Hi all
I’ve been reading many posts as I wait for my results and have found the messages helpful so I thought I’d write as well, even if it’s just to get things off my chest.
I’m 39 and have family history of breast cancer (paternal aunty). I saw my GP on 2nd May because I felt a hard painless lump in my left breast and went to the breast clinic on 15th May. When I saw the consultant before the tests she told me that although the lump was hard and not moveable it seemed “fairly innocent” and that it could be a result of the lactation (I was still breastfeeding my 2 year old occasionally, not anymore). I had an ultrasound and a mammogram, then a biopsy of lump and armpit, I was inserted a titanium marker and then had another mammogram. At some point in this process the radiographer and nurse suddenly seemed different and asked me several times how I was even though I was feeling pretty calm… they were absolutely lovely but somehow it felt as if they were offering some reassurance I hadn’t really asked for so I started to feel a bit suspicious. The consultant then said they had “some level of suspicion” but that if it was cancer it’d be very treatable because the lump was 1.5-2cm and that I’d receive the results at a face to face appointment in 2-3weeks.
A few days later I received an appointment letter for the 20th June (5 weeks later!). I thought perhaps the long wait meant low priority = good news… but I called the breast care nurses and I was told they didn’t have my results yet and that unfortunately that’s just how long is taking for everyone to have a follow-up appointment at the QE hospital in Birmingham at the moment… They also told me that I wouldn’t be able to receive the results over the phone or through my GP but advised me to call in 2 weeks, when my results were ready, to see whether they could bring my appointment forward if there had been any cancellations.
I called the number they gave me last week to speak to one of the surgeons’ secretary and left a voice message. I got a call back as I was driving in a rush with my two young children in the car so I didn’t really feel like I could think very clearly or ask questions that I wish now I had asked… the secretary said they had my results and that they had “discussed” them… does that mean at a MDT meeting? And that they could offer me an appointment for the 16th June (4 days before the initial one). I think she also said that they’d call me if they had any more cancellations but by then my brain was a bit frazzled…
I think I was doing pretty well in terms of remaining calm and trying not to think about it much but today I feel all the bottled up anxiety is hitting me…
I’m sorry I’ve written such a long essay… but it feels good to share. Has anyone experienced such a long wait just to receive the results? Is anyone receiving treatment at the QE at the moment? Are delays as this common at the moment? Do all biopsy results get discussed at a MDT or just positive/uncertain ones? Should I call again to see if there have been more cancellations or will they notify me if there have? Arrrr I just can’t stop reading into all the interactions I’ve had with the doctors and nurses… and it’s not helping.
Thank you for reading :)
