Should breast screening be stopped?

Interesting. I've been seeing comments about mammography not being the best option for some time now so wasn't surprised to see this article (thanks for the link, jess). I'm not convinced by the eat a low fat diet advice but the promotion of self-examination for breast abnormalities seems like a good idea.

The rest of the advice, about keeping active (if you can!) and keeping your weight down (if you can) and eating a diet high in fruit and veg is the same advice that we are given for everything. That suggests to me that those things are regarded as a good idea for general health and not specific to any particular health problem.

It would have made no difference to my BC - after it was diagnosed by mammogram I tried very hard to find it but couldn't. I suppose it would eventually have been obvious from the surface, but as it was it was removed before it went from one stage to another.

Of course it shouldn't be stopped. Elegran is just one example of why not. I've heard exactly the same from two friends whose cancer was only detectable through a mammogram.

Reducing alcohol - surprised that on list of ways to reduce incidence.

You mean you are surprised it's NOT on the list perhaps?

I don't think that mammograms should be stopped. I just wish the system could be improved so that the results are given then and there.

I thought the link between drinking too much and breast cancer was well known.

My experience was entirely the opposite of Elegran which shows that vigilance as well as mammograms are important. I found a lump which, on a mammogram,followed by a second and then a scan still didn't detect cancer.However a very concerned radiologist referred me to a surgeon who did a deep core biopsy and confirmed BC. It was in an early stage but very aggressive and I was lucky that someone was on the ball on that day.

The link between drinking too much of alcoholic drinks and every illness there is is well known. It's another of the all-embracing thou shalt notters, IYSWIM.

And in case any of you are wondering, no, I don't drink much alcohol, so little in fact that I can't remember when I last had a glass of wine.

Hehe! that "can't remember" could mean exactly the opposite of what I intended. Chuckle.

Margaret McCartney, a Glasgow GP who writes widely on healthcare-related matters and appears on Radio 4 also has concerns about screening in general.
www.theguardian.com/science/blog/2014/jan/03/patients-truth-health-screening-harm-good.
She thinks patients aren't being given enough information to allow them to make an informed choice.

Yes she has written a great book on the subject jane. Very interesting indeed on prostate and aneurism screening.
She repeatedly asks the question - if you look at all cause mortality in screened versus non-screened - is there an advantage to screening. This is because false positives and unnecessary surgery could kill people who would otherwise be healthy.

I heard a gaggle of doctors on the radio discussing this subject. In the end, they all admitted that they didn't know if 1] cancers were being detected because of the mammograms and 2] perhaps some cancers were being caused by the mammograms.X-rays are bad for the body, but sometimes just have to be done.All they know is that mammograms do detect cancers 'if at the right stage'. You can go for a mammogram and be ok but have well developed cancer in full swing by the time of your next one.Self examination is very important.It's your decision to have them done or not, but checking on yourself is easy and we should all do it.
My mother died from breast cancer, she didn't drink at all, ate tons of fruit and veg and was slim and healthy up to that point in her 50's.So there you are. If it's in your genes there isn't a lot you can do.

Have declined screening ever since offered due to years of published research that is doubting the overall benefits BUT everyone should be able to make that decision to make. Self examination has always been my choice.

Should Breast Screening be Stopped.
NO

It should be offered. With only a small number of family and that was going back to Great Grandparents, I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer, sadly already metastasised at 44. I had been a breast feeding, young Mum, non smoker, non alcohol drinking, fit and active. Perhaps a little boring!
Had never taken the pill either. I am still here, eleven years on, cancer is still here too but life is still good. There are many younger women being diagnosed, numbers have risen year on year.
I wish women were offered a mammo at 40.

Should have added my bloods have been tested for BRCA genes, none detected.
My younger Sister was offered and took up screening just after my diagnosis and my daughter, mid 30's is now about to be seen for early screening.

Sorry last post here, but I ate, still do, very healthily. Because I have been living with breast cancer for many years I have made, met and lost some dear friends who like me were all stage 4. Some were younger than me, late 20's, 30's. Most of us were in our 40's and 50's. A couple of women were in their late 50's, early 60's.
We used to meet up all over the UK, after getting to know each other on a well known Breast Cancer Charity Forum. We made email contact with each other in 2004 and there were approx 40 of us. Then we started to meet in person, which was such a support, a boost. In January 2014 there was just 3 of us left.
And like me the majority of them had been normal weight, healthy and active before their diagnosis.

Wow Penguin that's a tough tale you tell.

Breast cancer "in situ" i.e before it has begun to expand itself, would be very difficult, or even impossible to find by self examination, as would tumours deep in the breast and in the milk ducts. In situ tumours discovered by screening are usually successfully dealt with.

So it is self examination and screening, I'm afraid. And remember, over 70 you must ask for screening, even though the incidence increases with age!

Thank you for the flowers Grannyknot.

Well done you penguinpaperback - literally against the odds. Survival really good these days for people like me who had it caught at the small lump stage.
Mammography doesn't work on young women because their breast tissue is too dense.

I do think screening should still continue to be available - it is not perfect, but then very little in this life is.

My sister has had BC twice, once when she was in her 30s. This last occurrence (different breast, new primary) was not detected at mammogram - 2 days after the mammo she found a lump and was tempted to assume that it was nothing, but further tests revealed otherwise. In that case the mammo might have tempted her to not pursue things when she found the lump and then outcome could have been very different.

So - yes to screening; but examination and vigilance too.

Thank you Jess. Yes some younger friends have been offered ultrasounds. I'm hoping my daughter will be also be able to have one.

My close friend lost mum and a sister to breast cancer and has had every test offered. She has two other sisters one of whom has been screened and one who refuses as she does not want to know! I believe it should be offered as it reassures many people. Best Wishes Penguin

In Germany there is no screening for the over 70s. When I questioned my GP about this he said that the survival rate of those screened and those not screened was about the same and there is a good chance that those over 70 would die of something else anyway - according to the statistics.
That is how the money available for prevention and / or treatment is apportioned.

I'm certain that in case of a strong genetic possibility that more screening would be offered, but as this doesn't apply to me I don't know.