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Thread: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

  1. #11
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    216

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    bobby84: that's why I'm getting the MRI, because the lumpy area is only in one breast

    pulisa: apparently that's the rules. Has to be day 7 unless you're menopausal. My GP said if the MRI is normal then I really can take a break from breast cancer worry for a year. That would be great while I'm sorting out my other anxiety issues. I'm trying hard to counter all the doom and gloom thoughts with positive ones while waiting for the MRI. I keep reading over my posts from last year and remembering how certain I was that those tests would be something awful and they all turned out okay. I really don't want to go back down that spiral while waiting for this test.

  2. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2014
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    16,747

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    I presume you can arrange this MRI at very short notice in view of the day 7 rule? Was an ultrasound to look for glandular tissue ruled out?

    I'm just sorry you have more tests to undergo. It would be good if you could have an extended break from all tests whilst having therapy to give yourself some breathing space away from your GP x

  3. #13

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    Good luck Carrie although i'm sure given the tests you have already had, that its nothing to worry about. Keep us updated!

  4. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
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    216

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    Thanks all. I can't help but worry as the lumpy area is fixed and from all my previous research I know that lumpy breasts (fibrocystic changes) happens in both sides, not one and are usually moveable. However, my recollection of previous exams done by GPs is that this breast has always been lumpy and like you have all reminded me, I only had mammogram and ultrasound in June 2020 which picked up cysts in this area. But nagging at me is that my GP did a breast exam in December and didn't pick this up then. I just wish I had the MRI date!

    If you can't tell, I am way overthinking this and have not been using the techniques I've been taught in therapy at all. It's time to change that.

    Looks like my house is in for another round of deep cleaning

  5. #15
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    Jun 2014
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    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    You won't be able to self-diagnose. All you will do trying to self-diagnose is make your anxiety far worse and end up just how you were when you had all those tests last year (which were all clear). Your GP is not a breast care expert.

    The MRI will give you definitive answers. Your research won't, nor will your HA mindset.

    I know you won't be able to fix a date yet and that must be really frustrating because you will want it done today. Hang on to your clear mammogram and u/s result. Keep off Dr Google and keep as busy as you can to fill the hours. It sounds so easy and I know it's not..Far from it..but there's nothing else you can do x

  6. #16

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    Ironically, I had my medical today and the GP felt an 'area of thickening' in my right breast. The whole breast was scanned late September however, the GP wont refer me as he says that any issues would have been picked up. I think I would actually prefer to have been referred! I am now in that place where i'm not sure if I should get this looked at again by a breast specialist. Weirdly, the GP felt my breast sitting up, with arms down - I've never had my breasts checked that way before?! Makes me wonder if i'm checking correctly at all!

    The MRI will be really helpful for you as if thats clear, you know absolutely nothing untoward is happening in your breasts. I wish I could give you some words of wisdom but the odds are massively in your favour. Pulisa is absolutely right and I need to also listen to her advice...

  7. #17
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    Jun 2014
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    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    That's such an unhelpful comment from your GP, Bobby but try not to let it stick because glandular tissue is so common and you have been scanned very recently. Breast care consultants don't recommend exposing the breast to unnecessary radiation if there is no clinical need.

  8. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Posts
    7,300

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    GP felt an 'area of thickening' in my right breast
    If those are the words that the GP used, then she/he didn't refer, thats a bit silly really. They have used a concerning term, as 'thickening' is what they tell you to look for, and yet this time this 'thickening' doesn't need a second scan ? It sounds like she/he just used the wrong terminology and meant something quite different like 'dense glandular area', very unhelpfully as Pulisa says, but that isn't going to help you with your worry. As for the manual examination, it sounds a wee bit strange in my opinion and isn't the usual way that its done. I should indeed imagine that anything would have been picked up in September, but I can see why you feel jittery, have you felt any changes at all since September yourself ?

  9. #19

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    Thank you Carys and Pulisa. He did a breast exam after I was informing him of my HA with my breasts so in hindsight, his comments weren't helpful nor particularly reassuring. I just checked the report and he mentions 'thick tissue' but that a scan isn't recommended due to recent ultrasound. The report does however, say my breasts are normal. Ive always had my breasts checked professionally lying down. Truthfully, I don't even know anymore if they feel different. I think I may ring my GP tomorrow for a 2nd opinion or is this giving in to HA?

  10. #20
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    216

    Re: breast lump anxiety – dealing with self-exam findings

    Sorry you got such unhelpful information from your GP Bobby.


    Going back to the top of this thread, my strategy moving forward is to follow the recommendations for breast awareness. That is to know what's normal for me, do one breast exam a month and report anything new to my GP.

    My problem is that until now I haven't known what's normal for me. I've been doing multiple breast pokes and prods a week while hoping and praying not to find anything.

    It's entirely possible that this area I'm worried about now was there when I got my clear mammogram and u/s last year, but I don't know, so that's why it's being checked.

    If my MRI is clear (whenever I get it!) then I'll know that's normal and only be concerned if I find something new or if it changes.

    I'm not sure if you know what's normal for you, but if this area is new since your last screening, I don't think it's HA to ask more questions.

    All the best x

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