Breast Clinic

Hi CrochetPud

Sorry you're having to go through this.

They will be as frank with you as possible. I had a biopsy but they told me it was cancer on the day, before receiving the results. They are usually confident they know what they're looking at. Although it's awful to hear, it does help to know as early as possible.

I hope it's good news for you. But if it is cancer, know that you'll be in the best hands and the range of treatment options is so wide.

They told me it was a suspicious mass. A dense area usually indicates this, a cyst is different and usually has fluid in it. My gut instinct told me it was. 

They were very kind and supportive, helped me get through it. X

I think it depends on which DR you get to see on the day.  I have a mammogram followed by an ultrasound.  I knew it was dodgy then because the room went very quiet.  I then saw a DR who gave me a date for the biopsy results but didn't tell me anything although the nurse in the room asked if I wanted to speak with a specialist nurse before I left - that was a really big clue!!  I didn't actually get confirmation for another 2 weeks.  Good luck and hope you get a good result!

I think the point of the 'one stop shop' breast clinics is to give you as much info on the day as possible. They can tell a lot from the scans and they can tell if it is definitely not cancer - such as a fluid-filled cyst as mentioned by others.

They cannot diagnose cancer without the results of a biopsy, but they can give you a good idea. I had mammogram, ultrasound, a wire clip inserted, went back for another mammogram and then had biopsies. I went back to see the consultant after all of that (they had said I may just go home without seeing consultant, depending on what they find). 

My consultant said it was very likely cancer, given history in the family, size and shape of lump and the fact it was very hard and didn't move.

I assumed I had cancer from then on, and the results from the biopsy were about waiting to see what type I had.

If the scans give them certainty they will tell you.  I had recall and DR told me 99% certain it was benign micro calcifications but when radiographer doing biopsy I knew by the way she called dr in to ask if she wanted marker left - Dr said no, that she knew and that a marker would help them locate area next time.  My results a week later 1 area benign one DCIS.  There were five of us at clinic, all recalled.  Two sent away after mammogram and US as they were cysts.  3 of us biopsied, two told they were certain it was cancer from scans.  I've had a biopsy on good breast 3 years later, they told me they could be looking at a bruise but need to check.  Week later told it was a bruise but made another appointment to repeat scans a week later.  Told straight away it was gone do had been bruise.  Then 6 years later I was back on routine screening and recalled.  Told on arrival it was for micro calcifications on breast I'd  had surgery.  Saw doctor straight after scan and he just explained they wanted to compare theur stability to 6 years ago scan.  All ok.  

Hi

I had examination, mamagram and biopsies done with ultra sound. Both consultant and sinograher said it looked suspicious. Two week wait for results and sadly confirmed . Hope you may have better luck x

Be prepared for a fair bit of waiting at the clinic, my experience was I called from the reception waiting room, shown where to get changed (all top clothes off and given a cape with Velcro at the front to put on) and a supermarket style hand basket to carry my things round with me. I would recommend taking a drink with you. 

I saw a doctor, had a mammogram, then a scan and biopsy and then a nurse, and inbetween each had to go back to the waiting area to be called to the next thing. 

I asked the person who did my scan and biopsy if she could tell if it was cancer from what she could see. She said that if people asked her she was always honest with them (I think to give me time to change my mind about asking) but when I then said what did she think she said she was pretty sure it was a cancer, took me over to her computer screen and showed me what and where.

Luckily I had my husband with me, he wasn’t allowed into the breast clinic waiting room so had been waiting in the corridor waiting area outside and after she told me I was taken to wait out to him to wait to see the nurse (which really was just to give me my results clinic appointment) rather than having to sit in the quite busy waiting room by myself. 

When I went back to the results clinic (only a one week wait) the consultant came in with a breast care nurse, which confirmed what the consultant radiologist had thought before anything had even been said!

Good luck, and even if you don’t get the news you want, there’s lot of research and excellent treatments available now. 

I had mammogram after referral and they said I might also have ultra sound scan.I was called back in after mammogram and radiographer did a scan and said she would take a few biopsies.  She was quite upfront with me and said it did look suspicious and could be cancer but reassured me that if it was it had been caught early. She said she would get Dr to see me before I left.Dr was quite matter of fact and said I would get appointment in seven days time to discuss results and if positive, operation etc would follow in 6 to 8 weeks. I was shocked to be told all this but felt certain from their demeanour that it was cancer. Appointment seven days later and booked in for lumpectomy and sentinal lymph node biopsy three weeks later. It is very, very scary but could not fault treatment and after having radiotherapy and HT will get annual mammograms for five years. The waiting for results was by farthe worst part. Whatever the outcome you will cope but no one finds it easy. Good luck. 

Thank you all for your replies. Its really good to know that I should have a pretty good idea of what's what by the end of the appointment. I'm pretty convinced it's cancer, but it would be lovely if I'm wrong. And thanks for sharing your experiences of that first visit to breast clinic, really helpful to know what to expect, and thanks Carrie for the tip re bringing a drink. I'll probably have a bottle water and bring my crochet to keep calm while waiting. I'll update you all on Thursday. Thanks again all, it's so good to have people to talk to about all this xxx

Good luck.  Remember do t wear a dress as you'll be sit there in your knickers with cape on.