Breast Clinic - What to expect?

I don't know if it's any different in Scotland but I would expect you will have mammogram and possibly scan as well while you are there. 

Hi, from my own ( England) experience, I was physically examined, had a mammogram on the day, then a CT scan as F1 petrolhead said. They were sure it was cancer at that point. A couple of days later I had some biopsies. The next week I saw the Consultant, who confirmed the diagnosis, the grade, and that it was oestrogen and progesterone positive. Treatment started soon after that. This is a scary time, the uncertainty is horrid. I had the cleanest house in the street. Xx

Hi, I had the “one stop shop” experience, which meant an examination by the consultant who felt for lumps, then a mammogram.  I assume given what they saw in the mammogram, I had an ultrasound and they then took biopsies.  I was given an indication by the consultant that he suspected it was cancer, so it was very clear for me from this initial discussion.

Try and ensure you have someone with you at the appointment. I didn’t, as I must admit I assumed it would be nothing. Driving home after this experience, with all this swirling around in my head, was not the best thing I ever did.   Best wishes 

I was at a breast clinic in Scotland two years ago for lumps and pain.  I was seen by a dr who dismissed me as "pain isnt a symptom of breast cancer".  He reluctantly agreed to an ultra sound due to being 34 at the time.  I was told the lumps were just fat lumps and I was not listened to at all.  I was sent home. I am now waiting for an appointment all over again.

Depending on your age in Scotland you will be given a mammogram and ultrasound or just an ultrasound.  You may get a biopsy on the same day.  You will see a Dr and nurse.  It will be a lond day so take water, a snack and a book with you.  

Hi. I also live in Scotland, South Lanarkshire. My first appointment was within two weeks with breast cancer nurse. I had a mammogram, then an ultrasound where they took biopsies and inserted a marker where the suspicious area was. I had originally gone to gp with a lump. Strangely the lump was seen as benign on the mammogram. The radiographer found an area of only a few mm which they suspected was cancer. I then had another mammogram to check the marker was in the right place. Then I was sent back to the nurse who decided to take a biopsy of the lump which they hadn’t done at this point. I hope you are following this! 
I had a couple of other appointments which are a bit of a blur to be honest. I had to attend three different hospitals. I only waited for a couple of weeks for lumpectomy surgery. At this point the biopsies were back and the lump was still seen as benign. I had the lump and the suspicious tissue removed along with four lymph nodes to check if the cancer had spread. The results of the surgery came back as the lump was in fact malignant and was possibly the primary cancer and the other small area was where it had spread. The lymph notes were clear thank goodness.

Apologies for such a long message but I wish I had known more before I started this journey. 
I am due five doses of radiotherapy in August and I have to take a tablet to counteract oestrogen as the type of cancer I have feeds on it.

I hope my rambling is helpful to you and I am here if you would like any more information. Do let us all know how you get on.

Best wishes

What a journey you have been on.

in england, i went in, the did mammogram on both breasts. i waited, they then did extra one on suspect breast as the ultrasound person wanted more detail. another shirtless moment, cross sectioned, waited in hall for ultrasound nurse (who was fantastic) told me what they saw, and showed me, told me armpit looked ok, but to wait on surgeon for full report. numbed breast took two biopsies (kinda hurt) i suggested they chop it out there and then. i was denied the request.

the assistant holding the steri strip hurt more than the biopsy, she was pushing it out the back my chest.

waited to see Dr, confirmed it was a lump, suspicious, most likely what we all thought, and would get results back in 2weeks ish, if not call them. said it should be doable with lumpectomy and sentinel node surgery. and pills and radio

got the call back, saw surgeon, yes it was what they thought, i signed surgery consent for lumpectomy, and waited for surgery date.

then went back to check marker was in the right place, ultrasound and after surgery due to one lymph having signs, and others clear had an oncodx text

chemo is on the books now (gobsmacked)

also had to have revision as tumour wasn't clean enough on one margin, second surgery, now clear margins, no sign of cells in sample.

now waiting for next phase, still lumpy areas as i had a lot of swelling and couldn't be arsed to talk about draining it because it will probably just come back and the pain was minimal (took maybe 4 codiene and 6 paracetamol in total between both surgeries.

buy good supportive front closing bra, M&S VAT free

be prepared to wait a lot! find something to do you enjoy or allows you to shut off the scary thoughts. walking, talking, instagram, knitting, puppies or axe throwing.

I too had chemo come and visit after oncodx test. 7 cycles now all completed and I start month of radio next month. 

I'm in Scotland too and was seen at the clinic within a week of seeing my GP. As others have said, they describe it as a 'one stop' clinic so that you don't need to keep going back for other scans. 

I was there for a few hours. In that time, I had my initial consultation with the consultant surgeon, who examined me and asked loads of questions (family history etc). I was then sent for a mammogram, then an ultrasound. At that point they decided to take biopsies (they do this using the ultrasound as a guide so still in that same room) and I also got a titanium clip inserts in the problem area. Then I went back to mammogram so that they could take an x-ray with the clip in.

Then I was asked to go back around to wait for another chat to the consultant. At that point she told me it was very likely that I had cancer, fro they had seen on the scans, from what the lump felt like and from family history. They cannot tell for sure without results of biopsy, but they were pretty convinced.

After that, it all becomes a bit of a daze, but I was then taken into another room to talk to the Breast Cancer Nurse, who told me what my likely treatment would be. She also gave me a clear indication of what would happen next - exactly when they would phone with biopsy results and I had my next appt with the surgeon booked, but they said they may delay by a week if they also wanted an MRI. I did have the MRI, which was very quick again and saw the surgeon to discuss treatment plan 2 weeks after I was at the Breast Clinic.

Totally relate to this. I always thought I coped best on my own, could sort my own head out, talk myself into being reasonable etc. Haha…

The ‘one stop shop’ floored me completely. Brilliant clinic but a lot to process when they’re telling you difficult stuff early on in the appointment. That tunnel vision moment which I read someone else describe as falling into a black hole, was beyond my emotional control. Think I must have autopilotted home before trying to gather myself (did not succeed) for telling family. 

I totally agree that taking someone who you feel really comfortable with is great advice. My husband was great on the practical sciency stuff, but it was a friend who came along during the second stage of chemo who just normalised the very abnormal stuff for me. She let me lose the plot, regularly, but helped me find the plot too.

Wishing you all so much best wishes.

xx