Hi ManUtd,

A very warm welcome to our forum. GPs will usually examine you lying down with your arms above your head. This should find any lumps. As someone who has had 2 bouts of breast cancer, I agree that it is easier to find a lump when you're well soaped up and in the shower. Why not bring some body lotion with you when you go to see your GP and, if he cannot find it when your breasts are dry, ask him to examine you with some body lotion on. This will help his hands to glide over your breasts more freely and is possibly the closest way that you can replicate being in the shower.

Not all lumps are cancerous, so I sincerely hope that nothing untoward is found.

Please let us know how you get on. We are always here for you.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

Thank you for your reply and advice. When I had my previous appointment in November to get them checked the GP just examined me when I was sitting on the bed and did not get me to lay down to examine me. Would this have made much of a difference in him being able to feel the lumps? Also I have tried feeling them myself when laying down and cannot really feel them. The only time I can properly feel them is when I’m in the shower or putting lotion on as the area is wet and they’re easier to feel. Sometimes they can be felt when the area is dry but majority of the time they can’t. Would the GP allow me to take lotion for them to use to replicate the shower so they can feel them this time?

Thanks

Hi,

I would let your GP examine them when they are dry first, but you could explain that you can only find the lump when they are moist and ask if they would be prepared to do this. It seems perfectly sensible to me and I don't see any responsible GP turning down your request. You ask which is the most effective way to examine your breasts. My experience is that doctors all have their own preferences. I have also been examined sitting up with my hands behind my neck.

I hope that your GP manages to identify the lumps that you're concerned about.

Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

i was hoping I could ask you one more thing. There’s 3 lumps all in the same area under my right breast and before it felt like 2 are movable but I couldn’t tell if the 3rd moved or not. When I run my finger over the lumps with a little bit of pressure they feel like they kind of move to the side slightly if that’s make sense. I’m not 100% sure if it’s the lumps moving or just the feel of my finger going over the lumps but they feel like they move. Yesterday I tried to feel the lumps laying down using body lotion as they’re easier to feel when moist and it felt like all 3 were movable. They feel like they kind of move side to side under my finger. In your personal experience is it a good sign if breast lumps are movable like that as I’ve read that it can be?

thanks

Hi ManUtd,

You can ask as many questions as you like - I'll try to answer as many as I can. On the whole it's the fixed lumps with jagged edges that are the more suspicious ones. It does sound like good news that they are all moveable, but, with cancer there are no hard and fast rules, so you're best to make sure. Have you got a date for the telephone consultation with your GP yet?

I am glad to hear that you managed to feel all three lumps when lying down after you put body lotion on.

Here's hoping that all goes well.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi,

Thanks for all your help. I have my telephone appointment next Wednesday with my GP. I think I’m going to just ask them if they would be ok with me bringing lotion and getting them to put some on their finger before they feel the lumps as i don’t think they’ll feel them when they’re dry as they couldn’t at my last appointment in November and at least this way they’ll definitely feel them as I can when I do the same thing. Thank you for the idea!

Thanks

Hi ManUtd,

I am glad to hear that you don't have too long to wait. I don't see any harm in asking your GP to use the body lotion.

I hope that it all goes well for you. Please let us know how you get on.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx