"Stressful visits to Royal Free Breast Clinic"

After a visit to my GP I was referred to the Royal Free Hospital Breast Clinic.

I initially saw a doctor who seemed impatient and really aloof. This doctor apologized and said there were no available mammograms or ultrasounds that day, to go downstairs to the imaging department and make an appointment there for the next few days. I was really anxious at this stage.

The receptionist at the imaging department tutted and said she couldn't give me an appointment for two weeks. I explained the doctor said I needed to have it much sooner, she suddenly had an appointment 4 days later?

On my return to the Breast Clinic I had a mammogram. There was little conversation with the person who did this. Then I expected to have an ultrasound but no, they messed up the ultrasound appointment, I had to go back 2 hours later. I was really stressed out.

I arrived back for the ultrasound at 2pm. The ultrasound was taking place, next thing I knew I was having fluid taken from each arm pit and three biopsies in each breast. There was no explanation at all from the radiographer. I could hardly speak as when I saw the doctor no lumps were spoken about.

I started to get upset and asked if this was normal practice! No one explained anything or gave me any reassurance. If I had of known I would have brought someone with me as when I walked out to get changed I was traumatized. Probably one of the worst experiences in my life, a little reassurance and some explanation would have really helped.