Hi all,
Found a small lump in my right breast above the nipple and have had also had intense itching which I had thought was just my eczema.Also feels heavy and sore with some aching to my right shoulder area. Been to my doctors this morning who has referred me to breast clinic he mentioned some thickening aswell. I hadn’t told anyone but when my husband rang I couldn’t help but blub it out. Am scared witless I have 2 boys 20 and 12. Don’t know what I am expecting from you guys but just felt like I needed to tell someone.
Hello barkingmad
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Best wishes
June, moderator
hello barking mad… good on you for going to the doctors… your appointment will probably be through in a few days, the breast units have to see you in as short a time as possible… guidelines… so dont panic if you have a call or letter quickly… remember 9/10 lumps are nothing to worry about… your now at the stage of just taking a seat in the waiting room… and the waiting room is the worst place in the world to be… when your seen at the breast unit, you will probably have a mammogram and /or a scan … both these are normal … you may also have biopsys done… again normal… and it does not automatically mean you have something horrible… they are tests that are done to check … of course your terrified … but your going to be looked at examined and hopefully sent on your way .and you can leave the waiting room and smile xx angie
Hello,
I really hope it turns out to be absolutely nothing but you have certainly come to the right place whatever the outcome. Everyone on here is so supportive and posting makes you realise you are not alone.
Hope its ok!
Like you, when I found a lump I couldn’t help telling a few closest loved ones - I was glad I did and would have been even if it was a false alarm - which I sincerely hope it is for you.
Hope you’ll post soon
Best wishes to you
Hi there,
So sorry you’ve found yourself here but you will get lots of support from the others. We’ve all been where you are and understand what it’s like. Not knowing is very stressful and the waiting is terrible.
I know you will have heard this before but it really is true that most lumps turn out not to be cancer. Do you know if your GP made the referral urgent? If so, you should have your appointment within 2 weeks and the clinic is straightforward. You will probably be given a physical examination and a mammogram. It’s also common to have an ultrasound all of which are painless - well the mammo can be a bit painful but doesn’t take long. You usually get the results very quickly.
I know it’s not easy but try to relax. I found the herbal remedy Bach’s Rescue Remedy very helpful. Fill your time with things that will distract you.
I’m sure there will be others already offering lots of advice.
I hope you are one of the lucky majority. Hugs Jan xx
Thanks everyone,
It’s a little reassuring to know I’m not on my own, I’m not sure whether he marked it as urgent but made me an appointment to comeback to see him 2 weeks today. I never would have believed that this waiting game could be so hard.
Hello Barkingmad.
Sorry that you have found the need to find your way onto this site but may I offer you the warmest of welcomes. You have done all the right things by going and seeing your doctor and then checking in here for a bit of support whilst you wait. Everyone here will tell you that being in the “waiting room” is that hardest part of all. Your referral to the breast clinic should come through fairly quickly - and that is a good thing! Until then, try and put it out of your mind. What ever you do please do not read too much on the internet, do not google looking for information as a lot of the stuff out there is incorrect and outdated.
Do keep us updated of any news as we loving hearing good news, and believe me when I say it - a lot of people come here in your situation and get the best news ever and we never see them again.
best wishes - and remember that all you have to worry about right now - is right now! Don’t become a fortune teller and predict the future, that hasn’t happened yet xx
Deb
hi,
Of course you are terrified. Its such a huge shock finding a lump, even though you will be told time after time 9 out of 10 are not cancer. Its only human nature to say, but what if I am number 10.
Well i was number 10. Fortunately found early and so all I needed was a little op and some radiotherapy. no real pain (and I am a baby) not that bad a cosmetic effect just a huge inconvenience for about 12 weeks. So in the unlikely event that you do get a posative result it is still not necesserily disasterous.
to be quite honest the worst bit of it all was from finding the lump to getting it out and in the lab to find out exactly what it was. I thought I was quite a sensible pragmatic person, but we must have a fear of cancer programmed into us, because I was completely bowled over. I was one of those that went round in a bubble, not realy able to function normally. Not crying or panicking. Just completely spaced out. Some people cannot stop crying, some are a trembling wreck, or get angry and throw things at poor unsuspecting partners. So you being scared witless is one of the normal reactions. Dont fight it, because you cannot change how you are wired.
