Scared and confused

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Hi there. This is my first post on these forums. Just hoping someone out there can offer me a few words of comfort as I feel like I’m losing the plot a bit.

About 7 weeks ago, I noticed a lumpy patch in my right breast. That part has always been a bit more ‘solid’ feeling than any other part of my breasts, for as long as I can remember. I was referred to a consultant at the London Breast Clinic at my own request from a private GP (didn’t have a GP at the time and didn’t want to wait to sort all that out).

So, I had my first appointment with the consultant about 6 weeks ago. She felt my breasts and did an ultrasound, which was confirmed with a second ultrasound. I was told that they had no reason to think it was malignant and I had a “clean bill of health” but that I should come back in 6 weeks to make sure it hadn’t progressed in any way.

I went for my second appointment yesterday afternoon, assuming it would just be a routine follow up. Basically, the consultant decided to take a fine needle aspiration because as she said “we gave it six weeks and it hasn’t gone away”. Now I am totally freaked out - how can they have been so sure it was ok 6 weeks ago, yet now feel it necessary to take an FNA ? What’s changed ? I’m so angry that I was left totally unprepared for this. The consultant did say she wasn’t expecting to find anything, but that doesn’t really reassure me.

I get my results tomorrow and have never felt so scared in my life. Can’t tell anyone about it - family lives abroad and friends have their own problems at the moment. I’m supposed to be going away for a long weekend to Italy with some mates (not close) on Friday morning, and wonder whether I should go whatever the result is.

Can’t even think about what to do next if its bad news. Also, I’ve been paying for the consultant myself so far but can’t afford to continue this.

Has anyone had a similar experience ?

Thanks

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Hi Csilla

Sorry to hear you are going through this. I would presume that the consultant thought at first that your lump may be a cyst which can flare up and was waiting to see what was going to happen with it. Because it hasnt gone away she is now taking further action, she may now think it is a fibroadoma which is normally a benign lump but should be tested just in case. Im not sure why she didnt test it in the first place but different places do things differently.

This is a scarey time for you, Im glad you dont have to wait too long (even though it seems a lifetime). Dont make any decisions about your weekend until you have been back. Then you can decide depending on your results.

Let us know how you get on, I will be thinking of you

Yvonne xx

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Thanks so much for your support. I had to wait longer than I’d expected for the results, which were clear (huge sigh of relief). But the consultant wants to see me again in 3 months - don’t know what that means, but will try to stop worrying about it.
This site is amazing, very much appreciated, thank you. xx

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Hi csilla

Im so glad your results were clear. I have to go back next Thursday after 3 months, I think my consultant was waiting to see if anything else develops from my symptoms, which they have ho hum. Still could be ok though. I think they are probably just keeping an eye on you. Maybe to do more tests after 3 months.

Come on here when you are feeling like it. Take Care

Yvonne xx