Found a lump - a bit scared

Hi Annie

Firstly so sorry to hear about your Dad passing away at Christmas thoughts are with you.

In relation to your lump I would say if its marked urgent then you would be seen to very soon. If they dont deem it to be urgent I would ring and hound them and say you want to get it done ASAP in this world you have to shout sometimes to be heard (unfortunately).

Hopefully it could be just a cist or something like that. Best of luck let us know how you get on and fingers crossed that all will be okay and it will be something minor.

Dee

HI Deefed,

Thank you so much for your reply.

I am to ring tomorrow to see what they say but surely every lump is urgent until they see it and deem it otherwise. 12 weeks seems a heck of a long time, when yea it could be a cyst but what if its not?

I've been reading the boards and you all seem so positive going through your treatment, and wanted to say what wonderful people you are

Annie

Hi Annie

It's impossible not to be a bit scared in this situation but remember the majority of lumps are harmless. In my experience the hospital only has the GP info to go on and if they say urgent the hospital will deem it urgent. Such a horrible time for you to discover this but I really hope it all works out for you.

Madge x

Hi Annie
I'm very sorry to hear you are having such a sad time with losing your dad, and now worrying about your pesky lump.

In my experience, when I went to my GP and he referred me to the Breast Clinic, he had suggested that I would be waiting anywhere from 6 to 8 weeks for an appointment. However, i was in with the Clinic within 10 days of my visit to the GP - so whether it was just good luck or that they thought it urgent (I didn't, to be honest I thought inwas wasting everyone's time!) I don't know.

I hope you hear back soon with a date one way or another x

Hi Annie,

I don't think you should really have to wait too long. When I went to my GP back in October, after finding lump, he said the most I should be waiting is two weeks. Referral form was faxed on a Friday evening and I rang them the following Wednesday, as I still hadn't heard from Breast Clinic. They rang me back that day and I got an appointment for the following Tuesday, so all in all, I was waiting 10 days. So you should chase them up again by end of the week, if you haven't heard anything.

As the others have said, not all breast lumps are cancerous and I know it's easy to say not to fret, it is a worrying time, but it is always best to get them checked nonetheless.

Hope you hear from them soon!
M xx

Thanks so much for your replies and see anriocht, you are fairly new to this. Apparently the consultant will read my gps recommendation so I will know more tomorrow afternoon. I will let you all know.

I'm also sorry that you are all already going through this but sound like so strong women. Good luck to you all with your treatment.

I always understood every lump was urgent, seems not so hope to god I'm seen soon. All sorts going through my mind, single mother of a three your old, dad just dying recently after only diagnosed 8 weeks prior. Scary thing

Just posted and it hasn't appeared!!

Here I go again. Condolences and I'm sorry you found a lump. My doctor has told me subsequently that she knew that my lump was something she wouldn't have been able to say exactly what it was but she knew it want 'nothing'.

I got an appointment in triple assessment in Vincent's within 10 days (don't know if doctor tipped them off) I went in one afternoon and had mammogram, ultrasound, biopsies and saw the surgeon all in the one afternoon and the surgeon told me that my lump was suspicious but she couldn't say exactly what it was until she sent it away but I reckon she knew but just needed to clarify what type I had. I had to wait a week and went back to her when he told me the bad news bit she was very positive and told me I was going to be fine. Just had to take a year out if my life to deal with it.

I do hope yours is only a cyst but if it's not you'll get through it, you get an inner strength from somewhere and the women on here are a marvellous support.

Do let us know how you get on, we live to hear good news here xxxx

Morning ladies and thank you so much for your replies.

I found another lump last night, smaller and harder than the first one.

I hope to know if I'll be seen next week so will let you know later and thanks, having read your stories, even if it is bad news, I can handle it xx

Hi

Just to let you know that I have my appointment for the Breast Clinic on Tuesday 22nd, so not too long to wait

Annie

Hi annie
All fingers and toes will be crossed for you.I hope all goes well and always remember we are always here to listen and help any way we can.
Thinking of you
Xx w

Oh that's good Annie, not too long to wait.

Fingers crossed it is just a cyst, try not to worry!

Take care, M xx

Thanks guys, funnily enough I believe it's more than that but here's hoping it isn't xxx Just a feeling x

Best of luck Annie will send some positive vibes your way for the 22nd - please keep in touch

Thanks Dee

Do you mind my asking, did ye know? Like did you not believe it was a cyst, had you other symptoms etc? I haven't at all, apart from the lumps (the other one is rock hard and tiny) and i did notice that i've less use of my left arm than before, now I noticed that ages ago).

