Just need to vent
I found a rather large lump on my left breast almost a week ago and have another week before I can get in with my obgyn. I have been beyond stressed to say the least. When I was 16 I had a lump removed and it was benign, but this one is so much larger and kind of goes into my armpit. Of course Dr. Google has just made me stress even more, and the wait it getting to be unbearable. I also have this guilt because I knew I had another lump but it was just hanging out not really doing anything and then boom it grew and my left breast which has always been smaller is now much larger. All I can think about is my breasts. I know that whatever this is is going to have to be surgically removed as it's basically my whole breast now and of course I'm stressing about that. What did everyone do with their time? Is their a way to get the process going a little faster? I can't imagine being referred somewhere and having to wait another two weeks to be seen by someone else. Of it is breast cancer how aggressive should I be to have testing done? I have read that because I have had lumps before it could put me at a higher risk of having breast cancer because it means your breast are denser. I really just needed to say all of this somewhere hopefully things will get easier next week when I hopefully have some answers.
Comments
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Sarah, how old are you now? Did you tell your gynecologist that you have this lump? My experience is that lumps in the breasts are high priority and you should not have to wait so long for an appointment. Surely he can fit you in to examine this lump.
Remember that most lumps are benign. Take a deep breath...advocate for yourself. If you see changes in your breast call the dr.’s office back and get in to see him.
Keep us posted
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Well I got in today with my PCP which is a residency clinic so I saw a resident and she says she can't feel a lump and that an ultrasound probably won't be approved by my insurance. I'm not sure what the next step is because I can feel the lump, my breast is now noticeably larger, and my mom has even felt the lump so I don't think I am just imagining things I just really want to know what's causing my breasts to change. I know I'm at a lower risk of cancer but I am still very worried that there has been a drastic change recently. Hopefully I will get approved for an ultrasound and it will just be a fibroadenoma but I just want to know something for sure.
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Call your gynecologist
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why wouldn't an ultrasound be covered by insurance? You need a US prescription anyway because that is exactly what you need to have done as far as the next step. An ER won't do it, so if anything maybe give can self pay for the exam. An imaging center can give you self pay prices which really aren't that bad/high. I'm waiting for biopsy results right now. My process started on May 24th and I won't have final results until june 25th. Over a month. I've done a lot of crying, googling and overreacting. I'm stupid, don't be like me!
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Sarah - if needed the next time you see someone,find the lump for them. I had to find it for my PCP. As Bella said, advocate for yourself. You are probably accustomed to deferring to doctors’ experience and expertise BUT go with your gut - you seem confident that something isn’t right - keep up the pressure
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Ok so I got in with my obgyn and I did apparently have a fibroadenoma in my left breast when they ultrasound it 10 years ago but she put in the order to have another ultrasound done so I will hopefully have that done soon. The first doctor was very dismissive thankfully this one understood my concerns and said it was better to be safe than sorry. At least I will have some reassurance soon! I had a juvenile papallomatosis lump removed in my right breast at 16 so maybe this is what I have in my left? At least the ball is rollog. Thank you everyone for the push to get me to stand up for myself or I may still be using Dr.Google feeling doomed!
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Great news!
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Sarah, good if they couldn't understand your concern they aren't very good.
Good luck.
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