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View Full Version : Been referred to breast clinic. Does this mean i ahve cancer?



Anxious Female
10-09-14, 19:30
Hi. I'm 27 years old. I've had a moveable, smallish lump in my left breast for about a month. Today i went to see my GP about it, even though i really didn't want to. My GP said that she thinks that it's something called a "breast mouse" and that she isn't concerned but has referred me to a breast clinic.

I'm absolutely terrified that it's cancer and having to have all these tests done. I hated having her examine me, it makes me feel violated. Why would she referrer me to a clinic if she wasn't concerned?

There's no history of breast cancer in my family and my GP said there wasn't anything abnormal about my breasts apart from the lump.

Beckie4567
10-09-14, 20:30
They are probably referring you to just double check wudnt u rather be referred and double check rather than leave it and ull be constantly worrying about it I'm sure ull,be fine Hun try not to worry hopefully u won't be waiting to long x

Cambrian49
10-09-14, 20:45
I feel for you - I would be a mess. The only thing I hope makes u feel better is that it think statistically 80% of breast lumps are fine and given ur age ur at lower risk of anything sinister. My friend recently went through a similar thing and she was given really helpful literature to read that explained the most likely cause of the lump and the stats etc.. Maybe look at a trusted website such as the NHS and see if it's in line. Regardless it's always best to get these things checked out early so you've done the right thing bu seeing ur doc. Xxx

Tessar
10-09-14, 22:37
Anxious Female..... Your referral does not mean you have cancer. The reason your doctor has referred you is to ensure the bump (most likely a breast mouse) is checked out. I appreciate fully why you'd be concerned but it isn't beneficial at all to allow yourself to think all sorts here. I suggest keeping busy .... Deliberately Keep your mind off it. Remind yourself that no amount of agonising will change the outcome either bit what it will do in the meantime is generate alot of anxiety for you and a whole host of unpleasant symptoms. Much better to pass the time by keeping busy, distracted etc.... Especially with things that are productive or relaxing and help you de-stress.

Anxious Female
11-09-14, 10:34
Hi. Thank you for replying. I'm trying not to panic. I suffer from anxiety though so it's going to be tough. I've got this horrible feeling that my GP is lying about it not being serious.

meche
11-09-14, 10:48
Trust me - your GP is not lying to you. It's not in his/her best interest. I had one of these 2 years ago. My lump is huge - 3 x 5cm. I left mine for weeks before I plucked up the courage to make an appointment. She also called mine a breast mouse but as with all lumps regardless of what they may or may not be, they have to refer you to the breast clinic. They will examine you, take a needle biopsy (painless) & do a scan & you will get the results back really quick. The proper name for what you have is a fibroadenoma - a harmless, fleshy breast lump. It will NEVER turn cancerous. Mine can cause me a bit of discomfort at certain times but it doesn't worry me. xxx

Tessar
11-09-14, 20:57
Hi. Thank you for replying. I'm trying not to panic. I suffer from anxiety though so it's going to be tough. I've got this horrible feeling that my GP is lying about it not being serious.

AF..... Stick to the facts you KNOW.

Don't try to guess or mind read.

It won't help you at all.

You have a "feeling". Not a fact.

Hopefully I don't sound abrupt as that not my intention but I am hoping to guide you away from thinking negatively.

Turn this on its head into a positive. You are sensible for having it checked out, well done for that.

Now c'mon.... STOP this over thinking. It is not helping.....

Anxious Female
12-09-14, 19:50
AF..... Stick to the facts you KNOW.

Don't try to guess or mind read.

It won't help you at all.

You have a "feeling". Not a fact.

Hopefully I don't sound abrupt as that not my intention but I am hoping to guide you away from thinking negatively.

Turn this on its head into a positive. You are sensible for having it checked out, well done for that.

Now c'mon.... STOP this over thinking. It is not helping.....

Sorry but i can't help it. Unless you're in my situation you don't know what it's like.

