Worried

Public Archive
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I’m 33 and last week I got a horrible pain in my left breast. I always have tenderness before my period but I wasn’t due on for another few weeks. Anyhow by thursday evening my left breast had swollen up and gone really hard. I can now feel a small lump right behind the nipple and my breast is itching. It is still very tender and sore. I have booked an appointment with my GP tomorrow but am unsure weather I should go or not.

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Hi Olliejoe,

Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care chat forums where I am sure you will get lots of support from the many informed users of this site. As to your thoughts about not seeing your GP, BCC would advise that you keep this appointment and get your problem checked out, it may be nothing to worry about but it still needs to be checked by a professional.

Kind regards,
Jo, Facilitator

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Hi Olliejoe

I can only agree with Jo - it is important that you get this checked out. Hopefully it will be nothing to worry about and (in the nicest possible way) we won’t hear from you again. But any problem such as this needs to be checked, for your own peace of mind.

Please do go to the appointment - and let us know how you get on

take care

Margaret

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Hi
Yes you really should not miss the appiontment with your GP and you will only worry if you do not go. Take care.
Alice

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Hi Olliejoe

Please do go and see your GP as the others have said.

I have a total aversion to going to the doctors if it is for anything more than listening to my chest/taking blood pressure. I hate anything physical/being examined (following a bad experience with a gynacologist at the age of 12 !!!) but I forced myself to go to my GP although it did take a few weeks to do so.

The reason I am saying this is that if I can do it, anyone can.

I have my breast clinic appointment tomorrow and I am ok but I am more stressed about being undressed/examined than i am about what the results might be.

You havent said if it is anxiety at going to the GP that is making you think twice about going , or whether you think it is something that doesnt need looking into. Either way please do go and set your mind at rest.

Please let us know how you go on.

Take care

Hannah2 x

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Thanks for all your replies.

I hate going to the doctors for anything and feel that this will probably turn out to be nothing so didn’t want to waste my GP’s time. I know it’s not normal for me to have so much pain. I tend to be a bit tender before a period and that’s it. also I have nearly finished now and still have the pain, and a painful area in my left breast when I touch it. I’m also feeling sick but this could just be worry.

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Olliejoe, I am sorry that you are this worried but believe me it will be better to get the visit to the Doctors over sooner rather than later.

As I have said I have my clinic appointment tomorrow and to say I am dreading it would be an understatement, not for the worries of the results but because i have a deep hatred/fear of being exposed/examined. Please believe me when i say that if i can do this anyone can. What time is your appointment? Mine is 13.45 so if it is anywhere near that time we will be going through things together.

What i did when i went to my GP a few weeks ago and was being examined was to concentrate on not being there, if that makes sense, I focused on my “happy place” somewhere from my past where i was extremely happy and relaxed. I know i probably sound mental but it gave me a way of coping without freaking out.

I understand what you mean about the pain, i normally have pain just before my period but just before christmas it started to be there all the time and it has gradually got worse…this needs looking at just in case. However, i did have to tell myself this over and over again in order to make the appointment in the first place.

Please take care and let us know how you get on at the doctors. Thinking of you.

Hannah2 x

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Thanks Hannah

I have my appointment at 10.50 this morning, and am really not looking forward to it at all.

I hope everything goes ok for you today and I’ll be thinking of you as well.

I let you know how I get on

Sarah x

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Hi Olliejoe

I dont know if I have caught you before you leave…thinking of you and hope it goes ok.

Be strong and dont forget to let us know how you get on.

Thanks for your best wishes…just want it over with now.

Hannah2 x

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Good luck and best wishes for today Sarah,
hope it all goes well
take care
claire xx

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Thanks for everyones best wishes.

I have just got back from the doctors. she reckons I have an infection and it is clearing up now. She want’s to keep an eye on it so I have to go back in a few weeks time so hopefully it will be all gone by then.

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Hi OllieJoe

So glad to hear your news - obviously sorry you have an infection ! But thank goodness that’s all it was.

best wishes to you

Margaret x

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Hi,

Thats great news, fingers crossed it clears up quickly for you

claire xx

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Hi Sarah,

Glad you managed to make it to the appointment and glad that you GP thinks it is “only” an infection.

Take care and hope it sorts itself out soon.

All the best.

Hannah2 x

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Thanks Hannah.

I still feel a bit concerned as she has asked me to go back.

Glad to hear your’e news too.

Take care

x

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Hi all.

I went back to my GP today. I still have the pains in my left breast so she has now refered me to the breast clinic. I am quite concerned now as I was hoping it was
going to be the end of it today. Can anyone advise me on what happens at the clinic

Thanks
Sarah

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You’ll have an examination, ultrasound and then if there is a lump they may pass a needle into it and biopsy it. They are really kind and reassuring, and you’ll feel much better once the wait is over.

I am 31 had a red, sore lump and got tested last week, and it turned out to be an abscess that needs antibiotics (and potentially further treatment.) but it’s nothing dreadful. So don’t assume the worst – but whatever it is it makes a lot of sense for you to get tested and treated as soon as possible.

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Hi Olliejoe

You may find it useful to read our booklet on being referred to a breast clinic. It can be found by following the link below:-

breastcancercare.org.uk//docs/referral_07_0.pdf

I hope you find this helpful.

Kind regards

Sam
BCC Facilitator

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Hi all.

Just a quick update and a question. I have got an appointment at the clinic on the 9th April and I’m really not looking forward to it. I’ve even come close to canceling it. Things seemed to have settled down on the pain front now, and I just have a tender patch on the edge of the nipple. I have had a dark patch appear at the top of my breast now, and initially did have some pain with this, which seems to have gone. Also every time I start my period I am getting colds, and feeling light headed. I don’t know if this is connected at all, but it all seems to have started since I first had problems. Has anyone else experienced this.

Hope everyone is doing ok.

Thanks
Sarah
x

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Hi Sarah

I’m not surethat anyone looks forward to these appts - all I would say is please don’t cancel. Hopefully it will give you some peace of mind if your symptoms are subsiding. I haven’t had periods for over 20 years as I have been on depo provera injections which stopped them so can’t comment on that issue.

I think if you don’t attend the appt you will always have the niggling worries - so surely it isbest to go and get it sorted once and for all.

I hope everything goes ok for you - will be thinking of you

take care
margaret x