I went to see my doctor last monday and he examined my right breast. It has been aching a bit on and off for a few months now. A few weeks ago I found a moveable pea sized lump so I went to the doctors. He gave me a breast exam, including armpits and collar bone. He said it felt like a cyst and that he wanted me to come back in SIX weeks to see if it has disappeared. He also made some other comments but as I was flustered I can’t remember but I think he said I had lumpiness too, and maybe fibroadenoma? Not sure though. Anyway, i’ve been reading up and I can’t find anything about going back to see your doc after six weeks, it normally seems to be after your next menstrual period, or a referral to the Breast Clinic, for any lump. I am also a 33yr old woman who took Spironolactone for a few years for hair loss, it really messed with my hormones and made my breasts swell and then my periods stopped for well over a year. I have no family history of breast cancer.
Do you think his advice was incorrect? Should I get a second opinion.
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It sounds like your GP gave you a thorough examination but I would insist on a referral to breast clinic. Can you make an appointment to see another GP? A cyst cannot be diagnosed by physical examination alone and all lumps should have a triple assessment, that’s a physical exam, mammogram and/or ultrasound and a biopsy. I dont want to scare you but my Hospital, in there wisdom, omitted the biopsy and my so called cyst turned out to be something more sinister 14 months later.
Hi
Would agree with Julia, my gp was convinced it was a cyst, given age, medical history etc, but nonetheless referred me to the breast clinic for all the tests outlined by Julia - turned out he was wrong!, but he had ensured I was seen by the experts.
Insist on being referred, and hopefully your gp is right but more to the point you will know for sure.