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Bad treatment at breast clinic
Hi all,sorry if this is a long post,you may have read my other post in worried,don't know if I am in the right place to post this,but here goes.
I found a lump a couple of weeks ago,went to GP,who also felt the lump,and referred me to the breast clinic.I attended last Wednesday.On arrival I filled in a short form about medical history/lifestyle.After a long wait,I was called through,straight into the mammogram room.After a few unaudible mumbles from person in there,had mammo done,and told to return to waiting room.After another long wait,was called through again.Turns out I was going into scan room.Told by care assistant to get undressed and lay on the bed,so I did.Then waited.And waited.Room was freezing!Eventually,3 people come storming into the room.No introductions.Lady,who I later realised was the doctor,comes over and asks me why I'm there.I explain I noticed a bruise-like mark on my breast,and when I touched it,theres a lump in my breast.She didn't ask whereabouts it was,or feel it.She squeezed my breasts a little,whilst I was lying down.Then announced the bruise was from a car seat belt,you must of done it whilst a passenger in a car!I say to her that you can't feel the lump whilst I am laying down,so she pulls me up,roughly,and says well where is it?I must admit,by this stage,I am crying and shaking.So much so,I can't control my hands.I just cry out quietly that I don't know (not sure why I said that,because I do,but just couldn't get my hands to go where I wanted them to).I just felt so humiliated and upset.She pushes me back onto the bed,grabs my right hand and shoves it into my breast (opposite side to where my lump is),then says 'Thats normal breast tissue,thats what you can feel isn't it?!.I am fairly inconsolable by this point.I just couldn't get any words out of my mouth,let alone to say 'No!It feels very different!'.
She then disappears,and the scan lady does a scan that lasts about 30 seconds on each breast.
Doctor reappears,and says thats it,get dressed,off you go.Then her and the scan lady leave the room.I must add at this point,the other lady,who is a nurse,was nice and said if anything changes or it doesn't go,come back.She then leaves the room.
I get dressed and leave.Hubby and I are both upset and in shock as to what had just happened.
Is this what breast clinics are like?I understand they do it day in,day out.But the treatment I received-I certainly didn't expect.I have put in a complaint.I never wish any lady to come out of there feeling as I did-totally humiliated,belittled,distressed,embarrassed and still worried about their lump.
I don't feel at all reassured about my lump.I am going back to my GP on Thursday,to explain it to her.Should I ask her for another referral?Or do I accept that it was a thorough enough examination?I think if the doctor at the clinic had acknowledged my lump,and then said its normal,I would of felt completly reassured.But she didn't even feel it.I don't want to waste anyones time,or sound like I'm pushing for there to be something wrong.But I am still very worried.Over the weekend,my sister-who is a nurse-came over,and looked at/felt my 'bruise' and lump.She has recommended I go back and if GP won't re-refer me,she will very kindly pay for a private appointment.
I am sorry for going on-I was just so upset by the experience (I'm crying now just writing about it,silly mare lol).
Thankyou for taking the time to read this,
Jenny x
Hi Jenny
Just wanted to say how sorry I was to read about your awful experience at the Breast Clinic. My heart goes out to you and I agree with your lovely sister-in-law that you should go back to your GP. Hopefully it will be breast tissue and nothing more sinister but you have to feel confident that you have had the best of care and that your fears have been listened to. I don't think you're a silly mare at all I think your reaction to your treatment was totally understandable and I'm sure most people would have felt as upset as you.
Take care of yourself.
Love
Kyra
x
Oh Jenny what an awful experience you've had. No, all breast clinics are not like that. The one I went to in Shefield was brilliant. Everyone was lovely, couldn't have been kinder. Definately go back to your GP and explain what has happened and ask if you can be referred again. Please don't give up until you feel absolutely certain that you have had a proper examination. No-one can have a life with that uncertainty hanging over their head.
Keep posting on here, you'll get lots of support.
Please let us know how you get on.
Loads of hugs xx
Jenny,
I am so sorry to hear about the horrible treatment you received. I hope that breast clinics like that are in the minority! Mine is always very busy but I have always been treated with respect.
You are doing all right things - putting a complaint in, going back to your gp ............ Your sister sounds lovely and I am pleased you have got her support (and your husband's).
You are not a "silly mare" for being upset - I feel upset just reading about your experience!!
Sending you a big hug. I am sure other ladies will come on to offer their support.
Love
Maude xx
Hi Jenny
What a terrible experience you have had, its a time when we feel vulnerable enough without being treated like that.
