Hi everyone. I am 43 years old and have found a lump in my breast. I went straight to the doctors as my Mum had breast cancer in 2004. I think I half expected the doctor to tell me it wasn’t anything to worry about, but obviously she didn’t. I have an appointment for 18th July at the hospital. What can I expect on my first visit. Can anyone help I am pretty worried.
Firstly well done for going to your GP. This is quite a long reply so feel free to drop out if it’s too much to take in.
Lots of hospitals do a ‘one stop clinic’ which means that you leave with a diagnosis (or at least a provisional one). Things vary a bit but at mine I arrived at 12:30 and was seen by a Dr who took my history and examined me. I was then sent for a mammogram (my first ever, too young to be screened) by a lovely lady. For me it didn’t hurt much but some people find it painful. Be warned, they are trained to be poker faced and tell you nothing. After that it was back to the waiting room and then an ultrasound scan, again inscrutible face. This is totally painless. Then it was back to see the Dr who gave me the news that it was ‘almost certainly cancer’ and that he would do a Fine Needle Biopsoy (FNB) and a Core Biopsy (CB). They sent me to get a cup of tea while I waited for the results of the FNB which confirmed that I did have cancer - but only the CB reuslts are used for formal diagnosis so I had to go back to be told those. I left the hospital about about 4:30.
Now, that’s the worst case version. Remember, most people will not have cancer. If it is a cyst they can drain it there and then and you leave the hospital well. If it is cancer they will set the ball rolling for futher tests and treatment very quickly - but you can find out about that only if you need to.
Almost a year on I have finished my treatment (discharged yesterday!) and now have annual checks for five years and anytime access to a specialist nurse.
At my hopsital the first thing I was asked was ‘have you come alone’ which I had. They made sure there was a nurse on hand when they told me the news and told me to take someone with me for the formal diagnosis appointment. If you have someone you feel able to take with you - partner, friend, sister - then I’d advise it.
Hopefully you will soon be walking away from all this, but if not, there are many lovely folk on here who will support you.
Take care and a hug coming your way.
Hi thats good that your being refered its always best to have these things checked out 9 out of 10 lumps are benign !
You’ll have a mammo, scan examination & possible needle aspiration or biopsy of the lump, they will also give you a good idea of what they think it might be, but until the results are back usually week after you wont know for sure. Although it all feels a bit overwhelming as your emotions will be all over the place the staff are usually wonderful at the breast clinics & help put you at ease the proceedures themselves are ok I found the mammo the most painful as my boob was sore in the 1st place the aspiration & biopsy I found fine just a bit stingy but nothing terrible
Do give the helpline a call they can help you with all your concerns.
All the best keep us posted
Hugs
Mekala x
it seems to be a post code lottery what services clinics can offer. The worse ones cannot even do an ultrasound on the same day, some can do ultrasounds and biopsies but you have to wait for results, some can give you some results the same day.
whatever your clinic provides you can be certain of one thing–you will probably have to hang around for hours.
my hospital you see the doc, he says what he can feel with his hands and what that leads him to think. Then its the mamogram, nowhere near as painful as one i had years ago–poker faces. then its the ultrasound, but at my hospital the guy tell you what he thinks he can see, and he does core and or needle biopsies straight away.
then its back into the doc who summerises what they have found so far, what its likely to be and you get an appointment for a week later for results.
Have you though about taking someone with you. It can be a bit of a shock if its any at all more than absolute nothing to worry about good news, 9 out of 10 lumps are benign , but you might not find out what yours is on the day.
So basically there is not much to worry about the appointment, everybody is well trained and treat you with dignity and respect.
but of course waiting for your appointment, with your mind running through the possiblilites. All the websites are full of people who need treatment, the ones that get the all clear give a quick post with the good news and then leave the site. and so its easy to concentrate on we lovely 1 in 10 ladies, and forget the 9 that got away.
Any emotion you feel between now and getting your results is normal, fear, anger, tears, surreal bubble–or jumping from one to the other, we have all been there.
keep popping back, we would all like to know how you are getting on
Thank you so much for all the information and kind words. Even reading your kind words had me in tears. I feel pretty stupid about my range of emotions and think that people must think I am over reacting as 9 out of 10 lumps are not cancer. My mum was lucky and is clear of cancer to date but I have not spoken too much about my situation as I do not want her to know I am so worried. I keep telling myself that I will be ok but the what if’s keep popping into my head. I keep feeling my lump hoping its miraculously gone. I am due to go on my first holiday for 10 years on 7th August so i’ll be keeping everything crossed. I cant tell you how glad I am to have found this forum and will definitely post my results on Monday. Once again thank you so much.
You’re not being silly or weak or any of those other negative adjectives you might be thinking, this IS scary and you have a right to be scared. But we’re here to hold your hand, so post as much as you like.
DON’T GOOGLE. Loads of dangerous and scary nonsense that will have you picturing yourself dead and buried before the weekend. (Been there, done that.) Stick to reputable sites like this one, Macmillan, Cancer Research UK etc.
Look at the Publications section of the site, there’s a great leaflet that describes clinics and what they’re looking for. As OAL says, there’s a wide range of clinics. I had to wait a week for my results, other people get at least a preliminary on the same day, it all depends on what the clinic offers, not on what your diagnosis is.
Get a notebook to write down any questions you might have.
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS A SILLY QUESTION. If it’s bothering you, ask it. None of us knew any more about this than you did before we started on the treadmill, so you can ask anything you like.
Be kind to yourself between now and then.
Even if you get the worst news you’ll still be ok for your holiday.
Good luck, and come back and tell us the good news. We love a reason to cheer.