Hi all. I found a lump in my breast last week. I've got an appointment with a consultant next Monday, and hubby and I are both struggling with the stress of the wait. It just feels like the pause button has been pressed on our lives but everything else is still charging along regardless. We've got a family holiday booked to the north of Scotland from Oct 12th to 19th, and a family trip to the NFL in London the following weekend, though we've yet to book accommodation and flights for that trip. But what do we do? If the consultant next week is concerned enough to do a biopsy or whatever, I'm assuming it will be at least another week before results are available? So we just don't know whether or not to book anything, but if we leave it too late we might not be able to get appropriate accommodation or flights (assuming I've got the all clear). We're worried we'll have to cut our Oct holiday short or cancel altogether in case I have to attend any more appointments, but our boys would want to know why and we don't want to have to tell them until we know either way. I'm at medium risk of breast cancer due to family history and my last mammogram back in May was clear. But this is a definite lump and I'm so worried about it. Mum was 53 when she was diagnosed and 59 when she passed away 5 years ago. I'm only 41, but still worry about it. She had 2 types of breast cancer simultaneously (sorry I'm not great with the technical terms) - a non-invasive lump (she had a mastectomy), but also a rare invasive mets type that left her with chronic lymphodema and, after a brief 2 year remission, eventually spread to her liver and spine. I feel so guilty for feeling this worried when this lump could turn out to be a harmless cyst. But it's impossible not to worry after seeing what my mum went through, how much damage the treatment did to her body and how much she suffered. She fought with every cell of her being until the very end, and I worry that if the news isn't good for me that I'll not be able to be as strong as her. Sorry to blurb all this out but I can't bear to worry my wider family about it unless I absolutely have to because they've been through enough. Yet I feel like I'm being pathetic because so many people deal with the same situation every day.
Hi and a warm welcome to the online community
First of all can I apologise that your post was missed yesterday and no one came along to point you in the direction of where to get help from on this site.
Waiting for appointments, tests, etc is always stressful and there's no easy answer on how to cope. However, if you join the breast cancer group you'll find lots of people in the same position as you or who have been in this position and have now come through the other side who will be willing to share their experiences with you. They may also be able to give you an idea of whether the consultant will be able to work around your planned holiday or not.
To join just click on the link I've created and then choose 'join this group' on the page that opens. You can then introduce yourself or post a question after selecting 'start a discussion' and join in with existing conversations by clicking on 'reply'.
When you feel up to it, it would be really useful if could pop something about your journey so far into your profile as it helps others when answering or looking for someone with a similar diagnosis. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Edit Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
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"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Latchbrook,
thanks very much for pointing me in the right direction - it’s much appreciated. I’ll follow your advice and head over there 
