Hi everyone.
I am so far lucky in not being diagnosed with breast cancer yet but feel for those of you who have been or are and will always offer my support if needed.
I had a breast lump removed from my right breast about 4 years ago. This was ok. Before Christmas this year I found one in my left breast. It feels like the size of a pea with a dry hand but bigger if I check it when it is covered in shower gel. The problem with this is that the consultant I have seen at the breast clinic can only feel it at it’s smallest and probably wonders what I am worrying about!
I have had a needle biopsy done which came back clear so I could have left the lump there. However, as it was such a small needle I wonder whether they could have missed the lump and I have heard of times results are not conclusive in younger women and I work with one lady who was told 3 times it was nothing to worry about before eventually removing the lump and finding out it was cancer. I don’t want to worry anyone, as I know this is rare. I asked if I could have a mammogramme to double check that breast but was told I was too young, yet I had one 4 years ago (I am 40 this year). They told me they had found that the mammogramme did not work well in young tissues now.
So as I can’t be told 100% it is ok, I am having it removed. I have a date of 10th April, of course that depends whether it gets cancelled or not as happended with my hysterectomy over a year ago!
It may be silly but I am worrying about it, stupidly checking the damn thing every morning in the shower. I don’t want to go through another operation but yet want it doing soon then I get the results then I can move on or try to deal with whatever (the bit I am scared about!).
I also found a hard area on the same breast near the top this time a couple of weeks ago so rang the nurse at my GP’s who suggested I wait until my op and mention to the consultant then and I may have to have it checked after the op. Checked in the shower this morning and have found another pea size lump nearer the top of this area and the hardend area seems larger.
I am on HRT after having the full hysterectomy and nurse at my GP’s said that this can make you get lumpy areas. But I told her that before the hysterectomy I had lumpy breasts which cleared up afterwards so this isn’t normal for me now.
I wish I could have it checked again as am worrying even more now.
Sorry for rambling on, but I can’t help but worry.
Thanks for listening
Dear sapphire1
I am sorry to read that you are going through such a worrying time and just wanted to say that you may find it helpful to talk things through with one of our helpliners, they can offer you support and a ‘listening ear’. The number is 0808 800 6000 and it’s open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and Sat 9am-2pm.
Best wishes
Katie
Hi Sapphire
You are doing the right thing getting this checked out. I had a lump removed last year which contained abnormal cells, my biopsy was inconclusive so they removed the lump which contained these cells. I have heard that HRT can cause lumps and bumps but it is still a good idea to check. Im not allowed it because of the cells.
I get quite obsessive about things like this, my latest problem is discharge from the nipple so I have to stop myself from checking this in case I am encouraging it. It was tested and blood was found so I have to go back at the end of May I also have an area which has changed (kind of ridgy under the skin, if you know what i mean) so I will have that checked again. The consultant says it is breast tissue but it is quite different from the rest.
I hope you dont get cancelled again as we all know that the worst time is the waiting. Let us know what happens.
Good Luck
Yvonne xx
Thanks Katie and Yvonne.
Yvonne, it is funny you mentiond a ridgy bit. At my last visit to the consultant say his registrar who felt for my lump. At first she couldn’t find and asked me if it was the ridgy area at the bottom of my breast I meant, I said no and found the lump for her. She didn’t question the ridgy bit though either but I don’t remember it being there before. Maybe it’s just more fat with my comfort eating!!!
I go for my pre-op next Tuesday just hope this damn cough I have has gone by then, don’t want anything to upset me going in.
Take care and keep in touch
Julie
Hi Sapphire
Hmmmmm maybe it is normal to have a ‘ridgy bit’ then, im sure she would have questioned you about it if it was a problem. Hope your cough is gone next week, you dont need to be waiting any longer than necessary.
Speak Soon
Yvonne xx
Hi sappire1
Personally, I think you should report the new hardened area to your consultant now and not leave it until the day of the op. It’d be brilliant if they would give you a mammogram on the basis of this new development and surely the results would give them a better picture before they perform any surgery.
Best of luck
Jx
Thanks J
They said they wouldn’t give me mammogramme last time I was in clinic due to my age. I go to my pre op tomorrow so will mention it to the nurse and see what she says.
The trouble is it isn’t easy to feel with dry hands, with shower gel on in the shower I can feel it better. Maybe I should take some gel with me!!!
Thanks again for the support.
Julie
Hi Sapphire
I wonder why they haven’t done an ultrasound exam for you. This is the norm for younger woman and it would likely find the lump you are wooried about. I too would mention a new lump as soon as possible to your consultant so they can either dismiss it as harmless or incorporate it into treatment planning if necessary. I would ring your BC nurse and don’t bother with the GP nurses - no offence to them, but the BC nurse is a specialist in this area with direct contact to the Breast Care Team.
