me coz i was a bit dazed and confused about what was found/not found. He now feels terrible becuase of how he behaved but i feel let down.
I know this part is the worse, the waiting the uncertainty, and its probably as awful for our partners im just fed up. Im also wondering what will happen on friday if its good news - will i still need the lump removed? If its bad news will i need surgery/chemo? I know i should focus on the positive stuff, suppose I want to know what I could be facing.
