Tuesday 4th May 2021
Today I discovered a lump in my left breast. I noticed a slight depression on my breast, and when I palpated the area, discovered an elongated lump running downwards on the inner side of the breast. I am aware that most breast lumps are benign, but also that they should be checked out.
Because it is so difficult phoning the GP’s surgery to get an appointment, I did an eConsult online, answering the various questions as they came up, and quite soon afterwards I received a phone call from them, to make an appointment to come in. If my hubby hadn’t been busy the following day, I’d have gone then, but we arranged for me to go in on the 6th.
Thursday 6th May 2021
I attended the surgery and saw the nurse practitioner. She examined both breasts and checked my underarm lymph nodes. She established that there was no weeping, swelling of glands, rash, redness or dimpling (all indicative of cancer) but she said that the lump felt “odd” and it should definitely be checked out. She could detect an enlarged lymph node under my arm on that side. She would refer me to the breast unit at the hospital immediately, and I should get an appointment within a fortnight.
Saturday 8th May 2021
Today I received a letter from the Breast Unit with an appointment on Thursday 20th May at 9.10 a.m. They informed me that the appointment would take half a day in order to allow for all the necessary investigations.
Monday 10th May 2021
I received a phone call from the Breast Unit, postponing my appointment to Monday 24th because they had had a flood at the unit due to the heavy rainfall, and they had quite a bit of mess to clear up. A couple of days later I received a letter from them, confirming this appointment for 2 p.m.
Monday 24th May 2021
I attended the Breast Unit at 2 p.m. as arranged. I was examined, and then they did a mammogram, and after this I was taken to another room where I met the doctor, who did an ultrasound scan. This revealed the lump but showed the lymph node to be normal.
He told me that the examinations were not showing any definite signs of cancer, and that the lump was most likely a fat necrosis – a benign fatty lump usually resulting from an injury, although I could not recall having bumped myself. He said he would like to do a biopsy to make sure, which he did. He injected local anaesthetic into the area, and this was a lot less painful than I’d expected – having experienced this before, I was expecting it to sting quite badly. I felt nothing of the biopsy except a pushing sensation, and hearing the “click” of the device as the sample was taken – he took two.
He told me they would phone me after the next multi-disciplinary meeting on Wednesday 2nd June, when they had had a chance to examine and discuss the lab results of the biopsy.
Saturday 26th May 2021
Today I received a copy of the letter the Breast Unit sent to my GP following my appointment. No mention was made of fat necrosis – just a summary of what was done and what they found.
