PDA

View Full Version : mum breast lump - adivce



daisycake
04-03-10, 17:04
my mum found a breast lump a couple of weeks ago - doc says it nothing to worry about and is a cyst or a bruise, no symptoms of anything bad, but has referred her to the breast clinic anyway. why would she do that if there's nothing bad, could it be age? Im terrified of my mum coming home and saying that actually there is something wrong :weep:

pollyanna
04-03-10, 17:18
hi daisycake.

i know you must be worried about your mum, the doctor would have refered her to the breast clinic, as they may want to drain the cyst, this happened to a friend of mine, they use a scan to locate the cyst and then drain it, so try not to worry, it doesnt mean anything that she was sent to the clinic. sometimes these things happen as we get older too and our hormones are changing again
tc

P x

Maj
04-03-10, 19:30
Hello Daisycake,

Remember that most breast lumps are harmless and it sounds like the doctor thinks it is nothing to worry about. As Pollyanna says, they probably want to drain it - which is painless, I had a couple drained last year - and the breast clinic is where they'd do this. They are keeping it all in check so please try not to worry, although I know it's difficult. I'm sure your mum will be fine.
Myra:hugs:

Cell block H fan
04-03-10, 20:01
Something like 9 out of 10 breast lumps are benign, either cysts or fatty tissue basically. So if you go by law of averages, you & your mum can pretty much relax.
I was sent to have a scan when I had a breast lump after my son was born years ago. The doctor wasn't even as reassuring as your mums doctor sounds to have been, yet mine turned out to be a cyst & they drained it there & then at the hospital.
Doctors are very clued up when it comes to lumps, especially breast lumps. They know by the texture/feel of them. If it is a cyst it needs draining. Not for any urgent reason, just because they hang about unless they are drained. I had to go back to the docs after a couple of weeks because they didn't drain enough of it, or it maybe filled up again. But the doc drained it herself that time & haven't had any trouble since x

Ophelia105
04-03-10, 20:03
After visiting the dr today i am in the exactly same position as your mum so I know how you feel.

i take comfort from the posts above - it's all i can do.

keep positive! I'm trying to!

valleybear
04-03-10, 21:09
I am sure you are both right to be positive. I have had 3 breast lumps over the years. The Dr can generally tell when it is cyst so that is positive. I had two aspirated and one which the specialist couldn't aspirate. The latter, he said, would go away by itself....and it did. These people are dealing with breast lumps many, many times a day and they get a great knowledge of how a particular lump will behave. So please stay positive and my best wishes and hugs...:hugs::hugs:

speeder
04-03-10, 21:40
Hi - I've had two breast lumps over the years too so I know how worrying it is (and it's in my family too).

The reason GPs refer is that it's nearly impossible to tell if a lump is OK or not just by feeling it. They can be reasonably sure that it's OK by how it feels but as they can't be certain, they refer. That's because the outcome for breast cancer is so good if it's caught early enough but the longer a lump is left the worse the outcome.

So I have always been glad I've been referred even when the GP has said they think it's OK. You want to know it's being properly considered as breast cancer is so treatable now.

What normally happens is they do an ultrasounds and, based on how it looks, do a biopsy. It all sounds scary but do remember that most lumps are completely benign. I really worried waiting for my biopsy results and the best thing I can say is to keep busy!

Hope this helps.

onceagain
04-03-10, 21:50
Hi Daisy

Try not to worry and yes I know you will anyway, but I went through a breast cancer scare last spring... started by finding small lump in the winter of the winter before but ignored it.

Anyway to cut a long story short got worried by last spring and finally plucked up the courage to go to doctor.. because of the position of mine they sent me to the hospital ...the female staff at the hospital were lovely... they found one lump which worried them but came back with all clear..several cysts and my milk duct had a lump which they also sorted for me...I worried myself sick and I was fine...

They will send mum even if they think it is just a cyst they may want to remove it or just to put everyone's minds at rest..these things always better checked out.

Your mum will be worried of course she will but the advances they now have means that they can do scans so that mum too can see exactly what is going on..none of the procedures are painful ... and I was told that advances now means that even in the worse case senario most cases of breast cancer is treatable...

Think it is that worrying time before mum goes to the clinic but keep your chin up girlie... mum needs you to be strong.. cos she has to be right now too x

x

beanie
04-03-10, 21:56
Doctors are actually obliged to refer anyone who finds any sort of change in their breast to the breast clinic, whether they are positive it is a cyst or not. The people at the breast clinic are the experts and will give you the full works and check everything is okay, and will reassure you much better than a GP!! As the others have commented cysts are very common and totally harmless, and they will drain them there and then if they are causing discomfort. I have been to the breast clinic twice myself and I'm only 24 - people of all ages go! Although I was nervous going in I was completely clued-up and totally reassured coming out. I can't really say 'try not to be nervous' as I know I was myself, but please be reassured that just because your mum has been referred it does NOT automatically mean there is something sinister going on. Try to stay positive :hugs:

Ophelia105
14-03-10, 20:41
UPDATE...

After a harrowing week I went to the breast clinic and had another exmaination and a scan. I was absolutely petrified and cried all the time I was there.

Turns out it is 'prominent glandular tissue' made more prominent by the fact I have lost weight.

So I now know what they are supposed to feel like...

It's strange because I still find it difficult to feel the lump even though the radiographer said I had healthy breast tissue.

I need to make friend with my lump...

Now - what's the strange nagging pain on the bottom of my spine...

Jan63
15-03-10, 00:10
Glad everything was fine.:yesyes:

I had a breast lump just over a year ago and had to be referred to our local hospital's breast clinic, I think the doctor said they have to do that with all women over 40 who discover a lump. The doctor thought it was a cyst but I still worried myself sick. They were lovely at the breast clinic, the only thing I hated was that men weren't allowed to wait with you so my partner who came with me for support wasn't allowed in the corridor where I had to sit with the other ladies for around 3 1/2 hours whilst I had two lots of mammograms and an ultrasound and saw the consultant at the beginning and the end where she told me the results - it was a cyst and she drained it there and then.