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My GP found a breast lump during my annual checkup last Thurs We faxed off the referral form to the Mater, was wondering how long they act on making the appointment, the form states for my age that I may be seen within two weeks, but I could not get through to the clinic on Fri and yesterday I talked to a girl that said she would ring back in the afternoon but never did Worried but trying to stay calm Apologises if this is in the wrong area

hi ladies, i have one week down of the two week wait on core biopsy results for a large lump in my left breast, i actually have two lumps, the small one they think is a breast mouse as showed solid on ultrasound and not on mammogram. i have these lumps a while and was at the doctor a few times with them, however i went three weeks ago and the gp was very concerned and sent me for an urgent appointment with the breast clinic, however that weekend which was the week before easter, i had emense pain on the sunday night and could not sleep, i tried cold and hot compresses and local anestihic gel but nothing worked, after lying awake in pain all night i went to see the gp on the monday and she squessed me in between appointments. the pain was like when a wasp stings you and the acid is going in to the skin, but continual, so the gp rang the breast clinic to know could they see me that week or would she send me in through casualty. the registrar said he would fit me in on the thursday afternoon breast clinic and the doc put me on antibiotics, antiinflamotories and painkillers till then as she could not see an infection but was sure one was present. when i seen the registrar on thursday he had a look and said he would have to get the consultant, she is lovely and said i had an abscess the size of an orange that had been festering with a while, so put me on three strong antibiotics and continue the anti imflamotries until first appointment on tuesday as they had to clear the infection to examine the breast properly. i went back on the tuesday and they sent me straight in for an ultrasound and that was inconclusive for both lumps so sent me for a mammogram, i got the results on the thursday from that and the specialist believed that the small lump was a mouse and the large lump was a solid suspicious mass measuring 6cm with uneven edges and califications, drew it out like a childs picture of a cloud, she recommended a ultrasound guided biopsy the following tuesday which was last week. she also said she gave it a rating of 3 although i seen 3/4 written on radioligist report in biro, she also said it had to come out either way as too large to leave it. i tried to get an opinion from the radiologist last week and bascially got nothing, just it may or may not be something and wait for the pathologist report but it has to be removed either way. that was not too bad till i discovered it takes two weeks for the results to come back and they sent me a follow up appointment for next tuesday the day the results are due back. so bascially i am driving myself mad and cant sleep at night for worrying about scenarios. i am 35 and very healthy otherwise, i have a small chest and the lumps are visible through the skin and the large one has a few bits jutting out through the skin, the gp always thought it was a fibrodema or a cyst but obviously her opinion was before it started causing all this trouble. i have no pain in the large lump now since infection cleared except for swelling and bruising from the biopsy. has anyone had a similar experience as i am worried. thanks girls

Hi, I have been put forward for genetic testing as myself and my sister both with breast cancer and aged 38 and 39. My Surgeon has sent a letter to the team in Crumlin but said it could be six months before test and six months wait for results as takes a lot of time to find the rogue genes. I was wondering had anyone had it done recently. I think Flo mentioned she had in an earlier post. I'm trying to find as much info as I can as i know there will prob be decisions re ovaries and other boob! I had left Mastectomy and i'm taking tamoxifin and my sister is having chemo weekly as she has secondary in lung. If anyone has any advice that would be great before I get app for testing. Thanks so much

Men Against Cancer (MAC) is a support group for men with prostate cancer. Nobody knows like somebody who has been through it.. if you would like to share in the knowledge and experience of a man who has been through a prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment, please contact the nurses on the prostate cancer information service at free phone: 1800 380 380. They will put you in touch with a volunteer.

hi guys just wondering if there is anyone to talk to about melanoma's. i just had one removed from my cheek 3 weeks ago today. it was a clark v 5.5mm deep. it was a lump under the skin that appeared last year but because i was pregnant (i lost) i had to delay getting it removed. when i did get it removed in december results didnt show melanoma but it needed to be removed further. at this stage it was february and i was pregnant again( i lost again sadly). it had started to grow back also. i was to get it removed further at the end of april but i miscarried in march so first week in april i got a cancelation to get it removed. it came back malignant a week later and i was in surgery the following morning which was good friday. i had a pet and ct scan done and they are clear and they have decided to treat me with interferon. i am so scared it will come back to the same place or somewhere else and i dont spot it in time.

Hi I'm scheduled for Lattismus Dorsai Flap reconstruction soon and wonder if there's anyone out there who has had this and what their experience was? I had a left masectomy in Sept 2007 following by chemo and Herceptin. Have made a great recovery - so be positive anyone that's newly diagnosed there's light at the end of the tunnell! Definitely up for having the surgery now - it'll be nice to have hair AND two boobs again, but would just like some feedback from ordinary women who have been thru it?

My Dad has extensive small cell lung cancer, liver and spots in his bone and brain. He has undergone chemo and never recovered from it to be honest. He is very fatigued. He started some pallitive radiotherapy yesterday for five sessions to hopefully reduce the new tumour blocking his airway. I suppose I would like to hear from anyone in a similar situation. We lost our Mom 7 yrs ago to lung cancer and its unbelievably hard and unfair to be here again... Has anyway gone through this twice? How do you get through it? (for some reason I am finding this week very hard, we had a meeting yesterday with the consultant who looked after my Mom and it really knocked me back to 7 yrs ago)I really want tips for myself and my brothers and sisters cos Dad deserves the best from us. Any advice, support or suggestions would be great.. Sorry for moaning

Hi everyone I found a swelling in my left breast around Christams but as I was going into hospital of an operation on a shoulder problem I ignored the swelling. I went to my GP Tuesday week and she was concerned, I saw the specialist yesterday. He said the lump (not swelling) is 5 cm and thinks it has been there a while. I have to go for mammogram, ultrasound and core biopsy on Tuesday and I did not ask if I would get any results even then. I have no pain in the breast the lump is on the top and I do have a little discomfort towards my armpit. I know I just have to wait for the outcome but I cannot help crying. I am 48 year old divorcee with 2 children a 21 year old girl and an 18 year old boy (sitting his leaving cert) I have told noone. I dont even know what I want from you girls at the moment, just any thing you can tell me about procedures and waiting time for results. Thanks for taking the time to read this, and good luck to you all. Evelyn

My husband of 16yrs passed away on May 1st. He was diagnosed last June with stomach cancer, he was only 39. He was amazing. He never let the cancer or the treatment get him down. Within weeks of starting his chemo he was back on his feet. In March this year he started getting headaches and spent a few weeks in hospital with suspected meningitus. Later that month we got the brilliant news that his cancer had gone into remission. However his symptons never improved and the headaches got worse. He was transferred to Galway hospital easter thursday and the following wednesday we were told that the cancer had spread to the lining of his skull. He fell into a coma 11 days later and passed away 4 days after. I am so proud of him, and i miss him more each day. He has left behind a 15yr old daughter and an extended family whose lives will always have a huge whole in it. Everyone who knew him said how brave he was and the huge turnout at his funeral proved that. I have been honoured to be his wife and friend.

From someone who has come through mastectomy, chemo and reconstruction in the last 10 months, I'd just like to say thank you very much to all the women who took part in the Dip in the Nip last weekend. You've raised much needed funds and increased awareness of the services provided by Action Breast Cancer. If it happens again next year I might even be brave enough myself to bare all!