Hi I’m new to this forum and hope I can get some help with my situation. In July 2019, I found a lump in my left breast. The doctor referred me for 2 week emergency appointment at the hospital. I’m 46. At the hospital I was given a mammogram and ultrasound. On this occasion, I was told it was a very large cyst that they aspirated and then sent me on my way with no other concerns. 2 weeks later another lump appeared on same breast but different area and I started bleeding from the nipple. I thought nothing of it and referred back to hospital. This time wasn’t so clear. It wasn’t a cyst and they said it could be an infection from draining the cyst so was given antibiotics. A month later being given yet another course of antibiotics there was no change. They took a sample of blood from the nipple and 2 weeks later said came back normal. They then decided to take breast biopsy which was sending alarm bells ringing at this point. Another 2 weeks passed and I was called back to the hospital end of sept 2019. This time I was told they found abnormal cells and that I have borderline breast cancer. They told me I was to have an ultrasound on lymph nodes and MRI scan. I have just had my last test and now have to wait for a confirmed diagnoses and treatment plan. On top of all this I start a new job on Monday 21st October and know that I will have to break the news to them. I cant help thinking the worst as my lump is getting bigger. I just cant understand how all this wasn’t picked up at the start when they took mammogram.
Hi Jules
First of all, good luck with your new job tomorrow. Don’t feel bad about it - this was not something you could predict. It is very frustrating when they don’t pick up the signs. Sometimes they are very hard to detect. I had a clear mammogram and, even once I was referred on ‘just in case,’ I had a clear ultrasound. However biopsies on my nipple indicated otherwise and I gradually got my diagnosis of breast cancer. These things happen but, personally, I don’t see any value in dwelling on it - I can’t pinpoint who made the errors and what would I do about it? The damage was to my faith in mammograms, nothing more.
The good thing is that whatever you have has been found early. This means it’s more easily resolved and your treatment plan may be very straightforward. In the circumstances, that’s excellent news. Both of us have had nipples that are lifesavers!
I hope things do go more smoothly for you now. Good luck,
Jan x