sadietoo Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 an emotive subject, and one on which I have hesitated to post.... A few weeks ago I attended a routine screening, and was devastated to be recalled....... I attended the clinic again, and have now been advised after investigations that in fact it was nothing to worry about after all...if only I had known that when I received the recall letter....I have been through so much torment over the last couple of weeks..!!!! When you delve a little deeper into the statistics, my experience is not that unusual, and although I had not looked into it before there are questions about the efficacy of the whole screening programme. As a consequence, I am seriously questioning whether I will go now for my next routine mammogram in three years time, and in fact it is highly unlikely that I will attend. I do appreciate that that those involved with the breast screening programme truly believe that they have my best interests at heart...but personally I think in future I shall rely on my own breast awareness, as to whether or not I need medical intervention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DebC Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I have had a similar experience with cervical smears - However, please do go to all routine screenings. Your own body awareness may not pick up on problems as quickly as a mammogram/smear. The "standard" letters they send out are often poorly worded, and I would suggest that you contact the hospital to suggest what they perhaps should be saying. There may well be a specialist nurse, and she may be the person to speak to. Glad to hear that there were no real problems - it must be a huge relief. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Shoe on the other foot..what if they had found something and not recalled you. Be glad that the two weeks of worry didn't come to anything and you don't have something to worry about. What I'm trying to say is that two weeks of being worried is worth it if it saves your life. I had pre cancerous cells about 15 years ago and was lucky, I'm only 41..so go for those tests, they may save your life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Ditto had laser at age of 25 and am now 49 - the letters are badly worded. Had my mammogram on Monday - I was looking at screen because as a nurse and having worked in X ray was trying to see if could see anything. My mum died of breast cancer - had an interval cancer - one that develops really inbetween screening. So ladies continue with vigilance - not just lumps and y changes - bother your GP and dont be fobbed off. On a lighter note - my boobs are now conical shaped with all that squashing - Madonna eat yer heart out Sorry forgot to add Sadie -- glad all is ok - there are lumps which are not palpable and can only be picked up by screening so please please go - better its picked up early and not too late Sorry should read "any changes" - I need caffeine - half asleep Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I agree Sadietoo, you need to go! Don't do what I did! I had the same thing happen, screened in November and got a letter the week before Christmas asking me to go back in January because they had 'found something'. Well I was in pieces! It wasn't anything in the end, but because of that, I didn't go back for my routine screens - I left it for 5 years!! And then I found a lump. Luckily that was also OK, but it caused me two weeks of unnecessary anguish which wouldn't have happened if I'd been screened at my regular time. I also have a friend who had an early stage, very aggressive cancer discovered at scanning - if she had waited until she found a lump, she would be dead by now! This was 7 years ago and she is fighting fit! Some of the most aggressive types don't show as lumps until it's too late. Please keep going! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tiggy Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 sometimes its difficult to see every thing on a mamogram & odd shadows can show up where the tiddue is denser, so ladies are recalled to check. Please go if you are called again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 At what age does screening start,anyone know? I had a lump when I was in my 30's,had a needle biopsy & all was fine. It was a horrible time,but I think 2 weeks of worry & fretting is a relatively small price to pay for the assurance of good health Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Now 47 in some areas - soon to be nationwide I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 At what age does screening start,anyone know? I had a lump when I was in my 30's,had a needle biopsy & all was fine. It was a horrible time,but I think 2 weeks of worry & fretting is a relatively small price to pay for the assurance of good health Currently 50 years in my area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 It's 50 in my area, I actually got called last year at 49 but she said I was lucky, because they only come round every three years so I might have had to wait till I was 52 before they are round again. I've also had a lump that I discovered myself, about four years ago, which I had investigated - it turned out to be a blocked lymph node, but it's made me very aware of keeping up to date with screening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickendoodle Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Asked our practice nurse recently (I am 52) and she gave me the impression that there is no routine call in this area. Said I could ask at the mobile screening unit if I saw it in it's usual place at the railway car park if I was particularly concerned. Had a benign breast lump removed 25 years ago. No family history at all of breast cancer so I am not unduly worried but there seems to be a vast difference area by area Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 its not just lumps - changes in skin, nipple inversion (if you dont have inverted nipples already ie all the time) discharge from the nipples and dimpling of the skin (like orange peel) are other symptons.rule of thumb - if they have changed from previous check - get to you GP and insist on being referred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparkysmum Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Had my mammogram this week. Horrible but at the same time grateful that such a service is offered. So glad all is well, Sadie. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 4, 2011 Author Share Posted March 4, 2011 Thanks all for the positive comments and good wishes...I guess I am just where Snowy was after her mammogram experience.... waiting to go to the tests was something akin to torture....and i have had to face up to the fact that i am a horrible coward! Well I do realise it saves lives, but , as the consultant said to me as I left, all we have established is that you don't have a problem today (I was very happy to settle for that!).The majority of breast cancers are still picked up by being "Breast Aware" so I would heartily recommend that if you haven't been doing so already, ladies, you get to know what is "normal" for you, so that you can report any changes to your doctor. In the meantime, I do worry that intrusive tests are being carried out with the removal of tissue that wasn't harmful in the first place. I suppose my final comment is, as with anything, do some research first...If you are content that it is worthwhile to do so, go for the tests. Fortunately I won't be called for another three years now, and so perhaps I will look on it differently by then, or more research may be available to help me make up my mind. I am surprised that anyone wouldn't be offered screening if you are in the right age bracket, I was under the impression that it was a nationwide programme offering screening to ladies aged 50 to 70 years, with the intention of rolling it out to 47 to 73 year olds in the near future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scarlettohara Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I was 50 in October and haven't heard a thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abwsco Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 I consider myself lucky enough to have an annual mammogram due to my family history. Think I've been going for 15 years now (I'm 48) My sis however refused the opportunity to have them and annual ovarian screening I've also had an ovary removed but thankfully the biopsy was clear. The current research programme I'm on for the ovarian screening finishes in June and unless they can get funding for it again I will pay privately to have that and the bloods done. I "think" I will still be able to have my mammograms annually though even when I hit 50. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted March 4, 2011 Share Posted March 4, 2011 Sorry to hijack breast screening BUT Ovarian marker testing is done on the NHS now , with regards to CA125 levels. So anyone with a family history could be tested - having said that this is not definitive, so a raised marker level would not mean cancer ! Endometriosis sometimes raises CA125 levels - but again it is personal choice to get these things checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 ES of 15 - a nosey devil at the best of times knows my mum died of breast cancer (a few months before he was born) and asked what a mammogram was. I explained it as best i could - and then added for dramatic effect - " bits like having your testicles squashed hard " needless to say he didnt want to know anymore. YS's head has been diagnosed with it shes 49. We wondered if its environmental as there are telephone masts everywhere round here. But thats another thread and frankly I dont know enough about it to comment. It does seem that certain counties seem to have more breast cancer than others so there could be an environmental element there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Powerlady Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 Only reason I heve 3 yearly check ups is because I had 3 lumps in total at different times and it was the last one at the age of 27 that was pre-cancerous, also there is cancer history mum's side of the family..all my aunts and uncles have died from some form of cancer and my sister had womb cancer at 27. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 5, 2011 Author Share Posted March 5, 2011 I was 50 in October and haven't heard a thing I don't think you get called immediately at 50, because actually I will be 55 in June and have only just had my second scan, so I must have been 51 before I was called the first time.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 5, 2011 Share Posted March 5, 2011 I was called for my first one a month before I was 50, then 53 and again last Autumn. I find it extremely painful and the radiographer(?) said it is painful because I have 'the breasts of a teenager' - very niceif I had the rest to go with it - but now I'm wondering just how accurate/useful the test is.....if teenagers aren't routinely tested because of dense breast tissue then am I better to wait a few years?.......probably best to continue going I suppose, and put up with the pain Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 me too Lesley - small and pert but the rest of the bodies tubby and droopy - sighs heavily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted March 6, 2011 Share Posted March 6, 2011 I had my letter yesterday, and I was 50 last May, not looking forward to it Also not looking forward to telling my 27 year old male boss that I need time off to attend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 Sorry to hijack breast screening BUT Ovarian marker testing is done on the NHS now , with regards to CA125 levels. So anyone with a family history could be tested - having said that this is not definitive, so a raised marker level would not mean cancer ! Endometriosis sometimes raises CA125 levels - but again it is personal choice to get these things checked. I had a gastroscopy for psychosomatic stomach cancer (long story). Before that I had to go for an abdo scan and the nice radiologist asked if I wanted my ovaries scanned while I was all jellied up. I've just had a call for a breast scan. I ignored the last but you lot have encouraged me to go. I've also got a test in the post for colon cancer....three samples......great fun Must do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 OSH - at least you can do it in your own home - I have to go for investigations of the colon - as one of my patients said to day its a pain in the (begins with an A) as he was telling me about his. I told him his jokes were dreadful but still roared with laughter as he delivered it so well. No joys to getting old - your bits are either being squashed or having ruddy tubes put inside them. We call smears at work potholing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