From reading your posts i'm not scared anymore, if it is, it is and easily dealt with.

Roll on Tuesday

Hi Annie,

I am so sorry to hear that you have just lost your father. It's a very hard time you are going through and my thoughts are with you.

My breast cancer was found in routine screening. I had no idea there was a problem and even when the mamogram results showed what they called an "anomaly" and the doubt was there, I cannot say that I had any premonition that that it really was cancer.

I agree with Dee. You will find the strength you need to guide you through should it not be a cyst, in a thousand different ways you could not even imagine a few weeks ago.

So far you have done everything right in detecting and following up on your fears. Your next job is to get yourself to your appointment on the 22nd. I would suggest that you don't think beyond this at this point and just be really nice to yourself in the meantime (a good resolution for the new year whatever happens ).

Talk to people if it helps you, but choose people who have close experience of what you might be going through and who you know can be strong for you. I chose not to say anything to anyone until I had a firm diagnosis, but everyone is different.

Hugs

Kathleen

Thank you Kathleen,

Yeah i feel very much on my own, so that why i choose to talk to close friends and some family members, also as a single mum, i will need my son brought to creche and picked up on Tuesday so thats why i said it. My sister was to come with me, but she lives too far away to make it in time for the appointment so I'm sure I'll be fine on my own.

Sorry that you are going through this too but you sound so strong and such a fighter too. I've read most of your posts and you are all so positive, so well done to you xx

Hi Annie

I am so sorry you are going through the angst of waiting on an appointment to get the lump checked. As all the other girls have said , in the majority of cases it is just a cyst. My sister has had 4 cysts removed from her breast over the last number of years and she is absolutely fine. I found my lump while in the shower and I remember going through hell waiting to get an appointment, but once I had the appointment ( a week later) in the triple breast assessment clinic in Beaumont, I had a mamogram, ultrasound and biopsy all in the same day and was told on that day that I had breast cancer but they had to wait for the lab report to come back to be able to catagorise it. Needless to say I was devestated but to be honest once I knew what I had, and the the fact that the hospital had lined up MRI's bone scans etc and then whisked me off to see the onclologist very quickly, I felt very re-assured and before I knew where I was , I was sitting in the chemo chair and the process had begun. Whilst it was a tough time I am now out the other side of it, thank God and am returning to work next month. The support I received from the hospital, my family and friends and all the girls here really helped me through it. There are many support groups out there for people like us and I found attending them great, because only someone who is going through what you are going through can really understand. I hope and pray that you will get a clear result and you can relax and get on with your life. I know it is very difficult not to worry but please dont allow your mind to start wandering past next Tuesday. Oh and beware of googling breast cancer too much as you will almost certainly wreck your head unnecessarily.
Keep us posted

Sinéad

Hi Annie,

I agree with Shinners too, try not to think past Tuesday. Whether we knew ourselves or not, perhaps deep down I didn't like what I felt, but even when going through the mammogram, ultrasound and biopsy on the day, I still had myself convinced that it was a cyst. Even after I got results of ultrasound and when they were waiting on biopsy results, I asked the doctor that day was there any chance my biopsy results would come back and say it wasn't cancer. He said no, they didn't like what they saw.

But there really is no point in worrying yourself until you know for sure, Please God it may just be cysts, keep yourself distracted between now and Tuesday. I know it is easier said than done!

Will be thinking of you xx

Thanks girls,

I know its hard not to think about it and I do try to take my mind off, but other times, its all I think about. Funnily, I just feel it is it, but also know if it is, its caught in time, unless hidden lol.

I'll be grand, either way.

Thank you all for your support, its great to be able to talk to people who have been there

I will let you know as soon as I can when I get home from Limerick

Annie
I'm delighted you got a date - there's nothing you can do in advance except try to find some peace of mind because you'll be a basket case before 22nd
I had a funny lump and only got it checked out because that's what you're meant to do. I was sure it was only a cyst. Unfortunately it wasn't so along with many, many others, I have run the gauntlet of cancer care for the last 2 years. And honestly, it wasn't half as bad as I thought it would be. And hopefully you won't have to even consider anything like that if your lumps are benign or cysts.

