joybelle Posted March 7, 2011 Share Posted March 7, 2011 I would urge everyone called for breast screening to go I know plenty who ignore letters it could save your life. I went for mine in july 09 and was recalled for further tests, I wasnt too bothered didnt have any symtoms and had been called back before. They found early breast cancer, stage 1 but aggresive grade 3. I had the op three weeks later followed by 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I go for regular check ups and so far nearly two years on I`m ok but it could have been a very different story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..lay a little egg for me Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 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.. I gathered from the conversation with the nurse while I was at my breast screening that they have a 3-year cycle of visits so you get called up the first time they are visiting your area after you are 50 so that might not be until nearly 53. (I was 51.5 yrs BTW.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I agree with Snowy, please do go again; the worry is nothing compared to not finding a lump yourself and the inevitable problems that it would cause. I am 48 and lost a dear friend 8 years ago to breast cancer, I always check carefully and discovered a lump about 5 years ago, after a mammogram (painful for the same reason as Lesley) and biopsy, they decided that it was just a fatty lump so it's still there. Smear test mistakes are more common than you'd think as I found out - I have since had a hysterectomy (best thing I ever did) and thankfully don't need to have them any more. The consultant who did it said that in his opinion, smear tests ought to be carried out every year as abnormalities can develop quite quickly in some cases. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C&T Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I've had more inclonclusive Smear tests then I can now count - normally go every 6 months as I'm allways on the "hotlist" because of a previous smear proving inconclusive. So far, they haven't actually found anything - but would prefer to be safe than sorry, and while not pleasant, it's better than the alternative. When the time comes, my current view is getting checked out for breast cancer is worth a short period of "discomfort", as again the alternative of finding out about a cancer too late is not worth the risk. And if you get called back?? I've learnt from the Smear Test, it means nothing at that point, it's just they want to recheck to ensure as best as they can you are OK. Not saying the first time I got a recall letter I wasn't a bit worried though! I do not want to get a diagnosis of any cancer perhaps too late, when I could have had a test to find out earlier and had a better prognosis. There are no guarantees in life, but sensible precautions make sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted March 8, 2011 Author Share Posted March 8, 2011 You lot are putting me to shame... I too have lost three dear friends to breast cancer, but they were all younger than the screening age, and all found the lumps themselves.... I'm still going to wait until I get my next call in three years time before I decide whether or not to attend for screening...in the meantime, a very positive thing that has come out of this...in that it really makes you understand that your life is a finite period of time, and you need to stop putting off all those things you want to do.....! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted March 8, 2011 Share Posted March 8, 2011 I say go, a friend had a stage 2 very very aggressive cancer found by a mammogram and even by the time that she went in for the operation to remove it she couldn't feel a lump in her breast. At that point it had grown to 20 mm across she still couldn't feel it in her breast because it was so deep. The surgeon thought that it would probably have gone through her chest wall within a couple of months and she probably wouldn't have found the lump in time if it hadn't been found when it was. In contrast another friend went through a false positive with a smear test recently and in comparison the trauma of going through a false positive is nothing compared to the fact that it could have gone through a chest wall with no symptoms and no lumps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Speckled Hen Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Not to make light of all the people that have had problems but I went for my first ever screening today and when I took my top off the radiologist said, oh sorry, I have to get bigger plates on I think she was more embarrassed than me. Oh, I had to laugh and when I said, "we need bigger buns" we both went into fits of giggles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Not to make light of all the people that have had problems but I went for my first ever screening today and when I took my top off the radiologist said, oh sorry, I have to get bigger plates on :oops: :oops: I think she was more embarrassed than me.Oh, I had to laugh and when I said, "we need bigger buns" we both went into fits of giggles. Had my first one today too!! Wasn't too bad - but I was thinking that the plates weren't that big for those with larger boobies - mine fitted on with room to spare though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted March 24, 2011 Share Posted March 24, 2011 Oh to have that problem - sighs heavily - got my result last week all ok Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
