i had a whole day thing with my mammogram. I had the gram and then a scan and then a consultant appt. This was because they had spotted something in my right breast. I had zero symptoms zero lumps zero idea. I was lucky it was just a thickening of the tissue but i,m glad i saw it through because if it was anything it was early on and could have been dealt with. You should go
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recall mammogram-decided not to attend
(149 Posts)had 1 mammogram 3 weeks ago, my dr referred me for left breast pain, I was seen by dr in breast clinic, she examined me, told me it was hormonal, and my breasts looked/felt fine.so after many days of contemplating what to do, I have decided not to attend the next appointment, I am 50,anyone else made the same decision?
If you don’t go you will have this at the back of your mind all the time. Always niggling. Go for goodness sake and put it behind you.
Think as others have said it has to be a personal decision. I won’t go for smear tests, know that I should but when I had the last one even after four children a virgin thing,no idea what is is called lol, had to be used and even that was too big and caused so much pain I said I would never have another, couldn’t even get up on the bed now anyway lol
"Some lumps are too small to be felt" that's what the breast clinic doctor/specialist told me when I had further investigation after a lump showed up on my mammogram. It turned out to be a cyst . Good luck
Message deleted at the request of poster
I would say PLease go, My mum, was recalled, and didnt go, 10 years later, she collapsed in the town, at first we were told it was through blood pressure, and then it, was her age, Mum was in hospital for 5 weeks and we could see that things were bad, and see her slipping away, and she passed away, we as a family were at a loss as to what had gone on, we asked for a meeting with the Drs, we needed answers. Mum died of cancer that had started in the left breast, and spread finally reaching her brain. How come we didn't know, Why had no-one said anything. What had happened, when mum got the letter, she didn't, she had moved, to another area according to her records, she had been sent a letter, months later, now if mum got that letter, we don't know. We know that she asked to see my dad, who she had been divorced from for about 20 years, he went, but never said what was said between them that day. Dad said she never mentioned her illness to him, and the rest was private. So I would urge you to go and have it done. As a family we were so angry, the way things went, the hospital, went and got all her notes from the Gps, the breast clinic, everywhere, on the part of the hospital she was sent letters, but if mum thought or knew she had a problem never said anything but it was awful to see her like she was, she never came out of hospital, 5 weeks and she was gone. We will never know the truth, we will never get the answers we were hoping for. But as a family that mum had collapsed in town, from that day to her passing was just 5 weeks.
Expect Tilly threw this one in to be a bit controversial and has long gone
First...Personally I would have to wonder why I was being recalled if I'd not been on previous mammograms... second... if you don't go will you have peace of mind, or will you always be thinking "what if"?...
I would personally go to every appointment just for that peace of mind.. think hard about it Tilly, but good luck whatever you choose. ?
My MiL died from breast cancer. It wasn’t a gentle cancer. Not nice at all.
Go, there are better ways to die.
Don't want to scare you but I have lost 2 friends with breast cancer. Both didn't bother going to follow up appointments until it was too late. One left it only 9 months. If they have recalled you there is something wrong with the mamagram. Take care xxx
I completely understand how you feel, I also have had the same experience several times, and since have made the same decision. It is a personal decision and I think some of these posts are validated by concern, others should be a bit more compassionate and back off. Wishing you well and good health, physically and mentally.
Having been through this myself I am happy to support anyone who may be worried or effected by this. Feel free to private message me.
There is also the other, happier reason to go. Nine out of ten recalls find that there was a technical glitch in the photography, or a benign cyst or some other reason which is nothing to do with cancer. You could come home from that reacall with the knowledge that you DON'T have cancer - but knowing that every effort has been made to make certain that is so. That is worth the trouble of keeping the appointment.
You would be a fool not to go. I have a friend who was recalled and they found cancer. She had no idea she had it. Your life, your decision but why take the chance?
Tilly you have made your decision so go for it. It is not necessarily what many others would do, including myself, but this is you, not anyone else. However I would suggest not basing your decision on the NHS struggling and cost!
I'm also wondering why you have posted on here if you have really made up your mind not to go.
In answer to your question, yes I would guess that there are many people who don't go for medical tests when called (probably some on here). That's your and their decision.
However, despite your concerns about the NHS, as others have said, it would cost far more to treat you should any problem develop. Also, the NHS is well aware of its funding issues and you wouldn't have been recalled if they didn't think it was advisable.
Having said all that, I am still confused as to the sequence of events as you describe them ...
Tilly 23 years ago virtually to the day I had my first mammogram just before my 52nd birthday. I was recalled for another one which confirmed I had a 5cm tumour which could not be felt. After a lumpectomy, radiotherapy and medication for 5 years I was clear. So I urge you to go for that 2nd mammogram .
I am not living in England now but on the 2nd January CT scan showed multiple myeloma in my spine and another scan has found it on my ribs. But they havent located a primary so far and I am tearing my hair out at how unimportant my case is to the local doctor who is the only one who can refer me to the cancer hospital.
So as you have an appointment arranged please use it or it will only nag away at the back of your mind.
tillytrotternotbrian
MadeInYorkshire you ask (Mon 11-Feb-19 15:25:41): So why come on a forum asking for advice when decision has been made already?
Did you read the OP? Where does she ask for advice? What she actually said was "I have decided not to attend the next appointment, I am 50,anyone else made the same decision?"
True, Monica. Loud proclamations that you are not going to take any action about getting your cancer detected, diagnosed and treated can be a sign of La Boheme syndrome and a wish for a tragic death scene.
It is a very old-fashioned attitude to assume that a cancer diagnosis is necessarily doom and disaster. Many people (most?) survive cancer, including breast cancer. I have several friends, who have survived cancer, more than have died. Cancer does not always involve drastic treatments.
The one way to ensure that any cancer you may have (you probably don't) is the full three act weepy, complete with death scene, is not to go to for this follow-up appointment.
I'm also 79, and in good health, apart from some arthritic pain in my right hip and knee, which started in the last year.
I too have doubts about having agressive treatments if I developed cancer, or some other nasty condition. I think that I would rather make my exit on my own terms, rather than survive and be a burden on my family. We all have to go sometime, but I hope that I just 'drop in my tracks' one day, without being a nuisance to anyone. My family know about my feelings.
On the other hand, given that a second breast scan could show up problems in time to easily treat them, I wouldn't hesitate to go for it.
I went for a call back mammogram in my early 50s after something was found I went and it turned out to be a crease in my breast during the initial mammogram the relief was enormous. Please go that was 25 years ago and I am so glad
I was recalled after a mammogram but ONLY because they found some calcification due to age or post-menopausal thickening. They put in a tiny metal marker so the next Mammogram technician could be sure it had been spotted.
That was 18 years ago and I'm still clear and healthy.
Definitely go for the follow up.
Tilly.
What you are contemplating is what I would call a calculated risk.....but it's a risk all the same.
Breast Cancer is treatable and curable but only if it's caught early. So, where Cancer is concerned, it's foolish to take risks no matter how small and no matter the circumstances.
Better to be safe than sorry!
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