TF
Thanks TF
I am going to mention it when I go for my pre op this afternoon.
It has caused lots of problems at work for me to find time to go for this appt due to staff shortages due to sick leave. I feel a bit guilty but it isn’t my fault.
Hi
Just to let you know my pre-op went ok. The nurse I say looked quite stern but when I told her about the other lumpy area I had found she was very supportive. She has told me to mention it to the consultant when I go in for my op next Thursday and she can’t see why he wouldn’t investigate it at the same time as my op.
Chest infection is back and cold symptoms today so got more anti-biotics of GP, just hope it settles as don’t want to have to cancel my op, even though it isn’t best thing in the world!!
Take care
Yvonne, let me know how you get on
Hi Julie
Glad you got on ok yesterday. I hope you get rid of your chest infection in time.
I dont go to the hospital until the end of May so i will speak to you before I find out anything. I am having a bit of a time with my right boob, I thought at first that I was imagining it but I have noticed that it is actually getting bigger, my bras dont seem to fit properly and are uncomfortable on that side, no rashes though so Im kinda glad that my appointment is a little way away so that I can see what happens before I go. If I went now I would probably have to go back anyway!!
Take care of yourself and try hard to conquer that cold.
Speak soon
Yvonne xx
Well it’s Sunday and this damn cold and rattly chest is still hanging in. Can I shift it before Thursday I wonder? My husband has caught the virus off me so he has been off work since Friday too. He doesn’t think I should go back to work tomorrow has I am still not right and feels if I push myself too much it will take longer to get better. It will be stressful for me with my colleague still off sick so I will have to her job in the office too and try to get up to date with all my work before my last day on Wednesday. I don’t want to leave work in the lurch but want to give myself the best chance of getting fit for Thursday too, so don’t know what to do. I feel I should go in even though I have hardly moved off the settee allday, had a shower, had to rest, made tea, had to rest, this bug seems a bit like flu but not as severe, although I was off work for 5 days before Easter with it, didn’t shift it properly hence on anti-biotics and feeling floppy again.
I presume as long as my chest is clear they will still go ahead with the op even if I had a dry cough. I hope so as I am concerned about about this new area I have found too so don’t want to have to have it cancelled.
Sorry for winging girls, just know I will be frustrated if I can’t get the op done this week, I need those results then I can try to deal with whatever does or doesn’t come up.
I am thinking about all of you too.
Feeling nervous now, go into hospital tomorrow. Still got a bit of a cough but it is a bit better. Just want to get it over with. Then will have to wait for the results, which will be fun!
I am glad for those of you who have got their results back clear, it must be a great relief, hope mine are too.
Take care everyone.
J
Hi Julie
Just wanted to wish you all the best for your op and for good results. Will be thinking of you.
Love Deborah xxx
Good Luck for tomorrow Julie. Be thinking of you x
Yvonne x
good luck Julie, take care
Cathy
xx
Good luck Julie
Can I just add that I was 40 when diagnosed and they were able to see my lump on a mammogram as well as on the scan.
Lynn
I have had the lump removed. the cut is longer than the one I had on other breast when I had a lump removed a few years ago. It is sore and I am still very dosey but at least it is done.
I have to wait 3 weeks now before I see the consultant so will have to try not to think abou it too much.
The nurses at the hospital were lovely but the only thing I and some other ladies didn’t like was that once booked in you had to change into a gown, put your dressing gown and slippers on and then sit in chairs in the waiting room for your op. So you had to sit with me too which was not nice and if you were near the end of list you could be sitting for hrs which wasn’t very comfortable! The last time I was in a different hospital at least you had a bed to lie in while you waited to go to theatre.
When I got to the room where the aneathtist came and said I was having a local which put me into total shock as when my op was booked I was told it would be a ga. I said I was going home if it wasn’t! It was sorted out thankfully but I could have done without the stress!!
Hope you are all ok
J
Hi Julie
Glad that bits over for you and all seems to have gone well. Yep I was sitting there in my backtofront nightie and dressing gown for 4 hours (I went to Guys). Im surprised they were going to give you a local though, did they say why? Good for you sticking up for yourself.
Take care of yourself for a few days now.
Keep in touch
Yvonne xx
Hi Yvonne
They didn’t say why it said a local on the paper work. There was no way I was backing down I am too soft! I mentioned the lumpy bit I have found on the top left of the same breast but my consultant said he would look at that at my next appt. I don’t thinkhe had time to do both which is a shame as while I was under I thought he could have taken a biopsy of the other area but not to worry.
I caught myself today, and boy did it hurt. The bruising is starting to come out now which is a good thing.
Waiting for the next appt is a pain but every lady here has gone through this so I have to be strong too.
I know it must be hard for you too, waiting until the end of May too, but I’m here if you need me