Am I worrying over nothing? (IBC/Breast cancer)

Hi, when it comes to worries about cancer there’s no such thing as wasting a Dr’s time. There are lots of things that could cause your symptoms, but the medics are the ones who will know. Don’t sit on worries please. Speak to your gp xx

Hi Tinkabel

If it’s not normal for you then it’s worth getting checked out. You need to know either way if it’s worrying you, which it clearly is, and fingers crossed it’s something easily explainable. And it’s definitely not a waste of your GPs time so please don’t ever think that. 

Take care
Sam

I can only add to what the others have said, definitely go and see your gp and get a referral to the breast clinic. It may well be nothing but it’s a change, a significant one and you must get it checked. Don’t think for one minute you’re wasting anyone’s time, you’re really not. All the best and good luck xx

Hi Tinkabel , you’re very welcome here and I’m hoping yours will be a short membership. Definitely get it checked out and definitely not wasting any doctor’s time. Always better to be checked if something changes. I’ve had numerous referrals over the years (I’m now 65) and have had a variety of ‘conditions’ - nodular breasts, duct ectasia, cysts and fibroadenoma - then at 59 the ‘thickening’ I’d found was cancer. Most referrals do not result in a cancer diagnosis but it’s always best to be sure. Wishing you well, keep posting here and let us know how you get on. Love and hugs, HFxx

Hi Tinkerbel

Your GP would rather you come and get the all clear than to be worrying yourself sick over something that is”is probably nothing.  Have you seen the TV advert that is on about 4times a day. - it’s a man with a wind up box he is carrying around for weeks and it says.

Don’t carry the worry about cancer around get checked out by your doctor and put your mind at ease.

make an appointment tomorrow and let us know how you get on.  All good wishes Xxx

Just a little update for you all...

Went to my GP who did an exam, agreed with asymmetry and referred me to my local breast clinic. Within 4 hours the referral was done and I have an appointment booked at the breast clinic for less than 2 weeks away.

Is this a normal time frame or a reason to think that there's concern? 

My GP agreed with me that having just the swelling/change in size and tenderness with no skin changes, lump or anything else means she thinks it's pretty unlikely that there's anything sinister going on. However, I can't find much online as to what else could cause this change, and she didn't mention anything.

Unfortunately I am the type of person that hates the unknown and really needs to know what's causing this, if it isn't anything sinister. Will the breast clinic be able to tell me?

Really great news. The timeframe is perfect, the national guidelines state that you should be seen within 2 weeks although many trusts have been missing this recently so it’s great news you’re within that. Many places now have a one visit clinic so yes you will find out on the day if they are really concerned, should they have the same set up. I was treated primarily at Wycombe (some at Stoke Mandeville) and I arrived, had the mammogram, was told to wait in the next area which had a few people in there, some were then told, all is well you can go but I was told ok we need to ultrasound, that was about half hour later, then biopsied about an hour after that. I then waited about an hour and was taken to see the consultant who told me it was breast cancer and the biopsies would identify which type. I was then taken to a room by a nurse to have a cup of tea and ask questions. It took about 3/4 hours I guess. All the best of luck, try not to google, try to mentally shelve it, hard I know but you can do no more for now and one thing I’ve learned is worrying won’t change anything, let us know how you get on x

Hi Tinkabel  - re timescale, I think this is normal, and certainly was when I was referred even back in 2018. Good it’s being checked out. Whether they can tell you at the breast clinic there and then depends on a few factors - I can only speak from my own and friends’ experiences but here’s what I know… In my case, at my initial breast clinic visit, after mammogram and ultrasound (and biopsies) the doctor told me that she was sure it was cancer. She said it appeared small and likely early stage. At my biopsy results appointment the cancer was confirmed and the type identified. But a friend had a different experience - she had a recall from a routine mammogram, and at her breast clinic appointment they said they couldn’t say for sure what it was and that although it didn’t appear to be malignant, only the biopsy results would say for sure. Luckily the results showed that whatever it was, it was benign and no further investigations needed. 
Also from posts here, clinics seem to vary as to how much is said at that first appointment. 
Sorry you’re in waiting limbo, try to stay away from Google and distract yourself from dwelling on it, easier said than done, I know. And it’s good that your GP is referring you as anything ‘different’ should be checked out. Love and hugs, HFxx

PS over the years I’ve had 5 breast clinic referrals and only the most recent turned out to be cancer. Most aren’t. Xxx

2 weeks is the guidance so it's good that you're getting it checked out. It could be nothing but it is definitely better to know than not. I have been to the breast clinic twice. Be prepared to spend a decent amount of time there. Both times I've been I was there for about 3 hours. Timing will depend on what investigations they want to do and what they find. They start with a physical exam and take a history, then a mammogram. Both times they found something on my mammogram so they then did ultrasound and finally biopsied the lumps they found using a local anaesthetic and a large bore needle. 

Once they had done all of that then I met with with registrar who did the history and they explained next steps. Both times they told me that there would be a 10 day wait for the histology results and for the team to meet and go through findings. They also told me whether they thought there would be a problem or not. The first time they were pretty sure it was a benign lump (they confirmed it 2 weeks later in a phone consultation) The second time they said they weren't sure what it was but there was definite anatomy change. They called me in for a face to face consultation after 10 days to say it was cancer and what the treatment plan was. 

Every medical person I have had dealings with during this time have been kind, helpful and knowledgeable and have given me as long as I needed to ask questions. Never have I been made to feel that something I raised was a waste of time including my initial appointment with the GP.  I can not recommend my team enough. 

Here's hoping everything is ok. You are doing the right thing getting it looked at. 

Best wishes

H

Hi Tinkabell

Yes I would say 2 weeks is normal for you to get an appt and even luckier if your appt is within the 2 weeks.

I was offered a breast screening a little earlier than normal in my area and I was called in for a further mammogram and biopsy as I had a undetermined lump of tissue in my left breast. Turned out it was something I'd had since puberty. 

To put it into perspective there are more non cancerous reasons for lumps, swelling, etc. than cancerous. However the only way to confirm it is to get it checked out. You can tell from symptoms or touch and feel. 

Hopefully you won't be here long (in the nicest possible way)!

Best wishes