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General health

Golf ball sized breast lump

28 replies

sparklesunshine · 13/02/2013 22:06

That's it really. It's in there, has been around for a few weeks and not going anywhere. Went to the gp today and referred into the breast clinic. It's a bit tender and mobile, which are supposed to be good. I thought it was a blocked duct at first but a ton of nursing and massage make no difference.

Hand holding appreciated. I'm trying to keep it in perspective and will hopefully have news it's a harmless cyst soon. I'm mid 30s for god's sake!

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invicta · 13/02/2013 22:15

Hi,

I discovered a small lump last year and got referred. I had a mammogram and biopsy. These tests all are perfectly normal, whether the doctors think it is cancerous or not. Don't panic if they offer these to you.

Unfortunately, my lump turned out to be cancerous. I had further tests and a lumphectomy a few weeks later. The 'good' thing about breast cancer is that the NHS generally provides good, fast treatment, with breast cancer nurses available to talk to also. I did't need chemo, but did have radiotherapy which was actually okay.

Have you is discovered the Tamoxifen thread? It's good for breast ( and other) cancers, and you ask anything there, and get support and help.

I hope it is only a cyst.

Virtual hand-holding from me.

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PoppyWearer · 13/02/2013 22:20

I had a blocked duct a few years back, nothing I did shifted it. Five minutes into my appointment and the consultant had done an ultrasound, seen it was a blocked duct, and had a needle in to lance it. All that worry...

I hope it's the same for you, OP. good luck x

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sparklesunshine · 14/02/2013 07:30

Thanks for sharing your experience and support. It's good to know it should be straightforward however it goes!

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digerd · 14/02/2013 09:22

I woke up one Xmas morning after a very stressful year and Xmas Eve, with a large painful swelling. Wouldn't call it a lump though . Breast cancer does not grow so large overnight and is not usually painful. My Gynea was on emergency call and said the same thing. I had an appt with her on Boxing day < the amazing German Health System> and I was given Progesteron gel to rub in. The stress had caused me to produce too much Oestrogen and it was a fluid filled cyst - not solid.
Breast cancer is usually a small hard pea size/shape with no pain and not movable. I think yours is a Cyst .

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invicta · 15/02/2013 21:25

Sparkle - how are you doing?

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mangledmess · 15/02/2013 21:53

Hope you are alrght x

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plim · 15/02/2013 22:50

Sounds like a cyst, I had lots when bf, if it moves that's a good sign. Fingers crossed for you xxxxx

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sparklesunshine · 17/02/2013 09:26

Thanks for the vouches of support! I hope you're all right, it would be a lot to take on right now if it was cancerous. I've got a specialist unit appointment 25 Feb and will let you know after then. I'm trying not to think about it because really, what can I do? Soon I will know one way or the other.

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Lonecatwithkitten · 17/02/2013 12:58

Sparkle I found a lump in my breast in December saw my GP before Christmas had Fine needle aspirate mammogram and ultrasound on same day all inconclusive. Wait 6 weeks another Fine needle aspirate still inconclusive now I have had core biopsies under local anaesthetic. I would go for keeping yourself busy to not think about it. I know what you mean about a lot to take on my Ex left me for another woman 8 months ago and I run my own business employing 17 people.
The ladies on the tamoxifen thread have been enormously helpful and supportive.
I am expecting bad news now as I was told if it was good I would hear in 7 days if not we would discuss plan in clinic in 3 weeks we are on day 11 and no good news.

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sparklesunshine · 23/02/2013 10:35

oh lonecat, i'm sorry it's taking so long to find out. the uncertainty is the most difficult part. hoping it was good news just slowness at the lab or something

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sparklesunshine · 25/02/2013 12:30

I've been to the breast clinic - fluid filled but with solid lump inside. They've taken the fluid out and taken two biopsies so I should have an answer on Thurs.

I have to say it upset me more than I thought it would. The solid parts could still be the remnants of an inflammation (or not Confused) but I was expecting the lump to be gone. It's still very definitely there. The fluid was orangish as well, not like milk at all. (They suggested it could be a milk cyst as I'm breastfeeding.)

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digerd · 25/02/2013 12:41

With my large cyst, when it had reduced with the progesteron gel, had an ultra sound and no lump showed up so was told it was fluid.
Had it drained and there was a little something, was biopsied but normal fibrous stuff.
The fluid was yellowish/mustard colour. Mine was hormonal caused by stress
Good luck with the biopsy results

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sparklesunshine · 25/02/2013 13:14

The Dr could see the solid bit clearly before he took out the fluid and the lump has shrunk to marble sized.

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digerd · 25/02/2013 16:04

Cancer does not grow to marble size within a few weeks. I'm sure it will not be that. Most when detected are hard pea size and immovable and are not surrounded with fluid, so unlikely to be cancer.
All the best for Thursday and an encouraging /relieved result

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sparklesunshine · 27/02/2013 10:30

I hope so digerd! I'm happy to read that yours was nothing to be worried about, and I should have an answer tomorrow. Hopefully a good one!

The thing I'm worried about is if the marble was there for a while and I just never noticed until the cyst came up around it. But nothing I can do until tomorrow.

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digerd · 27/02/2013 13:33

Good luck for tomorrow.

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sparklesunshine · 28/02/2013 18:50

So, it's cancer. Things are set in motion and hopefully all will still be well.

Not a good year, that's for sure. I'm off to find the Tamoxisomethingsomething thread..

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Gigondas · 28/02/2013 18:52

We are over in general health- come and join us. This is the worst time of all x

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mrssmooth · 28/02/2013 18:52

Oh no sparkle :( Sorry to hear your news. Thinking of you and wishing you strength over the next wee while xx

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Spero · 28/02/2013 18:58

Sorry to hear that. But my experience of the NHS is that they are very efficient - I had lumpectomy within 3 weeks of diagnosis. Unfortunately although only a stage 1 cancer it was an aggressive tumour so the firm recommendation was chemo. Butit hasn't been as bad as I feared -the worst is just the newness of it all. I hope they have caught it early so with luck yo can get away with quick op - I was home same day.

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sparklesunshine · 28/02/2013 20:06

It does seem to be all wheels in motion and the people there do seem to be nice and well informed. I feel I'm in good hands, if I have to be there.

I've had a drink and feel very much in shock. I'll touch base when it's sunk in.

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invicta · 03/03/2013 20:45

Just wanted to say 'hi' and thinking of you. I know it's a difficult time. My experience of going though the process wasn't as bad as expected. Breast canceri is curable now in the majority (85%) of cases. That statistic was important to me, as it reminded me that breast cancer is curable for most people, and I wanted to be in that group.

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digerd · 04/03/2013 08:46

Sparkle
I am really shocked and upset for you. Hope it is caught early enough to just need a lumpectomy.
All my best wishes for you

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Spero · 04/03/2013 11:57

Yes, I hope the news is good and you just need a quick op. But even if you do need other therapies, don't despair. The general line on chemo is 'tough but doable' and I would agree with that. I am half way through a six course cycle now and it most definitely hasn't been as bad as I feared. I feel a bit weird 5/6 days after dose but then get back to normal very quickly, just a bit breathless.

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smee · 05/03/2013 10:06

Spero, Sparkle's come and found us on the Tamoxifen thread, but feel free to come too. A lot of us have been through chemo on there and I know I found it helped a lot to talk to others who'd been through similar. We mostly talk about cake and normal life, but that's important too. Half way's good going. You can count down to the last one now. Smile

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