Hi, I'm new on here, I'm so glad this forum exists, I've been reading people's posts and it's helped already, thank you :)
I had my routine NHS mammogram last week and a few days later was asked to attend a breast assessment clinic yesterday.
It all felt a bit strange so I wanted to write about it.
When I arrived at the clinic, I was taken into a room for about 1 minute and told by a nurse that the reason I have been asked to attend is that they couldn't give me the mammogram result as they saw something in my left breast and needed to do more tests. So I would be having a mammogram then maybe an ultrasound and biopsy depending on what they found.
I was asked if I had any questions but I said no. They didnt take a history or ask about any symptoms and I didn't say anything as I thought that would happen later.
Then I was called in for a mammogram. The person said they were going to do my left breast but positioned my right breast on the machine so I said should it be the left breast and they said that it was my left breast but I said the other one was my left breast. So it felt a bit funny but they did then do the left breast and asked me to wait outside for the ultrasound. They said there were 2 people before me.
I sat in the waiting room for just over an hour. Staff were walking up and down, patients were going in and out of rooms but no-one said anything to me. I know they were busy as there were about 5 patients that afternoon and I was grateful they were seeing me but it felt like a long time and I felt quite anxious and alone.
Then I was called in to a room for the ultrasound. There was one very caring HCA who chatted with me while we waited for the doctor. She was the first person to really speak to me and smile. The doctor came in and showed me the mammogram result briefly and explained that why I had been recalled. It showed a very bright star/irregularly shaped mass.
She did the ultrasound and asked me if I wanted to see it, it was a dark mass.
Then she asked me to feel it in my breast and it was a hard lump. I asked if it could be a cyst and she said no.
She said she needed to take 3 biopsies so that was done, then she left the room. The very nice HCA stayed with me, put the dressing on etc and asked me to wait outside again.
Then after about half an hour, a nurse called me into a room, a bit abrupt. She told me about the wound care, said as the lump was suspicious she would need to refer me to a hospital for follow up and asked me which one I wanted to go to.
I chose which one then I asked her why was it worrying, how big was it etc. She said 16mm and it was worrying because of the shape etc.
Then she checked a few details on my form and said to call if I had any problems with the biopsy site etc.
Then I left.
So while I was there for over 2 hours, no-one really spoke with me to ask if I was okay apart from the lovely HCA right at the end of the afternoon. I did see staff speaking with other patients, asking them if they wanted a cup pf tea etc as it was a small waiting room with a maximum of 10 people in it including peoples relatives who had accompanied them.
I wasn't asked about symptoms etc and no-one was caring towards me but maybe that will be done at the hospital appointment.
No-one explained what it could be etc and maybe I should have asked.
So I came home feeling very lost, it was all a blur and maybe I should have asked more. I am grateful they did all the tests so quickly but I felt a bit uncared for.
So I'm just reading about what it could be and waiting for my hospital appointment which luckily came through today, for 24 June.
Sorry for my long post, I just wanted to explain how I felt as I went in there expecting just a repeat test and maybe the all clear and it ended up being scary and unexplained.
Thank you for listening x