I have been sent away from a breast care clinic on 2 separate occassions being told there's nothing to worry about but I was and persisted, its a good job I did as both times it was cancer.
If you are not happy and still worried which I think you are don't give up till you get some answers as to what your lump is.
Once I had been diagnosed my treatment was good but it was such a battle getting diagnosed.
Hope yours turns out to be innocent.
Take care.
Jan
Hi Jenny
Sorry you have had such an awful experience, we feel vulnerable enough without that.
If you are still worried don't give up, I was sent home on 2 separate occassions from our clinic being told there was nothing to worry about, but somehow I just knew they were wrong and I persisted, good job I did as it turned out to be cancer, how I wish they had been right. Once diagnosed I had no problems but getting there was a battle.
I hope yours turns out to be innocent but don't give up until you get it investigated to your satisfaction.
Take care.
Jan
I'm so sorry you had such an unpleasant experience. It is certainly not what should happen. I was treated with respect when I went for my tests and was told straight away that my lump was cancer.
Regardless of outcome anyone with a worrying symptom should be examined and either reassured that all is OK, or told the worst, or asked to come back for results. There is no excuse for your treatment.
Please do as your sister advises and go back to your GP Hope you get some reassurance soon.
X
Can only repeat what others have said, so sorry that that was your experience. Please go back to your GP, if you feel uncomfortable going back to the same breast clinic, perhaps take your sister in law up on her offer of a private appointment.
Wishing you all the best
Marguerite
Jenny, that sounds horrible and is not what I experienced at all. Everyone was lovely when I went - except the tests were positive when I wanted to be told there was nothing wrong. My GP gave me the choice of 3 appointments at 3 different hospitals (one was 20 miles away but if you've only to go once may be doable). Could your GP refer you somewhere else?
Hopefully your lump will be something other than BC.
x
Jenny
that sounds terrible- i sort of know how you feel, i was referred last week and the first young Dr who examined me said she couldnt feel anything other than normal breast tissue- i tried to explain that i could feel it more when laid down but she was quite sharp with me and said she didnt need to do that, she kind of huffed and said "well as you are here- you just as well have a quick ultra-sound" !!! next thing i was having a mamo, then an ultrasound, then another mamo and when i was called back in to see her she said " well there is a lump there but i cant find it!" she made me feel like i was wasting their time. Im now waiting for results of the FNA & Core biopsy, but i think if she hadnt seen me going red in the face and starting to look a bit stroppy- i too would have been packed on my way. Definately go back to your GP and let us know how you get on x
I can't think of many more emotionally difficult situations than waiting to know if you've got a cancerous lump so you're reaction is completely normal. What you hope in these situations is that the person who examines you will have some empathy, understanding and hopefully kindness. Sadly this wasn't the case for you.
Although I wasn't treated as badly as you, my first experience at a breast clinic wasn't good. No-one spoke to me after the doctor had looked at the mammogram and he just called more people in. The BCN then came over and said they have told you you are going to have biopsies done haven't they? When I said no she tutted and raised her eyes to the ceiling. After a second appointment there I'd lost all confidence and wasn't happy with the suggested plan of action.
I went back to my GP and because of the amount of time involved went for a private second referral (but I could have had this on the NHS). What a difference. The second surgeon immediately diagnosed lymph node involvement, while the first had told me my lymph nodes were clear.
I had my treatment on the NHS with this second surgeon whose attitude and care has been exactly the same throughout. Let's face it if we're going to have surgery we want to feel confident.
Time to be proactive and get that second opinion.
take care, Elinda x
Hi again all,well,went back to my GP this morning and she was lovely.She was horrified at the treatment I have received,and has referred me to a different hospital,albeit as non-urgent,but I'm just pleased I may be able to get the reassurance I need.She said I should get an appointment in the new year,so not too bad.She is also going to put on the letter a bit about the experience I had last week.
Many thanks for all your replies,will post again as soon as I know anything,
Best Wishes to you all and Merry Christmas,
Jenny
Good, pleased to hear you've been listened to and will be getting that second opinion. take care and enjoy your Christmas.
Im so sorry that you have had such a bad time, i also had a difficult time and made a complaint. I have seen 4 oncologists all under the NHS despite having private health care. I have now found an oncologist that i can work with,discuss treatments and feel human with. The hospital have replied to my complaint and apologised. I have also requested complete access to my medical records and am in the process of filling out the necessary forms. Dont let them treat you badly you are in control of your body make them respect it, keep strong. If i can be of any help pm me. Good luck for the future.