What should I do?

Have I got breast cancer? Breast awareness, signs and symptoms
1

Hi guys, I just need some advice about where to go from here…. 

I had a mammo and ultrasound 6 months ago which were clear, but my breast doctor is keeping me on regular 3-6 monthly reviews to keep an eye on my tethered dimples (one on each breast) My next review is 3 and a half months away. 

About 4 weeks ago, i noticed that when I lie down, the lower inner quadrant of my right breast looks deflated/indented. You can see my inframmory ridge sticking through the skin, then above it the skin just sinks inward, it’s about the length and thickness of two fingers. 
My logical side is telling me this is probably just thin skin/fat loss (I’ve lost over a stone in the past 3 months) especially because i can only see this when lying down with my arm raised, I can’t feel a lump or anything behind it and I’ve had mammo/us 6 months ago. I last seen my breast doctor in august for a manual examination and he didn’t mention seeing anything concerning. 

Im not sure where to go from here. I don’t want to waste anyones time, but my brain can’t decide if this can wait til my next review in February or if I should try to see my doctor sooner. 
I have health anxiety which I am taking medication to try to manage, so going back to the hospital for checks is hugely triggering and something I struggle with a lot. I’ve spent the last 4 weeks battling with my own mind about whether to go get this checked or just wait til my next review in feb. 

please can anyone offer any opinions? 

Thanks so much x

2

Hi

I can understand your reluctance to be a ‘pest’ but suspect that the fear is part of the health anxiety. Have you been made to feel you’re time-waiting before? You certainly are not time-wasting in this case - the stakes are too high.

I wouldn’t hesitate to ring your breast care nurse and ask for advice. That or see your GP. ANY change is important, even if it turns out to be a false alarm. During lockdown, my eyelid swelled up but I didn’t bother my GP because they were busy with covid. It took an optician to convince me that it needed checking out but still it took another 4 months to engage with any GP. In the end, acting on the advice of the BCN on this helpline, I referred myself back to the hospital. It was 15 months between my initial concern and my diagnosis of MTNBC at the back of my nose, of all places!

I’d rather feel a time-waster than suffer the anxiety of another 4 months before a check-up. I’d also prefer to chance the one-off anxiety of a hospital appointment than wait all that time in a perpetual state. We all know the risks and we are advised to stay alert. You are potentially at higher risk so all you’re doing is following advice!! Wishing you all the best xx