Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Katty]

I will be 55 this summer and have received a letter to attend for breast screening. I am weighing up the situation. It appears women can end up having treatment in cases where it is not necessary. Did anyone on here elect not to attend?

[cubagirl]

I've always attended. My SIL died from breast cancer before 50.  This was my main reason.  I was first screened at 50.

[Elizabethrose]

Hi Katty

I've always gone to my checks and indeed had a couple of lump scares in my 30s that had to checked and biopsied.

There are always scare stories around with everything. If you have your mammogram it is entirely up to you whether you accept treatment if something is found to be amiss. At that stage then you could research as necessary.

It's not terribly comfortable but over and done with quickly. Have to say they've been a whole lot less uncomfortable since breasts aren't engorged with hormonal activity!!

I wish you well.

[Scampi]

I had a lump screened and biopsied a few years ago (all clear), then last year was invited to attend routine screening at the age of 48 as part of a trial into extending the screening programme - I went with no hesitation. 

[walking the dog]

My 64 year old friends just had a mammogram and was recalled, they have found a cancerous lump and she's having it removed and chemotherapy. However she can not feel this lump at all and if she hadn't went for her mammogram it could have got worse.
I believe in screening but that's just me

[Ju Ju]

Having had a sister, who died from breast cancer age 50, I haven't hesitated. I have had scares when much younger and a recall at my last routine mammogram. They needed a more comprehensive view of a change from previous mammograms. Although I was naturally worried, it gives me more confidence at how carefully they scrutinise and compare mammograms.

[Katty]

Thank you for your replies. I think what Elizabethrose said was interesting. I could always think about the next steps if anything was found. I too have had friends and colleagues affected by breast cancer. In truth my life is far from perfect and I'm not sure I'd want the treatment if anything was found. It would just be something else that went wrong.

[Katty]

Yes I am in the UK. I remember getting a letter a few years back and the appointment got forgotten about because I was in the midst of family turmoil

[CLKD]

I have attended because it is part of an on-going method of seeing how often and if ladies are found with cancer in the breast.  This isn't the highest killing cancer of course ....... but has a high profile.

My Mum had a routine mammogram at age 65 and a cancerous lump was seen, breast was removed and she needed no further treatment.  My own lump however was found on palpation, despite having regular screening.  It went to histology and 'changes' were found which were un-expected.

I never felt rushed into making decisions about whether to have the 2nd lot of surgery and appropriate treatment.  My Surgeon told me 'that ladies with this type of lump do not need mastectomy but if in 18 months you are worried then we will discuss this, in the meantime I recommend C, D, F."  Still here >wave<

We have the opportunity in the UK to attend various screening programmes.  Those in the Middle East do not.  I have been told that mammograms are giving radiation un-necessarily but most of us have TVs and lap-tops, do we not ;-)

[coldethyl]

Although various research has shown that routine mammograms can lead to unnecessary treatments I think this tended to be in older group where even if the lump was non benign you were more likely to die of something else before it killed you- I would certainly take up the screening  as treatment is often successful should anything be found - I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and only wish that early detection was an option as the survival rates compared to breast cancer which has routine active surveillance are rubbish - as has been said , detection doesn't mean you have to have treatment if you don't want, though I've yet to meet anyone at oncology unit who hasn't grabbed whatever is on offer with both hands xx

[CLKD]

After surgical intervention I had them annually for about 8 years ........ I never worried that I would get an 'over dose' of radiation 

[Hurdity]

I wouldn't hesitate either - even though the leaflet which came with the appointment gave the stats which indicated that a proportion would receive treatment (lumpectomy/chemotherapy) for a cancer which would never have caused problems (can't remember the details). I also have had lumpy breast and two lumps in my 30's - a fibroadenoma - which they looked at on U/S (and followed up with U/S to see if it had grown) but no biopsy or treatment, and a galactocoele (milk lump) which disappeared eventually. Even though I'm on HRT which makes breast tissue more dense and therefore somewhat more difficult to assess for problematic areas - I would still always go for the mammograms. I've had 4 so far - or 5 including a recall. In my rural area (small market town) it would only be 3 years even if you missed one because the huge unit comes and parks in Tesco car park once every 3 years so everyone is called at the same time over a period of a few months! I have never found it painful - just a squished feeling.

Hurdity x

[Tinkerbell]

I refused my first 3 years ago as I was in the midst of great family turmoil and couldn't stand any more stress.
I had another invite for December just gone, so just under 3 years even though I refused the one previously.

[Cassie]

I would not hesitate, be so greatful for this opportunity, it really is not a big deal.

[Tinkerbell]

Yes I wondered if it it varied from health authority to health authority!