Breast screening

Cut off age is 70, but, as Galen says, you can always (and should, in my opinion) request one.

The risk of developing breast cancer increases with age, and it is sad that many women over 70 think they don't need mammograms because the risk has lessened.

Most lumps are found by the patient or a partner, as was mine, 10 years ago, but those "in situ" cannot be detected by checking, so mammograms are so, so necessary.

You can always request one.

I've always gone if called but I believe there is a cut off point in our area and I'm not sure if I've hit it yet.

I always go. I do not worry about the false positives - we can make choices if something is found. On one occasion a lump was found, but they were unsure as to what it was and I had further more detailed screening and indeed they sent it off to Cardiff. The decision was that it was calcium and all well. They did not leap into invasive procedures.

I once had a huge lump that was weird - long and flat. They stuck a needle on a drew out masses of fluid - it was a cyst.

I would not stop going as my sister has had breast cancer twice, the second time found by screening.

Thanks for all your replies
I'll be going :-)

So do I!

I scond that, Notso

pattie...'offered' is the important word here, you won't ever be forced to accept treatment that you are not 100% in agreement with.

As for false positives and worrying re-tests.....a small overall price to pay but I'm glad the system is trying to redress that.

I went for routine screening in January and a very tiny lump was picked up. I don't have small breasts and would not have found the lump until it was very much bigger and had potentially begun to spread.

By the time of surgery 5/6 weeks later, the tumour had almost trebled in size.

I would implore everyone to keep screening, just keep screening.

There has been criticism of the screening programme because women have not been made aware of the possibility of false positives (lots of re-tests causing worry) and over-diagnosis of those with some conditions that will never become spreading cancer. So the screening programme is trying to redress that balance.
I believe the majority of cases are picked up by women themselves rather than by screening.
Breasts do vary - in women with neat little ones it may be quite easy to feel any lumps. Also it is important to know all the signs of breast cancer. There was a young woman being interviewed on Woman's Hour last week, who did not realise that orange peel skin and general hardness were symptoms.
This is a good overview:

www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/type/breast-cancer/about/screening/mammograms-in-breast-screening