I only went to my docs on Friday morning with a lump i have found in right breast and the doctor said he would refer me to the hospital. I was really surprised to receive my appointment from the hospital this morning. Its only been 2 days. I’m really worried now. I do have a history of breast cysts so hopefully its the same again.My appointment isnt until the 22nd July . But it all seems a quick .
hi, well done on seeing the doctor, some people wait, or dont bother at all , these days it is much quicker to get an appointment at the hospital , due to guidelines, targets have to be met etc… your appointment is not for another 10 days , so all together 12 days… thats good i think the guidelines are all women with breast referals should be seen within 2 weeks, so your appointment seems bang on hope all goes well xx angie
hi i think its standard practise to be seen within 2 wks i know i was good luck xxx
Hi there its normal proceedure to have an appointment within the 2 weeks … all the best & yes I hope its just a cyst again
Mekala x
Hi, dont worry it is normal to hear quite quickly I went to my Drs on a monday morning and was referred. I was seen at the hospital on the thursday of the same week. The 20th will soon be here and hopefully if it is a cyst it will be sorted on the same day. Hope it goes ok. K x
Thanks everyone for your comments . I feel a bit more settled now
When I looked at my hospital letter I noticed that it just has an appointment for a Mammogram and an ultrasound . I phoned my doctors to see if i would be seeing a doctor and the receptionist said no. I will have the tests and the results will be sent to them. When i went last year I saw a doctor and got my results the same day. She said it was because i had seen a Locum doctor as mine was on holiday thats the way she has arranged my tests. I asked if this could be changed and they said no, as i go on friday and it would take another 2 weeks for an appointment to come through. Has anyone else had their tests this way? I just presumed that everyone was refered to the breast clinic.
i would go back to your doctor and say you want to be refered urgently to a breast clinic. At this rate you are not going to get your tests done till the 18th and not get the results from that for another two weeks. if it is decided you need a biopsy then there will be a further wait for that. If you saw a doctor tomorrow you could get an urgent appointment at a breast clinic within the next 14 days and as you say get the results the same day.
Thats what i said and the doctor refused to make me another appointment. Really annoyed with the way iv been treated this time. I originally went to the doctors 6 weeks ago with this lump and was told to wait 4 weeks until i had my period and then come back , which i did because the lump was still there. So by the time I go on Friday it will have been 8 weeks since i found the lump and then i will have another wait for any results !! The doctor isnt worried because I had a breast cyst last year, so he probably thinks its the same but thats not the point
i would ring the helpline tomorrow and ask what your rights are. Just because it was a cyst last year does not mean it could not be something completely different this year.
Went to the hospital today and thankfully its just a cyst. So pleased they told me the results today. Thankyou everyone for your comments . Reading some of the discussions you are all amazing woman , once again thankyou
Michelle
absolutely fantastic news–thanks for letting us know
Well 72 hrs to go now before I have my appt at the breast clinic and I’m soooooo scared. Have phoned the helpline, they were very kind, but just can’t get it out of my head that the news will be dire and or involve more waiting, then again more waiting as further tests etc are done. This is stupid I know, but I just cannot seem to be realistic/ optimistic or even vaguely realistic/ optimistic about what’s in store and I just feel so sad, tired and then angry because I can’t be more positive. My wonderful OH is out, he has been so brilliant and I know I’m so very fortunate to have him in my life, the friends who I’ve told have been great and again I am so blessed, but this issue is consuming me. I don’t want to tell my sister yet as she’s had so much to go through in the past couple of years.
Apart from a huge kick up the bum which I keep trying to give myself(and anyone else is welcome to join in) have you any ideas on how to deal with this anxiety? I am so sorry to sound so wimpy and fully appreciate that there are many others far, far worse off than me, but I’d be so grateful and appreciative for some advice
Thanks cb1
I think what you are describing is quite ‘normal’ and ‘natural’ - the waiting and wondering and not knowing is so often the hardest… at least once you know what you have to deal with you can deal with it. Also it is quite natural that the shadows grow darker when you are on your own.
So, I don’t think you need a kick up the bum and I’m not going to send you one! What you do need is to know that there are lots of people rooting for you, many of whom have walked a similar path. If you can find enjoyable things to do that will keep you busy between now and then, I think that might help - if only as distraction.
Just about 11 months ago I was at the waiting stage, now I am moving on (and not checking back here very often except to watch the few threads I’ve commented on). It is hard to imagine just now, but all too soon you will be looking back on this anxious waiting period from a different place… and I do so hope it is one that is disease free. Be gentle with yourself, you’re doing just fine.
Hugs.
You don’t need a kick up the bum, its so natural what you are feeling & although you OH, family & friends have been great its hard to open fully to them the fears & feelings you have, I found doing this in the early days I got them saying “come on now think positive” grrrr something you dont want to hear you want to address those fears & YOU WILL as you come to terms with all the facts once you have them.
Its just all the unknown that fills us with dread, but once you know it will get easier.
Just do whatever helps you get through the next few hours drown yourself in some loud music, listening to your Ipod when going off to sleep I found this helped conciderably even taking a walk in a nearby park or where there is water … just takes the edge off for a while
sending you a big Hug
Mekala x
yes another one that its not going to tell you to pull yourself together. I know how bad it is when there is no one else there and all you can do is let the thoughts run round and round–perhaps it will be ok—what if its not—perhaps it will just need a little op—perhaps i will need chemo and loose my hair–perhaps it will not need any treatment–perhaps its spread. etc etc etc.
For some the worry can be so intense that it makes you physically ill. theres all sort of suggestions of how to cope and take your mind off it, but I am sure by now you have tried them by now. Personally i found that if i was with someone it helped,because talking about non cancer occupied one portion of my brain, leaving only half of it to worry in the background. I felt as if i was in a bubble but it was not a bad place to be. By myself I could not do anything except worry and keep coming back on here to read the posts and to ask all manner of silly questions.
Personlly I think that if you beat yourself up and try not to worry, that just makes it worse. There is nothing wrong with being scared, there is nothing wrong with thinking the worse, if that is how you mind works. If you cannot think of anything to take your mind off it then dont try, just tell your self that this is how you are going to feel for the next 72 hours. There will either be good or bad news, or more tests and more waiting. Do you think you can feel any worse than you do now?? or do you think that whatever the appointment brings it can only make you feel better? Whatever happens you can get through it.
and honestly come the day that all the results are in, and you know what the verdict is and what if anything is going to happen to you, it does all suddenly feel so much better. Everybody says so, from those that have benign lumps , to those like me that just need a little op and some radiotherapy, evan to those that need chemo say that when the treatment plan is there it is better than waiting for results.
I found my lump 8 weeks ago and have had my op. It was not untill acouple of weeks after the op that I suddenly felt normal and like me again. Today i found myself humming as I pottered round the studio. So it has taken some time for me, but it has got so much better