If you can at all, will you try to bring someone with you to the clinic? If for no other reason, it would be helpful to have someone there to hold your bag and coat while you are getting your examination. It's a mad place at the best of times without doing it on your own!

Best of luck & hope all goes well x

Hi encee
Family can't come but a friend has offered but I don't like the idea of someone waiting around while I get prodded and poked lol.

Would an aunt dying of cancer be immediate family? And of course dad passed 5 weeks ago

Don't worry about a friend hanging around if they're a good friend they'll be happy to be there. Me in my naivety trotted along to my triple assessment on my own even though my friend offered but sure I thought my lump was nothing so it was a bit daunting when the surgeon told me my lump was 'suspicious' and there I was on my own and worse still driving home on my own my left breast which is ok but they did a biopsy on it, started to swell up and pain me I thought it was going to explode it was like a balloon full of cement but ironically it turned out to be ok, but looked rather like an aubergine and I couldn't bare to have no bra on for a week. Here's hoping you will be ok and be one of the nine out of ten that have benign lumps or cysts.

Oh Wicklowlady, you poor thing, after seeing your post I now have a friend on standby for after the mammogram (she lives nearby) so if its suspicious she will come down to me.

Have to stay, I'm feeling more and more of these lumps today whether they are parts of same one I dunno, I also fôund a little teeny hard one last night, all in left breast. Poked around the right one and nothing.

Hi again Annie,

Chemo brain or just old age, not sure which but I just remembered this afternoon that I was in your very shoes at the tender age of 28 when I could feel several hard lumps in my breast. Cysts, several of them. They came and went over many years and were particularly painful when my little girls would give me a boisterous hug and wham me in the breasts with their heads by mistake. I had regular mammograms from the age of 40 to keep an eye on the cyst situation.

Cysts are far more common than cancer thank goodness. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on the 22nd. I'm sorry to hear that you also have a sick aunt in the family. Poor you! Good that you have some moral support lined up but I hope you won't need it.

Hugs

Kathleen

Thanks Kathleen,

Yeah I'm beginning to think its a cyst now too, please god.

Annie
I echo what Wicklow Lady says, bring someone with you. If it's nothing, you can go celebrate after I went solo after finding my lump, hubby stayed home to mind kids, this was 2 years ago, honestly thought it was nothing. Had mammo, biopsy all on the same day and knew it was cancer by the looks on their faces, even though they didn't actually confirm this until test results came back. Luckily all behind me now. Like others said, the waiting is the worst - don't think past Tuesday. I hope you get the all-clear but if you don't there's loads of good people and sound advice on here. Best of luck. X

Hi Annie I am like all the other try bring someone with you a good friend wont mind hanging around for you. Fingers crossed that its cysts and if its not you will deal with it as you will have no choice (that sounds harsh but its a reality).

Us women are tough as nails

Best of luck will be thinking of you xxx

You asked if I knew anything about it - I hadnt a clue and seemingly I had it for a year. Knew for around two months of a hard bump beside my nipple it was tiny and finally got it checked then it was a whirlwind after that

Hi Deefed,

Mine moves (I think) it's big and oblong and moves yet it doesn't move from its spot and there is something hard underneath. I can pinch the soft bit and feel the hard bit underneath, if that makes sense. My doc called it a moveable lump in her referral but it doesn't actually move.

For about a year, if my son hit off that boob, I'd yell, my nipple looks funny and all the little bumps around it look abnormal (in comparison to other boob), also have had a discharge from that boob knowing its not milk almost 4 years later. Also, I am noticing obvious signs off weakness in my left arm and horrific lower back pain which seems worse lately, standing at the sink peeling veg or ironing is a painful process now.

My dad was well until one day end of September he started veering to the left when walking. Doc sent him to hospital where he was diagnosed with lung cancer, a tumour in his stomach, a tumour in his sternum and a tumour in his brain. He died 8 weeks later.

Reading your posts and positivity is humbling and I wouldn't panic if told I had BC coz I know it's curable (depending on your case of course). I think you are all courageous women and I'm not scared if I have to join ye, because I know i'll get huge support:) and lucky me who had been single since becoming pregnant at 40 (now 44, son 4 in September) is getting an appointment with the new and only male consultant in the Breast clinic in Limerick lol xxx

Dee I saved your blog, I think you are amazing xxx my sis lives I'm your village

Very best of luck Annie for tomorrow.

