Mammograms aint so bad ?

Hi Baggs I have had many mammograms because I've had breast cancer twice, and would say that it most definitely does depend on the practitioner.

I always thought that density of breast tissue depended on whereabouts in the menstrual cycle the patient was. My breasts were always very tender and "congested" close to my period.

The degree of density refers to the proportion of milk glands, milk ducts and supportive tissue compared with fatty tissue. Cancer is more difficult to spot in dense breasts.

www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/mammogram/in-depth/dense-breast-tissue/art-20123968

I found this quite informative too:

preventbreastcancer.org.uk/why-breast-density-matters/

I'm now wondering if any mention of one's breast density is mentioned in the letter in which they send one's mammogram results. I'll look when my letter comes.

Then there are questions such as does having breast fed one's babies make any difference to breast density developing (it seems to be somewhat age related).

But like many of these things, I expect it's quite complicated.

I'm not worrying, just wondering because I've only just come across the term.

Good that you're still with us, sparklefizz, after your having had BC twice

I'm in the middle of treatment for breast cancer and have had numerous mammograms, ultrasounds, MRI scans and biopsies. Breast density has never been mentioned in any of the letters or official reports I've received. However, I did ask one doctor and was told that my breasts were medium density. My cancers (two of them) were hard to spot because they're lobular cancer, which doesn't generally form lumps. The second cancer was so small that it wasn't identified with a mammogram or ultrasound, but MRI. I don't think that had anything to do with density.

PS. I'm currently cancer-free and am extremely grateful I went for my mammogram (especially after being told by a GP that my breast pain wasn't a cause for concern).

growstuff,

Inflammatory breast cancer isn’t detected by a mammogram.
Something to be aware of.

Thank you Baggs.

The last few months have been worrying, but the outcome is nothing like it could have been, if I hadn't had the original mammogram.

Mammograms that I have had in the Mobile Units have always been painful.
The ones I have had at the Breast Cancer Clinic at the hospital have been painless, the nurse said they should all be painless and it’s down to the nurses who do them.

The last one which I had in a mobile unit a couple of months ago was def the least uncomfortable I’ve had anywhere. Maybe the practitioners, maybe my expectations or maybe it getting easier with elderly boobs!!!

I had Stage 1 breast cancer, pick up on a regular mammogram in 2015. Even the consultant couldn’t feel the lump, so what chance did I at that stage! It was removed as well as lymph nodes in my arm pit, leaving two small scars, followed by a short course of radiotherapy. It proved to me how important mammograms are. Having said that, with scar tissue, when my right boob is squeezed between the two plates, it really makes me wince, but its over within minutes, so I grin and bear it!

Baggs

Good that you're still with us, sparklefizz, after your having had BC twice

Thank you ! I've been clear for 24 years. Yay!!!

Baggs I hope all is well for you.

growstuff

Thanks Sparklefizz. For the moment, I'm clear, but am about to start radiotherapy and letrozole.

... and mammograms every year for five years, so I'd better get used to them!

Well done growstuff. Good luck with the radiotherapy and Letrozole. I had radio the 1st time, and then the 2nd time chemo plus 5 years of a variety of drugs - Tamoxifen, Toremifine, Arimidex then back to Tamoxifen again.

Wishing you all the very best - much love.

GrannySeaside51

I had Stage 1 breast cancer, pick up on a regular mammogram in 2015. Even the consultant couldn’t feel the lump, so what chance did I at that stage! It was removed as well as lymph nodes in my arm pit, leaving two small scars, followed by a short course of radiotherapy. It proved to me how important mammograms are. Having said that, with scar tissue, when my right boob is squeezed between the two plates, it really makes me wince, but its over within minutes, so I grin and bear it!

I wondered what a mammogram would be like with scar tissue. To be honest, I've never found them painful.

Definitely worth grinning and bearing for a couple of minutes!

I was diagnosed with breast cancer during lockdown from a mammogram.
It was so tiny (shown on the screen) fortunately I only needed the operations,
radiotherapy and letrozole plus bisphosphonate every 6 months another 4 to go.
I will be having mammograms every year for 5 years.
Even with my scars I didn't find the last one painful. Next one in November.