YOUNGER MALE RELATIVE WITH MASS
YOUNGER MALE RELATIVE WITH MASS I HAVE A MALE RELATIVE AGED 26 WHO FOUND A LARGE LUMP OVER A MONTH AGO ON HIS BREAST.HE WENT TO HIS GP WHO WAS CONCERNED THAT THE LUMP WAS GROWING IN SIZE AND HE ADMITTED HE THOUGHT IT WAS CANCER. MY FAMILY MEMBER WAS THEN SENT TO THE BREAST CLINIC ON THURSDAY.HIS APPOINTMENT CARD THAT HE RECIEVED STATED HE WOULD RECIEVE A SCAN AND A BIOPSY BUT WHEN HE WENT TO THE SPECIALIST THIS DID NOT OCCUR.THE SPECIALIST LOOKED AT THE LUMP AND ALSO EXAMINED IT.HE SAID HE THOUGHT IT WAS A TUMOUR/CYST BUT THAT IT WAS NON-MALIGNANT AND DID NOT HAVE TO BE OPERATED ON.MY RELATIVE ASKED IF HE COULD HAVE THE OPTION TO HAVE THIS REMOVED AND THE SPECIALIST STATED NO AND SAID HE DID NOT NEED FURTHER TESTS.HE ALSO STATED AS HE IS OVERWEIGHT IT WILL BE MORE COMMON FOR HIM TO DEVELOP THESE MASSES. UNDERSTANDBLY MY RELATIVE IS EXTREMLY CONFUSED AS TO HOW THE SPECIALIST DETECTED THIS IS NON-MALIGNANT WITHOUT FURTHER TESTS.SHOULD HE SEEK A SECOND OPINION?OR SHOULD WE BE HAPPY WITH THE INFORMATION GIVEN. MANY THANKS
For Therese Hi Therese,
I am sorry to learn of your relatives problem. I would suggest that for further information and assistance either you or your relative contact BCC’s freefone helpline where you will be able to speak to a breast care nurse in confidence about your concerns.
The number to phone is 0808 800 6000, the lines being open Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm and Saturdays 9am - 2pm.
I hope this is of help to you.
Kind regards
BCC Host
Lump on relative’s breast Hi Therese - I really think you should ask your relative to go back to his GP and ask for a second opinion - he is absolutely entitled to do this. I am really appalled at his treatment. No doctor, consultant or otherwise, can determine if a “lump” is benign or malignant without some tissue being sent to a pathology dept. Mammos and ultrasound can give the radiologist a fair opinion as whether it is malignant or not (my lump was spiculated (like a starburst at the edges) and this is usually a sign that the tumour is malignant),but the ONLY way to get a positive diagnosis is through a biopsy. Some 80% of lumps are found to be benign, but men do get breast cancer, and being overweight is not a reason to deny proper testing. The very least your relative should have received was a mammogram and a biopsy. My husband is overweight and has quite large breasts, but if he had a lump of any kind, I would actively encourage him to get it biopsied. There is an old cliche: “the only good lump is one in a jar”, which is quite true.
The Moderator’s advice on ringing one of their breast care nurses may give you the information you need for your relative to be proactive- I have used them a couple of times and found them to be highly knowledgeable, and very compassionate. You don’t have to divulge any information that you don’t wish to give.
I hope your relative seeks further advice, and that perhaps some of our male members may see your post and respond.
Take care,
Liz.
Hi THERESE180884
I clicked on here by mistake I don’t normally come onto this page but I too am disgusted by this treatment, at 26 he has a lifetime ahead of him, please, please get a 2nd opinion it is your right to do this, I am female and they kept telling me mine was a cyst it wasnt, not trying to scare you but it is far better to be safe than sorry…
Love Lucy