Waiting for clinic appointment, anxiety is unbearable!

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
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Hello, this is my first post. I have been reading these forums over the past 7 days and it’s really helped reading other people’s experiences. I don’t know what I’m expecting from this post and that strangers on the internet will be no more able to guess what is going on than I can myself. 

 

I saw my GP a week past Friday with a persistent sharp pain in my right breast. As a bit of a background, I had went to my GP approx 2-3 years ago with indentation in my right breast at the side. I was told not to worry about it, so I didn’t. To be honest I’ve not looked at my breasts properly for a few months. The GP seemed concerned that the pain originates from the indented area (which I’ve only just noticed is bigger/worse than it was previously) it also feels a bit strange when you press, not a specific lump but a lumpy area and a bit like the skin is thickened. 

 

It completely knocked me for 6 being referred to the breast clinic. I suppose I expecting to be told it was normal and nothing to worry about. 

 

I have a history of severe anxiety and depression and spent some time in a psych ward for obsessive thoughts. I know my mental health isn’t helping, I obsess about things. I’ve noticed aches and pains in my armpit and my back behind my right breast. These have been happening for a while but I never put it down to being anything worth seeing the GP about, just thought it was general aches and pains. I’m now questioning myself, are these pains even real or is my anxiety manifesting into physical symptoms??

 

I’m a mess to be honest, I can’t concentrate on anything. It’s all I’ve been thinking about. 

 

I feel so stupid because I’m actually a registered nurse so I should know better than to try and second guess myself and use google ?

 

I hope it’s ok to post these pics. My left breast is rounded in shape and not like this at all. A lot of the posts I see are about lumps and I think if it was a lump I wouldn’t be so panicked because I know the majority are benign.

 

Does anyone else have experience of breast shape changes? What was the outcome?

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Sorry I’m not sure how to post photos ?

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Hi Daffy,

It’s not really possible to speculate about what it is, as it could be something & nothing. Only the breast clinic can get to the bottom of it. 

So sorry to hear how you’re feeling at the mo & of course, anxiety around this is quite normal, we’ve all been there. 

Glad you felt you could come here to share your worries. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed, it might also be an idea to give the helpline here a ring to talk it through. 

There’s nothing more you can do now you have been referred & it is completely right your GP has referred you. For the vast majority of referrals, it turns out not to be bc related. 

You are right, googling only makes anxiety worse & will not give you an answer, so best to step away for now & just try to keep busy & carry on as normal.

Although it’s easier said than done, any amount of anxiety & stress beforehand is not going to change anything, so doing what helps to divert you from it & contain it can help. 

Do let us know how you get on. 

ann x