I’ve been referred to the breast clinic around a lump in my armpit (clinically LN) i’m very worried about having cancer only being 17, GP has said he doesn’t believe it’s cancer but i’m not so confident, any advice to deal with this?
I’ve been referred to the breast clinic around a lump in my armpit (clinically LN) i’m very worried about having cancer only being 17, GP has said he doesn’t believe it’s cancer but i’m not so confident, any advice to deal with this?
Hello ebliving
Thanks for getting in touch. My name is Helen, I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurses on the Macmillan Support Line.
Welcome to the online community.
I was sorry to learn that you have been referred to the breast clinic for an enlarged lymph node in your armpit.
It’s normal to worry about a referral to a specialist. However, breast cancer in young people is not common – indeed it is rare. This means that the cause of your enlarged lymph node is most likely going to be the common one (such as infection) rather than the rare cause and would account for your GP’s low level of suspicions.
I don’t know if it helps to explain what might happen at the clinic, but hopefully it will mean you feel more prepared. I expect the doctor will examine your armpit and your breasts. They may also decide to do an ultrasound of your breasts.
Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce images of the inside of your body. A special gel is applied to the skin to make contact between the ultrasound probe and your skin. The probe is moved over the area of the armpit being examined. This produces an image on a screen, which doctors can use to understand what’s happening inside your body.
You will be able to eat and drink normally before your appointment and the investigation is not painful, just a little cold. You may be asked to wear a gown to make the investigation easier and you will also likely be asked to lie down to enable the person doing the ultrasound to get good pictures.
Sometimes other tests are necessary depending on what the ultrasound shows. This might be an x-ray (called a mammogram) or even a biopsy, where a small amount of tissue is removed from the lymph node to be sent away to be tested. These tests are unlikely if the ultrasound doesn’t show any concern.
It’s important you have someone with you to support you, such as a parent. You can check who you can bring and if they can accompany you into the clinic room.
You may get the results there and then, or you may need to wait for a doctor to read the scans and report on them. Do make sure you know how you will be informed (a letter, or a call) and when, before you leave the department.
If you are at college, it’s worth letting them know a little of what is going on for you as you might be distracted and less focused for a while. They don’t need to know all the details, but it will help them help you if they are aware.
Make sure that you are eating well, getting some physical exercise each day and prioritising your sleep. It’s really important to look after your mental health, so try hard not to google your symptoms as that is not going to be helpful right now and keep in contact with friends that make you laugh.
You might also like to know about Shout who can be a support when feeling anxious.
I hope this information is useful and please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.
The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.
Best wishes, Helen
Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
Ref HM/LR
