recall mammogram-decided not to attend

My app. has just popped through post today....had to change it as clashes with Moorfields app.Im 68 and will continue with them as long as possible. Don’t do the cervical smear now though!!

I’ve had two breast cancer operations and follow up radiotherapy after routine mammograms. Neither had any outward sign of a oroblem. I am certain I would not now be here if I had not attended the mammogram.

I was referred to the Breast Clinic because of a breast problem (no lumps) and after the Consultant thoroughly examined me she assured me that my breast was normal. She did suggest that whilst I was there I have a mammagram anyway and it showed that I had cancer which was only detectable by mammogram. I subsequently had surgery and radiotherapy but things could have been really bad if I hadn't had the mammagram, so go for it - it could save your life.

Personally I feel you’d be taking an unnecessary and potentially serious risk. Things change all the time. Early stage cancer is much more easily and successfully treated.

I too worked in a Doctors surgery, please go for your scan Tillytrotter you are at a vulnerable age, I have seen many women like you.please make the right choice.

Absolutely OP! You SHOULD attend next appointment.

I know someone who had a mamogram, turned out to be a cyst, however when they looked at the scans they found two tiny tumours. The cancer gave no symptoms whatsoever. She had treatment and is now fit and well. I don't understand why anyone would ignore a recall. No one can tell whether there is cancer just by looking. You do need to go back.

My daughter (49) saw her gp for a possible breast lump. Her gp couldn’t feel a lump, but referred her for a first mammogram. This test actually found a cancer lump elsewhere in the breast, followed by removal of lump and radiotherapy. I dread to think of the outcome if my daughter had waited to be called under the Mammogram Screening Service. Never refuse these screenings, and then you can make a qualified decision about the future.

I was recalled after a mammogram. There was a lump which showed up on the screening. I knew there was some concern because I was contacted within a day or two. I spent three days crying It turned out to be nothing. Please be brave and go, I know it's worrying but getting it checked out is better than what could be any early death.

Please do go this is what happened to my work colleague.unfortunately she did have the c .
Youll only worry if you dont.surely your worried thats why you posted

Oops shouldn’t of said illiterate, that’s predictive text for you

bathsheba So why come on a forum asking for advice when decision has been made already?

I am a nurse who is disabled and I wouldn't wish it on anyone - my life is mostly bloody miserable and it was not something that I caused. I am in an awful lot of pain and my mobility is now severely restricted because of an arse of a Gynaecologist that wouldn't listen to what I was saying was happening to my body - which at that point I had lived with for 40 odd years ... I wish my scans had pulled up the issue much earlier I can tell you!

Hi Tilly,
Just to be sure I’m reading this correctly,
1. You went to see your GP regarding breast pain.
2. You had a referral to the breast clinic.
3. You had a mammogram .
4. You have been recalled for a further mammogram.
Is this correct ?
The recall may be because the initial image was poor or it may be that something has shown up that needs more investigation ( not always cancer )
The decision not to go is of course yours to make .
If you don’t want your appointment cancel it in plenty of time for it to be reallocated.
If in 6 years time you notice changes in that breast would you attend your GP again ?
Just a thought ..
Good luck x

Go - that was what the mammogram was for in the first place because you had breast pain!

"i don't want what I feel, are more unnecessary tests, the NHS is struggling enough, without me adding to the cost,i am okay, no medications,a bit overweight, premenopausal, but i can sort these things out.i am 50 and just want to enjoy life a bit now,raised 5 kids,2 grandkids and one on the way.i have a great life-work balance,a lot to be thankful for,"

Not unnecessary, it has potentially picked up an issue that needs checking - you went to the GP in the first place because you had a concern, so why back out now? You have a great work-life balance and want to enjoy life - well if it develops into something more, then that will hit that on the head! For the sake of squeezing your tits against a machine for 10 minutes?

I really cannot understand your reasoning? Is it fear in reality?

tilly my internet use is severely limited at the moment, but I felt I could not pass your post without commenting.

You say the doctor examined you and diagnosed a hormonal cause and could see nothing wrong. I am a retired medic. It is not the doctor whose area of expertise is in reading the mammogram results. Your mammogram will have been examined and reported on by a skilled radiologist. The doctor will have relied on that report to request a call back.

