Has anyone else had referrals for ‘lumpy’ breasts in general?

I have what doctors have described as glandular breasts. I’m quite slim with small boobs so it’s easy to feel every little lump and bump (I’ve even been to the doctors to check a lump for them to say that’s your ribs!)

during my monthly breast exam I found another area with lumpiness in my right breast, underneath it where the bra band sits. It doesn’t feel like well defined lumps, more a bumpy texture and again I wasn’t sure if I was feeling bones. It is a little sore.

I went to the GP yesterday and didn’t feel very confident in my experience so I wondered if anyone had any advice.

Basically she felt all around and said she couldn’t feel any particular defined lump, just generalised lumpiness in both and said ‘I can refer you if you want’ then she got up a form and said it would only be a routine referral due to being under 30. I asked so if there a particular bit I need referring for? And she said not really just if it’ll keep you up at night.

I appreciate doctors can’t see under the skin, but previously the doctors that have checked seemed very confident it is glandular tissue and sent me away, so I was a little taken a back by the referral given she couldn’t pinpoint a particular well defined lump.

She advised best thing to do is speak again next week after my period (stupidly I did the exam without checking when I’m due, which is tomorrow) as it could be hormonal.

Does anyone else have experiences with lumps like this and have you been referred? Unfortunately due to my health anxiety I think doctors think it may ease my mind to be referred when in fact it makes it worse! But obviously if there is something to worry about I would want referring.

Thanks

I've just been through the same thing. I went to my doctor a few weeks ago as i thought I felt a lump. She couldn't feel the lump I was feeling but said my breast was lumpy. As there was a lot of lumpiness there she referred me.
Like you, this didn't do my HA any good. She did her best to convince me she thought everything was fine, but my HA brain didn't hear much of it. I went to the breast clinic a few days before xmas and they told me that I have lumps there but they weren't concerned. I must go back for a mammogram in a few months, not because they think there's something wrong, but it's standard practice once you go to the clinic. I didn't have one on the day because my last one was in May.
I know how scary a referral can be. I was gutted when my doctor referred me. But regardless of your age, if your doctor had felt anything suspicious then you'd have got an urgent referral. If the doctor didn't feel anything in particular to worry about then that's good. They don't take chances when it comes to any kind of lump.

I really think everything will go well for you with your referral, and a non urgent referral is a good thing.
If the doctor isn't worried then neither should you be. She's doing it for your own peace of mind, but some doctors don't understand what a referral can do to someone with HA.

I hope you start to feel better soon xx

Yes I have been through this. Have lumpy breasts, and started noticing them when I was almost 30. Went to GP back then and he referred me to have ultrasound. All was fine, but since then have had an ultrasound most years as GP’s just prefer to send me off given how lumpy they are, think they like to play it safe. Past 3 years as I got closer to 40, they started doing annual mammogram. Not because they have ever been worried about very specific area. The mammogram showed I’m rated as a BIRADS D which is the densest breast rating (A being least dense). A few months ago I got referred by my GP to a specialist just to get their opinion on how to monitor me going forward. She did it for my peace of mind really, was nothing urgent. The specialist said whilst lumpur breasts put you slightly higher risk (mainly due to difficulty feeling proper lump), he said it is only very slight. He recommended I continue mammogram every year just to be safe, but that’s because I’m 41 now. I think over the years the doctors have referred me much more for my reassurance rather than theirs. It certainly sounds reassuring that it is just routine, and will be good for you to go just out of proactive interest to get their advice on how to monitor yourself in future so that you are vigilant but not always panicked about lumpiness.