Tessar
12-09-14, 20:23
Hi AF, you are right, I cannot know what it is like tho I have had a lump checked many many years ago, that was ok of course. My partner went thro the tests (ultrasound, needle biopsy etc). Got the results the same day. I was there with her every step of the way. So I have in those respects been thro the process and felt many of the feelings associated its it.
The reason I suggest font thinking about it non stop is because I do know how anxious it can make you.
It was probably 10yrs ago when it happened and I learned a very big lesson from it....
That worrying will not change the outcome.
It is important to distract yourself and it is a choice you can make.
If you can do that, the time until u resolve this will also pass more quickly :-)

Anxious Female
13-09-14, 10:29
Hi AF, you are right, I cannot know what it is like tho I have had a lump checked many many years ago, that was ok of course. My partner went thro the tests (ultrasound, needle biopsy etc). Got the results the same day. I was there with her every step of the way. So I have in those respects been thro the process and felt many of the feelings associated its it.
The reason I suggest font thinking about it non stop is because I do know how anxious it can make you.
It was probably 10yrs ago when it happened and I learned a very big lesson from it....
That worrying will not change the outcome.
It is important to distract yourself and it is a choice you can make.
If you can do that, the time until u resolve this will also pass more quickly :-)

I'm trying to distract myself but the waiting is driving me insane. if my GP isn't "concerned" then why put someone through all this?

Cambrian49
13-09-14, 10:43
AF- doctors don't lie and they will tell you if they think it's something sinister from the outset. It is much better tho to refer you for a scan to be 100% so that you don't have to keep worrying about the lump. It's perfectly natural to be incredibly anxious BUT the others are right in that it is better to keep ur stress levels down. Nobody can really tell you anything else on here in terms of reassurance because we aren't doctors but ur doc has said not to worry and u must trust him/her. I'm crap in these situations so I do feel for you. Xx

Anxious Female
13-09-14, 19:22
AF- doctors don't lie and they will tell you if they think it's something sinister from the outset. It is much better tho to refer you for a scan to be 100% so that you don't have to keep worrying about the lump. It's perfectly natural to be incredibly anxious BUT the others are right in that it is better to keep ur stress levels down. Nobody can really tell you anything else on here in terms of reassurance because we aren't doctors but ur doc has said not to worry and u must trust him/her. I'm crap in these situations so I do feel for you. Xx

Thanks. I'll try.

AlexandriaUK
13-09-14, 21:00
I had a breast lump and believe me they do not lie to you or give you false hope, my Dr said I think its a mass and sent me for a biopsy, turned out to be a non malignant fibroma but better he got it checked than just sent me home as I would have spent the time it took for it to go down in a blind panic, that's why he sent me for peace of mind, I got my results the same day.
Mouse's are very common but they need to dot the eyes and cross the Ts.

Anxious Female
24-09-14, 13:31
Well I went to the clinic today. the doctor thinks it's a "breast mouse". I had a scan and a biopsy. I have to go back on Wednesday for the results so more worry and waiting. The scan showed 2 other small lumps that she thinks are also fibroma's like the bigger one. She told me not to worry (haha) and that fibroma's are very common in young women.

Tessar
24-09-14, 20:44
This is a very good outcome :-) I am very pleased for u.

Anxious Female
24-09-14, 21:59
This is a very good outcome :-) I am very pleased for u.

I actually don't feel any better. I'm really scared about having to go back for the results. :scared15:

Tessar
24-09-14, 22:19
But the indications thus at are good..... :-)

AlexandriaUK
24-09-14, 22:31
You are doing great but having to wait so long for your results is awful I know and sends the anxiety levels soaring but you will be fine I'm sure.
I had mine and was really lucky that it was done privately paid for by my DR's so got results that day, I think if private sector can do it same day so should NHS

Anxious Female
28-09-14, 08:35
You are doing great but having to wait so long for your results is awful I know and sends the anxiety levels soaring but you will be fine I'm sure.
I had mine and was really lucky that it was done privately paid for by my DR's so got results that day, I think if private sector can do it same day so should NHS

Yeah. I think it's disgusting that if you have more money you get your results straight away. :mad:

MM
28-09-14, 17:44
hi there! what timing, this EXACT situation happened to me 2 weeks ago. My results were a benign fibroandenoma. I'm 21 years old by the way. you can pm me if you want to talk about it

Anxious Female
01-10-14, 11:27
I got my results. It's a fibroandenoma. I'm fine. So relieved. I cried in the clinic. Bit embarrassing.

Tessar
01-10-14, 20:31
Not embarrassing at all. I am very pleased for you.

