Reassurance

[Kitty1979]

Hi, I'm 31 and found a lump on my left Breast about 2 weeks ago,
Went to the doctor who wasn't overly concerned and has referred me to the breast clinic and said I should hear in about 2-3 weeks about an appointment.
Im totally panicking though and fearing the worst (as I do with all scenarios in life!)

Has anyone else been referred like this? Xx

[murraymints]

9 out of 10 times it is nothing...I know you will not stop worrying 'till you are seen.....

[ummmm]

No. But if the doctor wasn't too concerned the chances are it's innocent. Try not to worry...and good luck x

[DTCwordfan]

Some women can really have dense cells in there which aren't even a cyst. My ex had this and all they have done is keep an annual scan going to ensure nothing develops. As folk have said, there is nothing yet to be too concerned about.

[Bbbananas]

Did they say they were referring you 'fast track' or on a '2 week wait', or to a routine breast clinic?

I wouldn't worry too much Kitty - most breast lumps turn out to be benign. Docs refer for reassurance. It's natural to worry though.

[Kitty1979]

Thank you for your answers :)
He said he was referring me to the breast clinic and it would be a 2-3 week wait, didn't mention any urgency or anything, said if I don't hear in that time then to phone the surgery and chase it!

[mccfluff]

i haven't but i went with my friend who went to get her's checked and it was just a cyst, good luck x

[murraymints]

good luck Kitty...let us know how things go...

[Bbbananas]

It sounds like a routine referral to me kitty - my own daughter, aged 26, had such a referral for a breast lump last year. She was absolutely fine - turned out to be a swollen lymph node.

Chase it by all means if you don't hear within 3 weeks, but it does sound routine and nothing to worry too much about xx

[Kitty1979]

Thank you, I hadn't been on here for ages (used to be under another name but forgot my login details!) and you have really reassured me today and I can't thank you enough (I will let you know how I get on ) x

[Eve]

I've had a few scares and been referred on the emergency system where you are seen within days before now so if there is a major concern (for example, if there is tethering on the skin) they tend to move a lot faster.

The couple of times I was referred, the team were fantastic, seen by a breast surgeoen and specialist nurse and had an examination, ultrasound and biopsy (fine needle aspiration) on the day and, one time, even got the results the same day.

It is scary, when they fastracked me and, on top of that, I was more worried as they said there was tethering. I didn't have a GP at the time and they wouldn't let me leave the walk in centre until they had got me booking in with a local GP as an emergency to see them to book me into the breast clinic where I was then seen very quickly.

They were just harmless fibrous adenomas - most instances are harmless (if scary) but you are doing the best thing getting it checked out.

When you say "on your breast", do you mean as in visible (eg on the skin) or actually inside the breast itself?

Let us know how you get on x

[Kitty1979]

Thank you for your response Jenna, that must have been really scary for you!
It's kinda when I press on my breast, like I noticed it in the shower when I was washing so it's not like I can see it I can just feel it when I press for it? Xx

[Sqad]

Kitty

Most women have a normal test result. However, about 1 in 20 women is asked to attend again for further more detailed tests. This may be because the X-ray picture is not clear, or to look more closely at a particular area of the breast. This is obviously a concern, but only 1 in 8 of women called back for further tests actually has cancer. In the rest (7 in 8), the shadows, marks or other abnormalities that are detected in the screening test turn out to be harmless.

These figures are just approximations, but hope they help to reassure you.

[chazza]

I had a similar experience to Jenna, ultrasound, needle biopsy and results the same day.

it turned out to be a thing called a breast "mouse" which was very common and completely harmless. It just went away on its own!

[Barmaid]

Kitty, I've only just seen this. I had a lump a couple of years ago. I was fast-tracked and it scared the bejeezus out of me. I had to go and have a fine needle aspiration too. It was completely benign though.

If they were worried, then would have you in in days - not weeks. This is a precaution because you have a lump and nothing more. I understand that the majority of lumps and breast abnormalities are nothing to worry about.

Easy for me to say, but do try not to worry (no one will blame you for worrying, I was in bits for weeks but the relief was incredible).

Do let us know how you get on.

[Kitty1979]

Thanks barmaid!
That's really helped, I think I just panicked at being referred and decided it meant something awful :)
I have decided to chill out about it as the answers on here have reassured me, will all be fine im sure :)x