Arghh

fluffnutter

Gemma_ wrote: »

I'm 23 and there isn't any cancer in my family that I know off.

Statistically speaking you're waaaaay too young for cancer.

Gemma__3

fluffnutter wrote: »

Statistically speaking you're waaaaay too young for cancer.

I know but I can't still help but worry

fluffnutter

Gemma_ wrote: »

I know but I can't still help but worry

Christ, of course you will. I have the Olympic gold medal in worrying. Here's a couple of the things I do...

When you find yourself worrying, think 'It's OK to worry, but I won't worry right now. I'll think about this later on, at teatime, or tomorrow'. Then change whatever you're doing. Phone someone, pick up a book, go shopping, anything really, just do something that distracts you and hopefully your worry will recede a little. Keep doing that every time you find yourself worrying. The thing about worrying is that you can't help thinking 'this will happen, then this, then this' and before you know it you've come to the worst conclusion imaginable. But that's not how things work in reality and the outcome will inevitably be very different to your worst case scenario. When you find yourself worrying, try to stop that spiralling. You can't think yourself out of worry, reassurance doesn't actually work that well. The best thing to do is firmly say 'I'll think about this later' and get up and do something to distract yourself.

On Monday when you've seen the doctor all of this will be over. You'll be back going about your life and all of this will be in the past. Keep reminding yourself of that fact - life will go on, all will be well very soon.

fluffnutter

Please come back on Monday and let us know how you got on.

Gemma__3

I will do, just theres not much to do. I could go shopping but my partner would notice the big credit card bill and I really don't want to worry him at this stage until I know what it is.

Yorkie1

From my experience at the breast clinic, given your age you may well not have an x-ray or mammogram. I just had ultrasound, so your OH may well be able to be there throughout.

valk_scot

Gemma_ wrote: »

I know googles bad and I should stay away, Just I was reading about my surgery on NHS Choices and getting an appointment is really hard I just hope I get one.

As for friends I don't know many well enough up here.I'll be fine. I'll keep myself busy today

Tips for GP appointments, gleaned over several decades of getting them for myself and family.

You WILL get an appointment for this, all surgeries have emergency appointments which they keep for urgent matters. Get on the phone five minutes before the surgery lines officially open and keep phoning till someone picks up, that's what I do if I need to be seen that day for something. There may also be open surgery times where you can turn up and wait in the queue to see a GP, it might not be your own one of course. Be totally upfront with the receptionist as to exactly why you need to see a GP today, be prepared to grab your shoes and go there if the can offer an early morning appointment too. If all else fails just go in anyway, take your knitting and a book and tell the receptionist you'll take the first no show appointment that she has, there's always a few and if they have your notes ready you can take them into the GP yourself.
Remember receptionists can be really helpful but also if you tick them off they can go a bit power mad so don't get angry or yell at them, just keep firm and insisting. (Crying is okay though, so don't worry if you do that.)

AS to work, phone the minute you know what you're doing re the GP and tell them when you will/won't be in on Monday. They may not like it but tough, this is more important. If you don't want to tell your line manager the mysterious "urgent woman's problems" covers a lot but tbh, telling him/her you've found a lump and have an emergency GP appointment that day will get 99% of the population on your side. Be prepared though for a story about their lump though, or their wife's. It's a lot more common than you'd think!

As to what to do today, clean something! It's the perfect time to catch up with all the household chores, the laundry, scrubbing that dodgy bit under the sink. You'll have lots of nervous energy but not be able to settle so you might as well get stuff done, you can work off a lot of it by some vigorous scrubbing and thwacking things! Some time outside would be good too, if the weather is nice so if you've not got a garden then at least take a walk out to do some food shopping.

jellie

I agree with valk_scot's advice about being upfront with what your appointment is for.

At my doctor's the response when you ask for an appoint is always "we don't have any for today". However on the only occasion I needed an appointment the same day, once I'd explained what it was for, they changed completely and suddenly found that a doctor could see me after all.

ellay864

Big hugs Gemma, it's a very scary thing to go through but you know you are doing the right thing. I've found lumps that turned out to be nothing; I've also had a routine mammogram that led to a recall...again it was nothing. The chances are MUCH higher of it being harmless, but any internet searching will of course tell you it is possible it's cancer so it's understandable that you'll worry yourself senseless. I wish that those sites would also make more of the fact that even in the relatively few cases where it is cancer, early detection means that breast cancer is one of the most treatable there is. Instead people get terrified into thinking the worst.
Please keep away from the PC until you've had your GP appointment. And please do let us know how you get on x

Gemma__3

I went into work this morning to take my mind off things and catch up. As I'm a team leader my section head is my immediate boss and she was in today. I told her and she told me to not worry about coming in tomorrow.

This is my new GP. I don't even know who my actual GP is here, I just had to fill out a form and I got a letter welcoming me to the surgery, The receptionist was more interested on playing on her phone.

I'm not going to worry my boyfriend or anyone until I know what it. I just want it to go away.

Whats the difference between the ultrasound and the xray?