Just remember there's alot to take in tomorrow when you'll be having your breasts examined by that new male consultants so even if you forget to ask something or don't remember what was said during your consultation, then you'll have time to do it when you go back for your results. And also, the Breast Care Nurses are there to go through it all with you also. And we are all here for you... Please God we will be celebrating on your behalf xx

Good luck tomorrow. Hope its the best news for you.

Good luck tomorrow Annie
I hope it turn out to be a cyst but if not we will all be here to help and support.
Thinking of you
Xx

Good luck tomorrow I found that the waiting was a torture and once you know what it is you can deal with it. It's the unknown I couldn't deal with

Hi girls, thank you all for your thoughts and best wishes.

Apart much deliberation from two consultants and a med student, it seems my lump is a benign cyst I'm really happy thank god.

I wonder if ye mind I sometime check in on ye though as I think about ye every day. The breast clinic was full today and the majority were sent home without mammogram even, I was kept as they also discovered another lump but thankfully that was also fine.

Keep her lit and keep the faith. I admire every single one of you for your fight and strength xxxx

Annie z

That is wonderful news Annie. All the best Dane.

Oh so delighted for you, so thrilled and I make you an honorary member of our group and would be thrilled if you post up. We need encouragement from everyone. It's amazing where you get the fight and strength from, it's human nature I suppose. Go out and celebrate xxxx

Delighted for you! Celebrate and take care of yourself.

so delighted for you annie always great to hear good news.have a night out and celebrate.

xx w

Oh Annie, I am over the moon for you. So great to hear such good news. Do stay with us, you are always welcome to chip in, the more the merrier!!
Lots of love and light

Sinéad x

Great news Annie, get out there and live your life to the max. That's exactly what us girlies on here will be doing once our treatment ends.
Whether you have a cancer scare or are unfortunately diagnosed your prospective on life completely changes.
It's been a long road since last May for me but I do truly believe I am a better person because of it.
Keep her lit as Hector would say

Wishing you continued good health
Shirls

Yes Shirls I feel the very same. People keep saying I'm an inspiration and I'm so brave etc. in the middle of chemo i didn't feel too brave.

A real good friend of mine who has M.S and is in a wheelchair sent a request in to Rónán Collins on Monday for me saying I was an inspiration and that's coming from a girl who has it a lot tougher than me.

I just feel I deserve little extras in my life and I'm grabbing life by the neck and cherishing it. I'm a little intolerant of people who moan about stupid things ? I've never moaned once since I got cancer only looked forward to getting my life back and planning what I was going to do with my 'new life' and I can see my hair growing again. I'll be moaning when I have to dry and hd it again I will be wishing I was back to jumping out of the shower and throwing on the wig or bandana lol. I should have saved the money I saved on cuts and highlights !!!

Oh Annie, that is just wonderful news; I'm pretty sure that everyone will agree that is just uplifting to see people getting good news! I hope you have a wonderful week; you've been through enough as it is, so I wish you nothing but good wishes xxxx

O Annie,

Your news brought tears to my eyes, but very happy tears I promise.
Every single victory over this illness is truly uplifting and I am delighted for you.

Enjoy celebrating!

Hugs

Kath

Hi Annie - oh thats fecking BRILLIANT news was just thinking of you and logging on to see if you had posted. Its so great to hear such good news. Stay with us girl the more the merrier

Go out and CELEBRATE - thats an ORDER

Glad you like the blog - did you say your sister lives in Clane too? Might know her its a small place

Yipideeedoodaaaaaaa great news again xxxx

Thanks everyone, can't believe it myself, as they found another lump but that was just fatty tissue.

Hope you are doing well defeed.

I slept last night, I can tell you.

Oh Annie, That is fabulous news I am so delighted for your, you have had a rough few weeks what with the loss of your father and everything.

Really, really thrilled for you.

ENJOY a healthy life!

Much love, Myra xx

P.S. Sorry I didn't get to log on sooner, but I had chemo yesterday and was somewhat out of it last night, but I was thinking of you yesterday.

Aw thanks Myra,

Hope you are feeling better today. its nice to know ye were thinking of me. I called into the graveyard on way home to thank my Mam and Dad, not only did they get me there in one piece (hate frost) but I got the best news

now to tackle the weight xxx

Your Mam and Dad will be your guardian angels