Breast screening......

Stella You say "I don't have breast cancer in my family history, so I don't go for them." I don't have it in my family either, but I still had a cancerous tumour. Some people carry genes which make it more likely, but no-one is immune. They can develop spontaneously in anyone.

If the false positives would have applied to you, then avoiding them is OK - but you don't know this in advance. That is why there is a sequence of tests, first a mammogram which is (relatively) inexpensive and highlights possibilities, then those individuals highlighted get further tests to be certain. Some might have been spared further tests had they refused the mammogram, but others might not be diagnosed at all.

What it boils down to is, would you rather be called back for more tests and then find you DON'T have breast cancer, or ignore the mammogram appointment and then find that you DO have it?

"Mammography is good at finding breast cancer, especially in women ages 50 and older.

Overall, the sensitivity of mammography is about 84 percent. This means mammography correctly identifies about 84 percent of women who truly have breast cancer.

Sensitivity is higher in women over 50 than in younger women. It is also higher in women with fatty breasts compared to women with dense breasts.

The chance of a false positive result is higher among younger women and women with dense breasts. (Most women younger than 50 have dense breasts so there is overlap among these groups.)

Getting a false positive result can cause short-term fear and worry. However, these feelings do not seem to have lasting effects.

Remember, most women called back for a false positive result do not have breast cancer."
ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/AccuracyofMammograms.html

My eldest daughter is a senior nurse in a hospice. She sees women with young families dying of breast cancer. Please go for the screening. No age is exempt.

Ignore all the gumf about false positives. Better to have one of those than Miss breast cancer. My sister and a good friend both died from breast cancer. Neither found the lumps until the cancer had spread to lungs and liver. Neither had 'bothered' with screening and both were nurses

Another friend had a small lump detected by screening and is, we hope, going to be OK.

They use bigger X ray plates for those unfortunate enough to be more generously endowed! Would nt miss my top & tail check. It gives reassurance.

WOW! Stella - thank you for that link, that is FASCINATING. I hope others check it out.

I was told that about one person in ten is called back, mostly because of technicalities or an unclear picture, and about one in ten of those who are called back goes on to need further investigations.

I hate all those screenings, smears, mammograms, stool tests, even blood tests fill me with sick anxiety and i don 't have them anymore.......it's the long wait til you get the result....my last smear tests came back 'inconclusive' twice because i was told that as i had caesarian deliveries and no vaginal deliveries my cervix had closed and they couldn't get a smear properly!! Now i'm too old and I don't ask for them!!

By the time my next one is due I will be past the age they send for you automatically but was given a phone no. so I can make an appointment if I want to. I will definitely go and, as rosesarered commented about her 74 year old friend, breast cancer is still a risk in your 70s and beyond.

I'm with you, Stella - looks like we're in a minority.....

Thank you pollyperkins..reassurance was definitely my intention. I was not trying to be frightening or flippant and as such I do not feel that "I should know better" .. as has been suggested.
From my own experience I personally have never needed or even thought to take pain relief for what to me is a relatively simple procedure.
I have my mammograms regularly and I have also had a lump removed from my right breast, which incidentally was found on my 30th birthday. So I appreciate first hand the importance of checking regardless of which side of the age category a person falls into.

I too have been called back a couple of times and once even had a biopsy with a 7 days wait for the result which did not feel too good. However I was clear on both occasions. My advise to every one is try not to worry too much if you are called back to the main hospital rather than the Mobile van. they just want to be absolutely certain, there is nothing there to worry about. I am sure your test will prove to be clear too and wish you good luck.

I have had many mammograms and I am glad I did, because an early tumour ( invisible and unfeelable) was found and removed. I have found that MOST mammogram operators are wonderful. They get you to stand at the right angle to the machine, manoeuvre your boob into position gently, lower the top plate far enough to flatten without crushing, retire behind their glass screen and press the button.

However I have had one or two who do seem unaware of just how far down to lower the plate. It sounds as though a few posters have drawn one of those. If yours is one, say clearly that it is painful.

The problem I have with breast screening is that it gives a high rate of false positives and highlights tiny lumps that would never come to anything. The consequence is frightening investigation and unnecessary surgery. I don't have breast cancer in my family history, so I don't go for them. This is one study that highlights the issue breast-cancer-research.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13058-015-0525-z

Ni have to disagree Mawbroon. I think myym's description was fair and made it less not more frightening.
I have never found it more than uncomfortable and certainly never ever taken or needed painkillers. (But friends who are more well endowed than me have said they find it a bit painful. ) however its really nothing to worry about. The dentist or eyebrow threading or even giving a blood sample are much worse!
I once was invited back (to the local hospital not the mobile van) as the result was 'unclear' so I did worry then and feared the worst but it was fine.

Then, with respect Myym you should know better. People awaiting a procedure are frequently wound up about what it will be like and your description, far from being lighthearted, sounded alarming, and bore no relation certainly to my own experience. God luck with the medical procedures you may be facing.

allule please don't be put off or think you are being a nuisance. Because of the range of screening age, women commonly think breast cancer is most common at these ages but that is not the case: BREAST CANCER RATES INCREASE AS YOU GET OLDER. Continue to request screening if you want to.

www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer/incidence-invasive#heading-One

My mom died of breast cancer in her early 60s and was too scared to go to the doctor's until it was too late. Now I'm that age myself and it's such a relief when I've had my scan and got the 'all clear' letter. Don't put it off. I shall ask to keep going after the cut off at 70. Health is too important to ignore any means we can to stay healthy.

It only takes minutes to be done. I used to find it uncomfortable but the last time it was much better. The nurse said they had a new machine. Hopefully the new machine are everywhere.

Deep breathe in and as the plate comes down exhale slowly,that should help

Definitely go I lost my mum and two aunties through breast cancer don't ignore things that could help even though you think nothing is wrong always check only one life

Sorry to be the odd one out but I had one which left me in pain for a week. I'm not a wimp and my high pain threshold has been commented on by several health professionals. I won't go again and hope a clear family history and years of breast feeding is enough

It is a bit sore but only for a second. I have had all mine since I was about 30 I think. Now they have stopped as I am 66. I would have prefered to continue but that is cut off point here.

Honestly go! The ladies who do it are so friendly & it is totally private. Much less hassle than the smear test- which I also no longer get.

If there is a problem then finding out sooner rather than later is essential. I have a friend who had a lump found at a mammogram & is still alive & cancer free now 15 years later.

What's to feel anxious about. It's just an X-ray

You are lucky to get invited for one.

I am now nearly 72, so I guess I will have to request one now.
Not sure what the cut of age is. But have always gone for checkups when invited.
You would be silly not to.

MawBroon... I was trying to be light hearted to show it is nothing to worry about at all. One of the least intrusive of tests in my personal opinion.
I have nothing but respect for the medical service .. I am in a wheelchair, I suffer numerous illnesses, I am in and out of hospital, I recently had a kidney removed and awaiting a possible bowel by-pass (depending on results). So with respect don't you dare accuse me of disrespecting medical staff and their professional expertise.
You do not know me or know my medical background both as a patient and within a professional capacity.