I recent found a lump in my breast, it is mishapen, hot and I had a little bit of green discharge, the feeling I keep getting is like the let down reflex feeling when breastfeeding. It is constantly painful. I have been to my drs and they have referred me to the breast clinic as per their protocol. I have been assured that I will be seen within two weeks. As per normal the drs are non commital. I am trying to be open minded but like everything you imagine the worst and think about the children. Please Please help.
Hi Alison and welcome to the forums,
You might find it helpful to read the BCC booklet about being referred to a breast clinic. It can be found by following the link below:-
breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/referral_redesign__final_14_feb_08_0.pdf
Please do call the helpline if you feel it would help to talk things through with someone in confidence, the line is open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm on 0808 800 6000.
Best wishes
Lucy
Hi Alison, I recently found a lump too and following the referral from my GP on Friday got a call today and am being seen on Thursday. Keep in your mind most lumps are benign, that’s what I’m trying to do, but it’s damn scary no matter what anyone tells you isn’t it? Good luck and hope all goes well for you.
Hi Alison
I’m no expert - in fact this is my first post and I’m looking on this site becuase I have a lump and am waiting to see my GP next week - but I would say that 90% of lumps are benign and, usually, lumps that hurt are NOT cancer - I’m panicking because mine is just a general thickening and no other symptoms, which can be abit more troubelsome, but probably won’t be. So you’ll probably be absolutely fine and if there is another outcome, at least you’re now in the system and on the way to being treated,. Keep positive and try not to let it overwhelm you. I know - I have 2 real littlies - 3 and 2 - so the thought of anything going wrong at this point is absolutely terrifying. But it almost certainly WON’T and anything that does go wrong you will deal with, honest!!!
Take care and chin up
Andy
Hi Alison,
I had this too (years before BC). Sounds like Duct Ecstasia ( a benign thing), not sure of spelling. Sometimes I felt I just had to squeeze to get the stuff out and it was more comfortable after it. Google it and have a read, but your story is so similar to what I experienced. No connection between that and BC.
Good luck at the clinic and let us know how you get on.
Best wishes.
Thank you everyone for your support. I had a call from the hospital and they have offered me an appointment for tomorrw @ 9.45 and lucky enough this is a clinic where you get the results of any tests same day.
The breast is very painful and getting worse.
Hopefully everything will be okay will update tomorrow after visit.
Alison - best of luck tomorrow. Getting the lump checked out is absolutely the best thing you can do.
hi alison
just to say good luck for tommorow
love galen x
Good luck for tomorrow!
Hi there,
Fingers crossed for you, I’m on lump 4 now, last 3 benign, and last one I had a discharge (though not green) and it was still benign, in the process of getting this one looked at now. There’s lots of hope whatever the outcome, hope yours is good news. My son is 4 so I know what you mean about worrying about the little ones, I think its only natural to worry, but dont make yourself worse in the process!!
Heidi x
Hi Alison,
Really glad you got an appointment so quickly, and even better that it has a same day results service…waiting and wondering is the pits.
Please let us know how you got on, I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed.
Claire x
Just been to the hospital and have had the works unfortunately ultra sound found a lump 1.3 cm had biopsy and result onf Wednesday. The dr is pretty sure that it is a small cancerous lump, does this mean that it can be malignant or benign or just malignant. I bit disappoint with the consultant, after examination he said cant feel any thing but will send you for a mammogram, and ultra sound, when i look at the card it also requests a biopsy with the works query bbc, infection or cancer. I come out from the consultants office on a high only to be knocked down.
Also is the case even though the lump is small it could still have spread and what are the likely options open regarding treatment.
Hi Alison,
Sorry things didn’t go quite as you’d hoped.
I don’t mean to sound pessimistic but in my experience if the doctor actually said he thinks it’s a cancerous (malignant) lump then he must be pretty sure, they don’t say that sort of thing without very good reason.
I know what you’re feeling right now, your head will be all over the place with all the ‘what ifs’ but try not to think too far ahead, first you have to get the results of the biopsy to be sure of the diagnosis.
IF the biopsy results show breast cancer then the smaller the lump the more likely it has been discovered early and therefor the less likely it is to have spread to lymph nodes or anywhere else. Treatment will depend on the size, grade, lymph node involvement and several other factors.
To tell you to try not to worry is pointless, you can’t help it but you’ll find lots of support on here…we know exactly how you’re feeling.
Thinking of you.
Claire x
How will they know if it has spread to the lymph nodes?
I am pretty sure that nothing showed on the ultra sound if they can see.
Very sore at the moment and again another waiting game.
Hi Alison
I am so sorry about your news. As Claire says, if the consultant thought it was cancer, then it is likely to be malignant, not benign. However horrible the word cancer sounds to you just now, please don’t jump the gun thinking the very worst. Most of us on the forum have had breast cancer, with a varying range of treatments etc. It may not have spread at all, or even if it has, it is still very treatable in most cases. This is the very worst time for you now. The waiting for the results. I can remember that time clearly. I had almost planned my funeral by the time I got the results, only to be told that although I had cancer, it was early and very treatable. Don’t go second guessing what type or grade you may have either as that will drive you mad.
Let us know how you get on
Cathy
x
I dont think they know for sure about spread to nodes until they look at the nodes after surgery. However, the grade, stage and type of tumour which the biopsy should show, gives them a good idea whether it is likely to have spread. I didnt even have any of my nodes tested because I had such an early stage, they were pretty sure it hadnt spread. Why dont you ring the nurses on the helpline as they will know about these things?
Hi Alison,
I think Cathy’s suggestion of ringing the helpline is a very good one.
The way they usually test for lymph node involvement is to take a sample of them or test one node (the sentinel node) to see if there is any sign of cancer. This is usually done when the lump is removed.
Cathy is right, the biopsy results will give them a good idea of whether there is likely to be any spread to lymph nodes i.e the smaller the lump, and the slower it grows the less likely it is to have spread.
I recommend you take some regular painkillers, the sort you’d normally take for a headache, as it can be very sore after a biopsy.
Take care.
Claire x
Hi Alison
As Cathy has mentioned above, if you do need additional support and someone to talk to just give the BCC helpline a call. Here you will be able to share your fears and concerns with one of our trained members of staff. The number is free phone 0808 800 6000 and the line is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9am to 2pm.
I hope this helps.
Kind regards
Sam
BCC Facilitator
Hi Alison, I’m so sorry about your results today. I really hope next Wednesday’s results are more hopeful and they can operate and get rid of it without any spread. I have my appointment tomorrow morning and mine is also an all in one clinic. Every morning I’ve woken up hoping it’s gone but unfortunately it’s still there. Good luck to you for next week.
hi allison i had similar experience to you my nipple was inverting very sore and hot however after doc told me it was probably cancer 2 core biopsys later i have been told chronic inflamation not cancer so try not to worry untill results come through easier said than done i know but i will be thinking of you bablicious