10 day referral to breast clinic after seeing GP

Hi @Haley28

I know you would rather not be here but welcome to our community.

My story is on my profile .

This is the right place to come as we have all been there and know what it feels like . I'm sure there will be quite a few replies for you.

In all of this the waiting is the worst and how you cope is different for everyone . 

Firstly please don't google a lot of  the info is out of date do what you have already done and ask on here .There is so much personal knowledge on here .

All I can tell you is the routine at my clinic and can't say for elsewhere although I do believe it is similar .

I had already had routine mammogram which showed calcification ( a group of small white shapes in breast ) I was recalled .

The first step was a mammogram and a ultrasound . Next was a biopsy . Yes it can be uncomfortable but it needs to be done .

you then enter waiting game again for results .They will tell you how long it will be . 

Before you go write down any questions you have and ask them the nurses and radiographers are there to help .

How do you cope with the anxiety it's difficult to say . Try not to bottle it up , cry if you need to ,but also keep busy and try to carry on as normal . Most people find that  once things are happening you cope far better than you think.

Hopefully you won't be waiting long 

let us know how you get on

Margaret x

Hi Margaret.

Thankyou for the quick response (:

I will read your story now if that’s okay?

Yes waiting and my anxiety is such a struggle right now lol, I just find all family and my partner that I’ve told all have the same response, you’ll be fine, it’ll be nothing! .... well yes that can Be the case but it may also be something else? I know they’re nervous and scared too but I feel I get shut down as soon as I speak about it, so finding this group will give me some relief and information :) 

thank you also for all the information you have just given, I really appreciate it, do they do the tests the same day as your initial appointment or do you have to go back for them, then back again for the results? 

Thank you!

love & hugs straight back at you xxx

Because of your age you'll probably have an ultrasound first, and may or may not have a mammogram as well as your breasts are more dense at that age. They will take biopsies of the lump if it isn't clear what it is from the ultrasound, and they will also check your lymph nodes. A doctor will examine your breast as well. If they see anything obvious either way they might tell you, but the biopsy takes a few days, so you'll have to wait for the results if you have one.

As has been already said, the waiting for tests and results is one of the worst parts! In my previous 2 mammograms I was recalled and had ultrasounds as my left breast was a but odd, but they didn't need to take biopsies and could see that it was fine. This time when I was referred I was expecting the same, but it unfortunately wasn't, which i why I'm still here on this brilliant forum.

Hi

Test were  done on my first breast clinic appointment but please remember I can only talk about my area (North east ) .  I then went back in for results

I was not referred by Gp it was mammogram recall .

You will find that the You'll be fine will be said by Family and Friends because as you rightly say they don't want to believe any thing else.

it would be good if they can say  told you so .,but in the meantime use this forum to vent ,rage or surprisingly have a giggle . Explore the different discussions .

Tell your partner ok all may be fine but at the moment you are worried and you need comforting 

My hubby is lucky he still here after saying he wouldn't come to hospital as the dog would be on its own too long

He had no idea how serious a call back could be . 

Margaret x

Hi Hayley,

Sorry you have joined this club but a big welcome. You will find all the women here are very supportive of each other as we have all been where you are.

First of all you have got help quickly so that’s good. Also you have come on this site which is brave.

In many cases a breast lump turns out to be ok and the doctors and nurses at the breast clinic are very kind so try not to worry too much as it may not turn out to be anything to worry about.

I can only give you my experience at what happened at the breast clinic but no doubt it will be a similar approach. First step is a detailed mammogram. The radiologists will reassure you all is ok or in my case I then went for an ultrasound followed by a biopsy which involves taking a very small part of the lump to send to the lab for testing. This was not painful so don’t worry - just a bit uncomfortable. They locally anaethesise the area first.

Then results will come through after another wait and you will get your diagnosis and plan of action.

 And the worst part as probably others will tell you is the waiting. It is the hardest thing to bear as your imagination can run riot and it is hard to keep calm especially if you wake up in the middle of the night. It is a huge learning curve to learn about what can happen but in reading you realise that our health service and treatment are rather marvellous and with all the advancement in medicine there are so many many women well and healthy after treatment.

So stay positive, try your best not to imagine the worst. You are young and strong and every good wish for the future. 

Hope this has helped a little as it’s a scary time.

Love Jojodot

Hi Hayley and welcome to the group. The waiting for results is really the worst part as it's easy to imagine all sorts and let your mind run away with you. Keep busy and do nice things to distract yourself. You'll probably have a mammogram and ultrasound scan and a biopsy. This doesn't hurt at all. I had 5 on different occasions and they were no problem. Try to be positive, I know it's not easy. My daughter's friend was very worried about a lump and it turned out to be just that, a benign lump. I think it was a swollen milk duct. She's about your age. So remember to treat yourself, get your nails done, have coffee with friends, eat out or anything else you enjoy doing. My partner and I went to Vegas for a week, we already had this planned, and it was the best thing we could have done. I was so busy enjoying myself I forgot about my lump. I've now had my surgery, healing well and not half as bad as I imagined. Starting chemo on Thursday and feeling apprehensive but quite positive. Sooner it starts sooner it ends. Hope you get your results soon.

Big hugs, Babs ️

Hi Hayley and welcome to the group. The waiting for results is really the worst part as it's easy to imagine all sorts and let your mind run away with you. Keep busy and do nice things to distract yourself. You'll probably have a mammogram and ultrasound scan and a biopsy. This doesn't hurt at all. I had 5 on different occasions and they were no problem. Try to be positive, I know it's not easy. My daughter's friend was very worried about a lump and it turned out to be just that, a benign lump. I think it was a swollen milk duct. She's about your age. So remember to treat yourself, get your nails done, have coffee with friends, eat out or anything else you enjoy doing. My partner and I went to Vegas for a week, we already had this planned, and it was the best thing we could have done. I was so busy enjoying myself I forgot about my lump. I've now had my surgery, healing well and not half as bad as I imagined. Starting chemo on Thursday and feeling apprehensive but quite positive. Sooner it starts sooner it ends. Hope you get your results soon.

Big hugs, Babs ️

Hi 

See you have had lots of welcoming replies, it's great like that here 

Just wanted to let you know Macmillan has a booklet titled "Understanding Breast Screening"

If you click / tap the cover image below it should open or download for you to save for you to have a read through.  It is a worrying time but try to think of this as hopefully ruling cancer out and finding something benign, rather than the opposite. What happens during the appointment starts on page 21...

As mentioned an ultrasound scan can be more accurate/clearer than a mammogram in younger women as the breast tissue is more dense. 

It is going to be a mentally tough couple of weeks to get through so don't hesitate in posting more messages here and everyone will help you get through the waiting period.

Fingers tightly crossed for you, G n' J