Anxious Female
01-10-14, 21:12
Not embarrassing at all. I am very pleased for you.

Thank you. :)

silver
02-10-14, 06:24
Hi dont worry, easier said than done. Lumps in the breast can be a cyst or even a calcium deposit. I know it sounds wierd but I had breast cancer 2012, and I was found to have lots of little lumps in the other breast but they were calcium lumps, so it is not always cancer. Your doctor is doing the right thing sending you to a clinic, because she must, she would be a crap doctor otherwise. Basically you will be given a scan to determine exactly what it is. You did the right thing going to see her, I never understand why people will wait until their leg falls off before going to a doctor. Spending years worrying over something - go and get it seen to Please.
Very few people die of breast cancer these days. only the idiots who leave it too late.
Good luck, stop worrying and treat yourself to something to take your mind off of it. xxx

chickpea
03-10-14, 23:27
Hi dont worry, easier said than done. Lumps in the breast can be a cyst or even a calcium deposit. I know it sounds wierd but I had breast cancer 2012, and I was found to have lots of little lumps in the other breast but they were calcium lumps, so it is not always cancer. Your doctor is doing the right thing sending you to a clinic, because she must, she would be a crap doctor otherwise. Basically you will be given a scan to determine exactly what it is. You did the right thing going to see her, I never understand why people will wait until their leg falls off before going to a doctor. Spending years worrying over something - go and get it seen to Please.
Very few people die of breast cancer these days. only the idiots who leave it too late.
Good luck, stop worrying and treat yourself to something to take your mind off of it. xxx

I've just lost a friend to breast cancer, age 38.
I can assure you she wasn't "an idiot who left it too late" - she'd seen a specialist a year before with a lump and been told it was fine, so when she found another lump, she went straight away.

Anxious Female
04-10-14, 01:10
I've just lost a friend to breast cancer, age 38.
I can assure you she wasn't "an idiot who left it too late" - she'd seen a specialist a year before with a lump and been told it was fine, so when she found another lump, she went straight away.

I'm sorry to hear about you friend. x

chickpea
04-10-14, 18:59
I'm sorry to hear about you friend. x

Thank you.
It's heartbreaking - she thought she'd beaten it but it came back less than 2 years layer, in her liver and bones.x

unsure_about_this
04-10-14, 19:16
As a male my mum did not want to go for her screening a couple of weeks ago because she still had issues with her frozen shoulder. She went for the scan.

Even though my sister has read somewhere because my mum and myself both have NF there is a small increase risk of her getting breast cancer, but not sure about myself as males can get breast cancer.

Anxious Female
05-10-14, 19:18
Thank you.
It's heartbreaking - she thought she'd beaten it but it came back less than 2 years layer, in her liver and bones.x

That's terrible. I'm so sorry. It makes me realise how lucky I am.

white1989
15-02-16, 13:02
Hi Anxious female,

I just wanted to let you know that I had a similar experience and I wanted to put your mind at rest. I'm 26 and within the last 3 years I've found 2 breast lumps which I've gone to my gp about and both times she referred me to breast clinic. she examined me herself first and said she would just send me to the clinic for peace of mind. she would have told you if she was concerned; gp's have to be very thorough and make sure that everything is checked up on, imagine if she hadn't bothered to refer you and it had turned out you had something (you most certainly won't) - she could have lost her job and this is why they always make sure every avenue is crossed, even if they're not in the slightest concerned. you will find that the staff in the breast clinic are excellent (sorry I'm not sure if you've had the appointment yet or still waiting for it!) - I was a really anxious mess and felt stupid because I was so young, but the consultant examined me and made me feel really really reassured after. they should tell you there and then the results so you don't need to anxiously wait around (im unsure if they still do this but I know they should give you a really good idea about the outcome of your examinations). Please try not to worry hun, you're extremely young and without a family history, it is HIGHLY unlikely that it will be anything sinister. I know it won't help being told not to worry, but I just wanted to let you know that the professionals in the breast clinics are highly experienced and know exactly what they're doing, and the fact that you've been referred to them is simply because you've come to see your gp about a breast lump, and whther the gp is concerned or not at all, they just refer everyone complaining of breast lumps as routine. Also, my consultant told me that she'd been in the profession over 10 years, and she had never diagnosed BC in a lady under 30.

good luck xx