I can feel a lump in my breast

*Vikki*

Thank you everyone for your support and words. You have all really helped me and I have been thinking about what you have all said today and its made it easier.

With regards to smears, is it something that you get a letter sent to you requesting you to have one? Or have I got to book one? I imagined at 25 I would get a letter asking me to come along then to one. As I didn't think they liked to test people under 25?

trudij

They are funny about what age they suggest you start - but you can request one at any time - one of the things my doctor asked me was how long I had been "active" and told me then I should start having smears. (hundreds of years ago now!!) A girl i used to work with went to book in for one, and got sent away because she was only 23 - but we got her to go back and insist - which turned out to be just as well,as she had some irregular cells (not all that uncommon - I dont want to scare you!!) which she had to have treated.

I think if you ask for them these days, they have to do them - and its sensible really - the earlier they catch anything not quite right, the easier it is to treat.

Its not nice - but to be honest, not much that is good for you is !! (and you cant beat my cringe-worthy moment waiting for the consultant to come in, legs akimbo - and in he breezed, with a "Trudi - how are you?? I was at Ascot last week,so I knew it must be almost time to see you again... nice socks - you dont mind if my students have a look too do you" closely followed by a group of medical students....:embarasse:rotfl:

*Vikki*

oh my god Trudi how embarrassing! haha! Well I am 24 in April, so I have another year to get used to the idea. Having breasts checked is a big enough for me, can't bare to bring something like that forward just yet. Do you get a letter asking you to go along? Is that what you have to do, Sit on the bed with your legs wide open laying on your back? oh my god! What do they do then? Get a spatula and stick it up you? (sorry I didn't know how else to put it lol)

marshallka

*Vikki* wrote: »

oh my god Trudi how embarrassing! haha! Well I am 24 in April, so I have another year to get used to the idea. Having breasts checked is a big enough for me, can't bare to bring something like that forward just yet. Do you get a letter asking you to go along? Is that what you have to do, Sit on the bed with your legs wide open laying on your back? oh my god! What do they do then? Get a spatula and stick it up you? (sorry I didn't know how else to put it lol)

Just so you may know what to expect if you actually have a palpable lump in your breast. You would go to your doctors who would feel around and confirm. They would then get you in on an urgent appointment usually (but means nothing as everyone with a lump gets the same treatment and MOST lumps are not cancer). You would then get a scan and also a mamogram of the breast and if it a fluid filled lump showing they often biopsy the same day (needle biopsy). IF however, its a solid lump you can often have to wait for what is called a "core biopsy" which is where they do a slight cut and take a biopsy of the lump with a gun type thing which takes slight samples of the lump. You then wait for the results and MOST lumps of your age are actually fibroadenomas. Sometime they will not even biopsy but most of the time they do. Absolutely nothing to worry about and does not hurt at all, just slightly sore. I am thinkng for your age that it is most definately nothing but do get it checked.

A smear again nothing to worry about and very worth it.

Silaqui

Hi Vikki,

Hope your visit to the doc's goes ok, I've never had to have my boobs checked but I had my first smear last July (my appointment was on my bloody birthday, of all the times!).

I did get a letter years ago when I was 18 asking me to make an appointment, but I was too scared and didn't and they never contacted me again till last year when I was 25 because the age limit thing changed.

I was so nervous but it was totally fine, when I went I had the nurse do it, she did my height and weight (that might have been because it was combined with a pill check though) and then get me to go behind the curtain and strip off my bottom half, then lie on the bed. I had to put my feet together, then pull knees up and then apart, but with feet still together. She was really good and explained everthing as she went along, the feeling is weird, I felt like I needed a wee, dunno if thats normal though!

Now I would recommend wearing a skirt, as personally I felt a bit less exposed just taking my knickers off and then pulling it up, than I would have taking trousers off. It meant I could cover myself up right till the last minute, IYSWIM, and then it was quick to cover up after too.

LOL got a bit carried away in my post there, but just want you to know these things are normally nowhere near as bad as you think, and as a woman I guess we just have to accept it as a part of life!
x

trudij

I cant have the nurse any more - she cant get samples from me at all,to be fair i have a wonky cervix which doesnt help her,also because Ive had a couple of dodgy results,and where she struggles to get enough on a good day (!) they need to make sure Im ok - so I have to go to the hospital because I usually end up needing colposcopy (where he sticks a camera in and has a proper look about) so its just easier if Im there anyway !!
and yes - they tell you to relax, warm the speculum up (the thing they open you up with) lube it, insert it,widen it up so they can get to your cervix - and go in with either a spatula or a brush (the brush is better if they have difficulty getting enough sample) have a scrape about, take it out, put the sample on a slide (i think - Im usually staring hard at the ceiling at this point,cos it hurts me a lot) close the speculum,take it out and its all done. then its off the table, behind the curtain to get dressed again and out you go.

simples

(and if you think thats bad - Im told theres an STD test for men which involves something a bit like a cocktail stirrer (the ones that go out like an umberella) where they scrape down the inside of them...... )

*Vikki*

Well I thought nothing of it when I whipped my top of lol was a little embarrassed for split second then it went, I was just focused on listening to her. I have a cyst. She said its hormonal, and said she could refer me on to mamaogram but they wont be able to do anything for it. So I said its okay I trust you that it is. I have nothing to take for it, but she wants to see me in a months time again to look at it. Not sure why? Maybe if its gone down or something....

Had a list of other stuff that I wanted to see her about so got on with them too.

Thanks for all your support it made it much more easier hearing peoples words on here.

Amanita_2

That is good news. You might like to read the other breast thread - Evening primrose oil is worth a try if you have the lumpy hormonal breasts.

LilyAllen_2

I had to get my boobs out for my doc and found it easier to wear a top I could unbutton rather than take completely off. Might make you feel less exposed!!

*Vikki*

Update:

I went back to the Doctors yesterday on her request last time I saw her, for her to check my chest again.

She felt the lump again and asked if I would like it removed? I said if its not cancerous I would leave it.

She said oh well we will send you to have a ultrasound to check that it isnt.

What!!! I thought! I asked her this last time and she said oh no its fine. Well I am sure it is too but why couldnt she send me a month ago to have a scan. ghrr.


So I await contact in the next 2 weeks for a scan. Worrying now a little about the small op as I think I will have it removed if asked again.

p.s pretty fine about taking my top off now! Hehe, I don't know why I was worrying so much!