The recall may be due to nothing more than an area of blurring which requires a clearer 'picture' to be obtained . Alternatively it could be a deep seated abscess causing pain which cannot be felt, but also requires a better 'picture.'

My own breast surgery was a long time ago since when I completed a long career enabling me to continue working at home and abroad as part of medical teams for a further 11 years, and an active retirement for the last 10 years spent travelling.

The decision is yours alone but there is much wisdom upthread. My reaction was tempered by medical knowledge and I accept that, but my advice would be to reconsider. and then go from there.

Good luck

I honestly do not understand why everyone is exhorting the OP to attend the appointment. She has made her decision "after many days of contemplating what to do", and has posted only to ask if anyone else has made the same decision, not to ask for advice on what she should do.
She knows what she's going to do. She has made the choice to ignore the medical advice and I'm sure she's fully aware of the risk to her health in coming to this decision.
Good luck with it ttnbp, I sincerely hope you won't be back on GN in a couple of years asking for advice about breast cancer

I had my mammogram at the end of Dec 2017. I was recalled a couple of weeks later and I honestly didn't expect there to be an issue - I had no pain, no lumps, no discharge and no idea that anything was wrong. After another mammogram, I was told I needed a biopsy as something looked wrong on the second mammogram. On Jan 2nd 2018 I was told I had a small lump that was cancerous. Further investigation and I was told that I had to have a mastectomy. Following my surgery I was told that in fact there had been actually 6 cancerous tumours, some as small as half an inch, one was over 2". I also had to have my lymph nodes removed as 3 of them were cancerous.
I tell you this not to scare you but to make you aware that not all cancers can be felt. I had been recalled before as a shadow appeared on the x-ray, which proved to be nothing. Please think carefully before you finally cancel the recall.

If you have been recalled after a mammogram for further investigation and have chosen not to go, why on earth did you go to the doctor in the first place. You are ignoring the intelligence shown by a powerful machine that can detect very tiny cancers that can grow into something bigger, and do so very quickly. Lots of comments on here about this being your decision, but you asked for advice. My advice is to go for the recall. Hormonal it may well be and you may find you have a cyst that comes and goes, but you may find something else. I can't imagine why you wouldn't go back - unless you are afraid, and in that case ask someone to go with you for support, but please, don't ignore the medical advice at this stage.

I think you will have wasted more time on here asking for opinions than you will spend having anther mammogram!

Tilly, please go for your mammogram!!! I'm older than you (62) and have been attending my mammograms since I was 50. Last year I had a call back and, after investigations, was told I had a (fortunately) Grade 1 tumour, 8mm in diameter. I had it removed and follow up radiotherapy as there was no lymph spread.

My point is I couldn't feel anything!! The lump as (a) small and (b) in an area of my breast that isn't very big (I'm not big busted). It was also tricky to find on the second mammogram so just because your breasts look and feel normal there's no way of knowing if there's anything there.

Why Craicon the first post I made on GN many years ago was about a worrying health problem I was having with one of my GD's. People were so lovely and supportive and I would've been mortified if anyone had suspiciously suspected I didn't have that issue as it was my first post. The OP did come back a couple of times to explain why she wasn't considering going back for further appointment/s and give further information.

First time poster?
I think someone’s posting to read about other people’s misery just for kicks.
Sad world we live in.

Well said Maria1954 I wanted to comment on that post but didn't trust myself to do so and you said it in such a lovely way.

I hope the OP comes back to us to tell us how she feels. One of the problems with posting about such thing is you get a lot of anecdotal stories, differing opinions and scare stories sprinkled in with the kindness, consideration, care and damned good advice. Hopefully OP can filter through and make a good decision. She is so young.

You may end up costing the NHS a lot more if you don't go now and get it sorted

This is the first time I have posted. Please reconsider your decision. My tumour could not be felt and only showed on a mammogram. Recalls can be for many reasons for example blurry images but having it checked will give reassurance or treatment. It is of course your decision. A previous poster mentioned the word mutilated. Please be very careful using words like this. You are of course entitled to your view but please remember there are many like me who in my case have one boob (or none) like to think of ourselves as not so much mutilated but alive and kicking!