Doctor making me wait.

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chasem
chasem Member Posts: 6
edited March 2018 in Not Diagnosed But Worried

I recently got a new doctor. Seen her once about a month ago for new patient physical so far. Two weeks and two days ago I noticed a lump in my breast and wanting it looked into ASAP I called her office and spoke with a nurse there. Explained the situation that a lump was found and not sure when it first appeared. I was told to call back in two weeks if it doesn't go away. Two weeks go by and called them yesterday telling them it hasn't gone away. This time she said give it till my next appointment I have set for one month from now. My question, is this normal, shouldn't she have me come in to at least feel it and say yeah or nay to further tests . Why make my anxiety peak not knowing if it is cancer or not. Did anyone have a doctor put you off for 6 weeks to get you into exam? If it makes any difference I am a 53 year old male.

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited February 2018

    chasem,

    What kind of insurance do you have? Can you go see a specialist without your primary care sending a referral. It sure seems like your doctor isn't taking you seriously. Only had to wait that long to get into see a surgeon but was seen by a nurse practioner, ob/gyn and had an MRI and biopsy prior. Maybe showing up in person would help and request (demand) you get seen. Most doctor's leave time in the schedule for patients with urgent issues.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited February 2018

    Welcome chasem, I'm a guy who has been treated for breast cancer a few years ago, so I'll try to answer your question. First, do you have a family history of this disease? If so, you should tell your doctor this. Second, if you are overweight, gynecomastia can show up as lumps. This would be a non-cancerous lump. I agree your doc is taking this pretty casually and you could insist on a sooner appt. One month is a lot of worry time. The only way to know for sure is to have a mammogram or an ultrasound followed by a biopsy if the images look suspicious. Keep us posted as things progress.


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  • chasem
    chasem Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2018

    Veeder14. My insurance is BCBS and doctor is in network so that's not a problem. I would agree that she isn't taking this seriously and might need to go to a specialist or put up a fuss in person, but would rather not start off on the wrong foot with new doctor. The hospital boasts that they have same day appointments so really not seeing the problem on her end.

    Traveltext. There is no breast cancer in family but there is other types of cancer. I was overweight but lost ~45 pounds so not much overweight now. I tend to think that my condition is probably gynecomastia from what I understand. But reading symptoms of gynecomastia and cancer are pretty much the same and get no concrete answers from reading them either way.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited February 2018

    Yes, that's true. I guess your options are to bring the appt forward or wait. I waited a few months before I was diagnosed.


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  • chasem
    chasem Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2018

    Traveltext. So your waiting was by your choice. Do you think that extra few months made a difference eg cancer moving ahead a stage? I have a yearly shop physical coming up on the 6th of this month, probably going to ask if they can check the lump.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited February 2018

    No, the waiting was because my general physician didn't think it was cancer. In the end I demanded an ultrasound.


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  • chasem
    chasem Member Posts: 6
    edited February 2018

    Unbelievable. Did you deck that idiot, and I hope he's not your doctor anymore.

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  • mustlovepoodles
    mustlovepoodles Member Posts: 2,825
    edited February 2018

    I'm pretty concerned that your doctor is handling this so flippantly. No way should you be put off for months when you have a new, unexamined breast lump. I'd suggest that you either call and insist on being seen or find another doctor who is willing to order a mammogram, at the least.

    This is not gynecomastia--that is abnormal breast tissue swelling in a man's breast caused by hormonal alterations. Women are supposed to have breast tissue swelling.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited February 2018

    My doctor was a she, but most doctors aren't on the lookout for men with this disease, since it's such a rarity.

    MLP, gynecomastia can present as lumps and is the most common reason for lumps in a male breast. But I agree, the doctor is not handling this well.


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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited March 2018

    Doctors need to learn a thing or two -

    https://www.curetoday.com/community/bonnie-annis/2...


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  • chasem
    chasem Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2018

    Her office called today and made an appointment for this Friday. Good, the sooner the better.

    Thanks everyone for posting in my support and helping. I'll post on Friday what the Doctor's conclusion is.

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  • marijen
    marijen Member Posts: 3,731
    edited March 2018

    Oops sorry wrong topic

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  • chasem
    chasem Member Posts: 6
    edited March 2018

    Went in Friday for checkup thinking I would have a better idea of my situation. Boy was I wrong. The doctor they gave me didn't seem to know what to look for or probably how. Was very disappointed to say the least. However the search continues with another appointment for Breast Ultrasound with SVWC BC US 1. Another week of waiting and probably beyond.

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  • Traveltext
    Traveltext Member Posts: 2,089
    edited March 2018

    An appointment for an ultrasound is the best you could have expected from that first appointment with your doc. Sorry you have another week of waiting.


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