Mar
In december I found a lump in my armpit, but I went to the doctors cause I was ill with something else and she said it was probably just a swollen lymph node because I was ill, but if it is still there in 2 weeks come back. It was still there but I didn't go back.
I noticed a couple of weeks ago though, that it had gotten about twice the size so I went to see the doctor yesterday and after checking for any lumps in my breasts he mentioned about the 2 week urgent cancer referral plan, but that he wasn't sure whether to put it as breast cancer or something else.
Anyway, he rang me yesterday afternoon and left a message saying that, because they were worried, he and his colleagues decided to put an important referral to general surgeons, but he also said if admin at the surgery want to query anything, i.e. the referral process, they would call me, but otherwise it would be straight away.
I don't really comprehend what he means though, does it mean that they’ll call me when they can fit me in or what?
I'm quite scared about all this because although I'm only 18 my dad had cancer when he was just 21.
Can somebody with any experience please tell me what's going to happen?
This is all with the NHS in England by the way.
Answer:
If you've been referred to a breast clinic for tests you will be sent an appointment date by post, and it should be within two weeks of your referral.
I don't know what your GP meant by saying they would call you; you could call the surgery and ask, but I wouldn't worry about it - he probably just meant they'd get back to you if they’d any questions.
Breast cancer is extremely unlikely at your age - it's nearly unheard of in under 25s and fewer than 0.1% of all those diagnosed are under 30 and only 5% are under 40.
Unless your dad had breast cancer, his having had cancer doesn't increase your risk of breast cancer.
Because breast cancer is so rare in young women, many GPs don't take young women's concerns about their breasts seriously and don't put them on the two week referral - some young women, and I'm speaking about women in their 20s and 30s here too, have to wait months for an appointment; you’re lucky that yours has taken this seriously. He’s nearly certainly referring you as a precaution, to be totally sure it's not breast cancer.
At the clinic you’ll have a physical examination; it's unlikely you’ll have a mammogram as young women's breast tissue is too dense for mammograms to be useful. You’ll have an ultrasound scan, and if this gives any cause for concern, a biopsy.
Hospitals vary in how long you’ll have to wait for results; a few apparently give them the same day and I got mine two days later; with other hospitals you’ve to wait longer - a week or even two.
If you did have cancer and surgery was required, it would hve to be scheduled within four weeks.
Good luck; I know it's simple to state try not to worry, but do remember how extremely unlikely breast cancer is at your age.
Answer:
It does sound more like an infection has set in. You're so young, breast cancer should barely be in the picture. I only found one case of a teen having breast cancer and she had a strong positive test for the gene as it was very prevalent in her family. I had a friend that had the exact symptoms as you and it was diagnosed as cat scratch fever and the lump was removed. And yes, she has cats so she always gets some scratches from them. Needle biopsy probably for your lump. Good luck to you.
Answer:
You will probably have to have a biopsy and a catscan to see how/ if it has spread at all. The physician is concerned, and rightfully so, as it has grown to such a size and so fast. It sounds like they are trying to get you in as soon as possible and you can probably anticipate an appointment time very very shortly.
Try to be optimistic, it might be nothing or just a swollen gland because of some other illness that’ll go away on it's own.
Just to be on the safe side, certainly let the docs help you because if it is cancer, they might be able to remove it or begin Chemo at the bare minimum. Many young people with Chemo go into complete remission and the cancer never returns.
Good luck with everything and might God bless you.
Answer:
Well I really hope that it is nothing and that all is well. But even if it is cancer, it isn’t the end of the world. Physicians can work wonders these days and with all the treatments you can still have a good and long life. Just hang in there. You can read about cancer in the meantime and get informed. It always helps to understand superior and to know what questions to ask the doctors.