Awaiting appointment

A lump appeared in my right breast overnight. Coincidentally, I had received the letter for my first mammogram a month earlier, but I ignored it. Luckily, when the lump appeared, I had the letter with me and was able to schedule the exam for the following week. Nothing showed up on the mammogram, maybe because I had implants. Because I had a visible lump, the next step would be a biopsy. To summarise, I let the hospital handle the situation and wait for results and contact instead of going to my GP. This back-and-forth process took almost 2 months. I had the result confirming that it was a cancerous tumour, but they still didn't know the type, and the plan was to have surgery in 2 months.

I had a breakthrough and didn't want to wait. I sought out a private surgeon, and he looked for my results, which had been ready for some time. The type of cancer was the most aggressive possible, and at that stage, it had already grown to almost 2 cm. The surgery was cancelled, and I started chemotherapy in 2 weeks. In your case may be nothing; my mum had a lump for ages and just went to see a doctor because we insisted, and it was nothing.
The message I want to convey here is that if you feel a lump in your breast, don't wait; see a doctor immediately. Hope everything will be fine with you.

Thank you for your reply

I am so sorry you are going through this! Sounds like you did everything necessary and I hope that you are doing okay mentally. The way that medicine is nowadays, i am sure you will be in safe hands. I hope you have all the love and support that you need during this journey .

Thank you! I am sure it will be fine, ive never been health scared, I am a "it is what it is and we will do what we can do" type of person so I know that i wont worry much.

Good luck with your treatment, you got this.

I'm I reading this correctly . You had a three week wait for an appointment?

To see your GP?

My appointment is this coming monday, by the time the appointment comes around it would have been a 4 week wait. Pretty standard for my GP surgery unfortunately.

Hi Thewaitbegins 

I am sorry you are dealing with the uncertainty of having found a lump, and that it’s taken so long to get a GP appointment. Please don’t think you are a fraud or that you are wasting your doctor’s time. It’s always best to get these things checked out. If your doctor is in any doubt at all he/she will refer you to the breast clinic for further investigation. Whilst it’s unsettling to go through that it’s much better to find out what it is. If it does turn out to be cancer then the sooner it is treated the better. Wishing you all the best for your upcoming appointment. 

Coddfish, thank you so much for taking the time to reply  it is appreciated. Thanknyou for your kind words.

Yes, your right. Its better to be safe than sorry, I just hate to take up an appointment if it is nothing. I was considering cancelling the appointment and leaving it a few weeks and rebook if it remained but you are right. Its been 3 months and it hasn't gone yet.

Thank you for your well wishes. And I am pleased to read that you are in remission! Fantastic news.

This isn't helpful in a way for you but I cannot get my head around that wait for a GP appointment. I've been seen by my GP and had the three stage tests all done within three weeks. The first time I think I had even got my diagnosis.

I'm the past three weeks since my surgery I've got appointments, granted just over the phone, within the day. The first one was so quick even I was shocked. I rang at lunchtime and had an appointment by tax-free time. 

As for wasting GPs time you really must go to the appointment. The first couple of times i. Was examined. However this last time all I did was indicate on a screen where I'd felt the lump. The GP really can't diagnose anything with 100% certainty and that is what you need. Breast Care teams are amazing and you will be cared for and things explained every step of the way. 

I do hope things are all good for you but if not you will be so glad you went through with everything. The GP appointment could save your life.

Bottom out hugs. ( I'm still a bit delicate after surgery)

Hi Silverberg,

So sorry i didnt reply, my notifications were off! 

Thank you so much for your message! Sorry to hear what you have been going through. I do hope you are doing okay?

I had my appointment today..it finally came around.

So the GP felt the lump I went about, and referred me as he said it isnt as moveable as he would like it to be. 

He also found another lump which he was more concerned about, which i now feel after he mentioned it and I didnt even think it was a lump as its huge and solid I assumed it was a bone as its located more towards the centre, if that makes sense. He also checked the normal breast (right) first, and when finished he asked me to squeeze to make sure it wasnt leaking?? However it did leak and he looked at the nurse like he had been slapped in the face, then took a minute to composed himself and asked if I have had a baby recently, my youngest is 3. Then when he proceeded to the concerned breast, I wondered why he didnt ask me to squeeze that one to?

Im not overly concerned but im very pleased I went now all the same :) I felt like I was being daft going. I am told I will hear within two weeks with an appointment.