Hello, I'm hoping that some of the kind people who visit here can help me out. I found a lump a couple of months ago, did the usual and waited through a cycle, then went to the GP (newly qualified young guy, utterly horrifed at the prospect of examining my middle aged boobs - had to call a female colleague! LOL) Anyway, they referred me to the Breast Clinic.
The clinic was awful, they were catching up from two cancelled clinics the week before. I was seen by the consultant who prodded the lump once, said it felt like a fatty lump and sent sent me off to sit in the waiting room for a scan. I waited an hour and a half, every other woman was duly taken down to radiology except me. Eventually I asked and it was clear they had forgotten about me - so I was shuffled down there, told to undress and lay waiting in a ultrasound room for five minutes. A man came in, didn't intoduce himself, literally spent ten seconds scanning the lump and said 'it's a ridge, no need to irradiate you for that' and left. I didn't get to see the screen, or ask any questions. I was really upset by that point. I had taken my sister with me and she was massively shocked by how quick it had been. By then several women in the waiting room were in tears.
Eventually I went back in to see the consultant. I said I didn't feel the ultrasound had been very comprehensive and was told the man was an expert and knew what he was doing. Before I knew it i was back on the bed having an FNA. the first sample was bloody, the second fine, but taken from the area next to the lump.
Before my results werre available i recieved a copy of the GP letter stating that after thorough examination they felt the lump to be fatty tissue, confrimed on ultrasound and that the rest of my exam was unremarkable. Given that i had no exam, he just poked the lump with one finger, didn't check my armpit, my collarbone or check the rest of the breast or my other breast...
I called for the results a few days later and was told the cells showed normal breast tissue.
Given that I had a triple assessment I should be reassured by this, but I can't seem to let it go. I am 45, have two paternal aunts dead from BC, four maternal Aunts with early diagnosed BC, one with OVCA and a cousin with a double mastectomy aged 25. Since my clinic visit two weeks ago, the lump has grown and several other thickened areas seem to have popped up around it.
I'm really trying to be rational about this - but would like to know what others think. Did I have an adequate exam, can I trust the result or should I push for another clinic appointment?
Any advice/experiences would be extremely helpful. Thank you.