Now have you thought what you are going to say to the boys. Personally I would tell them now that you need to go for tests and that 9 out of 10 are negative. You can play up being scared of the biopsy if you dont want them to see how worried about the possible result. (mind you the biopsy is not a problem, I have a needle problem and i coped). It is going to be obvious that something is wrong so for me it would be better to say what it was. Again be prepared for a whole range of reactions from, Ok, so whats for tea to them being really worried.
You did not say what your husbands reaction was. Again that can vary and there are threads and threads on hear about OH reactions. I think choccie muffin expresses it best. we expect their balls to be crystal and for them to know exactly what to say and how to act and then get cross when they get it wrong. Or some men go to pieces and we find ourselves worrying more about them than ourselves. is he coming to the clinic with you? If he cannot get off work is there someone else who can go?
Please dont google, most articles are out of date, or based on very little statistical data. You have done best by finding this site. You can ask any amount of silly questions, or come on and say how you are coping or just keep logging on and reading the threads.
Hi BarkingMad,
And, no, you aren’t barking mad, it’s normal to feel like this in the waiting room.
For what it’s worth, I would tell your boys a bit, they are going to see you are stressed if they are very switched on, they might not, but overall it seems better for them to have a little preparation (with lots of most people are OK and I am just not keen on the tests)for either “Life around here is going to change for a bit” news or “Wahey! let’s celebrate”
Kids need to know about life and they don’t learn by us hiding how we feel from them.
Wishing you an early appointment and a Wahey! result
Lavender
x
Hi barkingmad. I won’t say welcome to the club, because for the moment you’ve just filled in the application form and with luck and a following wind we’ll be ripping up your form and sending you packing without a membership card!
If you want to do a bit of reading, go to the Publications part of the BCC site here, there are some very informative leaflets about what to expect at the clinic.
Depending on where you are, some clinics give you the results the same day, others make you wait for a while and others make you wait for a week or more. I had to wait for a week, and that was THE PITS!
Get a notebook and write down any questions you might have, and it’s fine to have someone go to the appointment with you. Personally my OH has only been to one appointment with me, the rest (including the diagnosis one) I went to on my own, with my notebook and pen so I could write down everything I was told. That’s your choice, some people prefer to have someone with them, I felt better being on my own.
Ask anything you like, even if you think it might seem a bit silly. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SILLY QUESTION! None of us knew anything about this and the only way to find out the answers, even to the silly questions, is to ask, either here, or call the Helpline (they’re fab) or at the clinic.
You are very welcome to have a browse around the forums, or just stick to the “worried” section if you prefer, and you will see that there are quite a few ladies who come back to tell us that it was a cyst/fibroadenoma/normal breast changes/something else, and that they too have left The Waiting Room via the All Clear door.
Fingers crossed your appointment comes in very quickly and that the results mean you join them.
CM
x
I’ve got a mammogram appointment tomorrow which somehow doesn’t help me feel any better. Then I won’t see anyone until the 6th October. I’m assuming that’s for the results of it. Have had little information and am dreading the long wait inbetween. I was hoping that it would be the ‘one stop shop’ that others have mentioned. Maybe that service is not available in South Wales area.
Hi barkingmad,
I was where you are last week. I know how horrible it is and wanted to give you some encouragement. Last week I had just about picked out my coffin only to be told that I had a benign Fibroadenoma.
The ladies on this site are amazing which is why a week after a good result I still feel compeled to check on their progress.
What ever the outcome of your tests the people on this site will help, encourage, inspire and make you laugh.
Take care and look after yourself. XXX
Hey Barkingmad, easier said than done but try not to dwell, go for a little bit of distraction until your appointment. As other ladies have said more often than not results are negative. Got everything crossed for you, Simone xxx
(((hug))) barking, the waiting is horrible. As others have said try and keep yourself occupied till you can get the results.
Best wishes for tomorrow. Will keep everything crossed for you that this is just a flying visit to this site xx
I am so sorry that you are waiting for results, its really really is the worst part. A diagnosis of cancer is scary, but once you know, things do get easier as you start to have a plan of action.
I am hoping you wont need a plan of action and everything is fine.
Good luck and please let us know.
xxx
Well, I had the mammogram today but they phoned me later and have recalled me on Friday for a paddle view. Should I be worried? I’m going to go mad with worry by the 6th when I see the consultant.
Oh, that is really tough, barking, bad enough having to wait so long for a result anyway.
Hugs
Lavender
xx