Maybe you choose to go private for mammogram every year?

My Consultant told me I would not have found my lump via self examination. It was too deep into the breast.

Not on the spot, unless they were done at their clinic, or within the group's clinics, RedRidingHood. They can, of course, easily request images to be sent over from the NHS to compare, if you tell them where and when.
I went armed with some mammogram films I was given in France, (we carry our results round over there), but the UK Clinic didn't deem them clear enough to extract any details!

@escaped thank you. Do they have access to your old mammograms? Comparison is really important.

I chose not to have reconstruction. I couldn't be doing with more surgery or the aftercare.

My boobs were always odd anyway.

Now I find the prostheses don't really work for older women because my remaining natural breast is now much flatter. I almost always wear a scarf because I feel conscious of it, although I'm sure no one notices. I have had my prostheses slip out when bending down- that's when I know to get a new bra!

May I ask where you get your private mammograms?
If you have a Spire or Nuffield hospital near you, they offer the service. Look for the rapid access service where you can get the results there and then. There is also a breast care nurse available who, after your consultation with the consultant, can quickly help refer you on to the next step.

keepingquiet

I have never had my swimming prosthesis fall out when swimming.

I have. Twice it managed to wriggle out of the pocket in my swimming costume.

In any case, it was all part of the deal when I had my original surgery. I had two lumps in the same breast and originally I was supposed to be having a mastectomy. I was OK with that until I found that I couldn't have a reconstruction as a result of diabetes.

Understandably, I was upset and the surgeon said that he could attempt a lumpectomy (preserving the nipple). As a result I had a big lumpectomy which removed about half my breast, I was told at the time that it would shrink further, which it did, especially after radiotherapy. I was also told that when the size had stabilised, I could have surgery to match the unaffected breast. It's all in the NICE guidelines that it's authorised.

I have never had my swimming prosthesis fall out when swimming.

Rosie51

Self examination is to be recommended but unfortunately, if the lumps are deep within large breasts self examination won't necessarily reveal them. My cancer was found by routine screening, and the doctor could only just about locate one by palpation, and not the one behind that.

growstuff, I'm not bitter, just disappointed about different practices amongst health authorities. It would seem I'm not alone in not receiving annual mammograms after the initial 5 years as others have testified. In fact I'm obviously lucky to be still getting bi-annual screening which I'm told will continue until I die. I didn't ask for breast equalisation, it wouldn't enter my head to expect it to be available on the NHS. They weren't willing to give any cosmetic surgery to my visibly cancer disfigured leg that occurred when I was only in my 20s. I shan't ask now, the NHS has enough trouble providing essential medical care so the waiting time would likely run to years anyway.

Most people on this thread have actually testified that they did have annual follow-up mammograms for five year. I didn't claim that they have annual ones after five years. Like others, I will be over 70 when my follow-up finishes and will have to ring up for an appointment every three years. It was your comment about a "gift" (which I haven't received) which annoyed me.

Breast and legs are different body parts. There are different guidelines for each, so you can't compare. I have a massive scar on my forehead after a cyst was removed, but I can't have NHS surgery - that has nothing to do with the breast surgery.

It states quite clearly that equalisation of breast size after surgery is authorised - I checked before I asked for it. It bothered me a lot because I swim regularly. I was very conscious that even with a prothesis my breasts looked strange. The prothesis actually fell out a couple of times, which I found embarrassing. It was also affecting my swimming technique because one side was heavier than the other. I'm not going to be guilt-tripped by somebody who wouldn't ask for it - it's made a huge difference to my life.

I had lumpectomy, chemo and radiotherapy in 2019.
Follow up gives you five years of annual mammograms which finished last year.
I have decided to have a private one after 18 months so half way to my next NHS one.
I had had a mammogram 14 months before my cancer was found. They went back and checked in case it had been missed but there was no trace. I was told my cancer was fast growing and aggressive and I was very lucky to have caught it. I am grateful for tiny breasts meaning a tiny lump was obvious.

May I ask where you get your private mammograms?
There's nowhere near me, nearest is York I think.

Self examination is to be recommended but unfortunately, if the lumps are deep within large breasts self examination won't necessarily reveal them. My cancer was found by routine screening, and the doctor could only just about locate one by palpation, and not the one behind that.

growstuff, I'm not bitter, just disappointed about different practices amongst health authorities. It would seem I'm not alone in not receiving annual mammograms after the initial 5 years as others have testified. In fact I'm obviously lucky to be still getting bi-annual screening which I'm told will continue until I die. I didn't ask for breast equalisation, it wouldn't enter my head to expect it to be available on the NHS. They weren't willing to give any cosmetic surgery to my visibly cancer disfigured leg that occurred when I was only in my 20s. I shan't ask now, the NHS has enough trouble providing essential medical care so the waiting time would likely run to years anyway.

GrannieWalker

growstuff Thank you for your useful thoughts. You’re right I will get annual NHS mammos for five years as part of my treatment plan. My regret is that with my strong family history (Mum, her sister, my sister, all the women in Mum’s direct family) I have never explored private annual screening. But you’ve reduced my regret by saying it might have been missed even so. ☺️
I have 3 sons. Apparently if it’s genetic they may have inherited 50%. I’ve yet to let them know my diagnosis and ask if they want to know if it’s genetic. All 3 have daughters.

I was 67 when I was diagnosed. One of my sisters, my mum, my grandmother and my great grandmother all had breast cancer. I asked whether it's like to have been inherited and I was told "no". The inherited forms are the ones younger women have. In my case it was likely to have been random and just one of the things older women are likely to have. I declined DNA testing because my daughter and sisters said they wouldn't have taken any action anyway.

The above testing is different from the genome testing I had done and the testing of the tumour itself. My cancer was lobular. The reason it doesn't form a clump is the result of a loss of something called E-cadherin, which may or may not be genetic.

Don't beat yourself up. Annual testing might not have picked it up any sooner. It sounds as though it's at an early stage now. Your children can make up their minds what action to take after you've had testing.

valdavi I agree self exam is the most important. But my self exam was apparently subpar. I regularly checked for lumps or changes to my nipples, but this strange shape to my right breast, flattened rather than rounded below the nipple, was only evident when I happened to be naked infront of the bathroom mirror with bright light from the window from my right and my right hand raised above my head. Not something I’d ever done before. The flattening doesn’t show when my arm’s down or in overhead lighting. I think I was very lucky.
So maybe rather than annual private screening I should have sought guidance on the gold standard self exam methods!

escaped Thank you for your wishes 💐

jammess Thank you for your wishes, much appreciated 😊
and for your reassurance that it might have been missed by annual mammo. I’ve got 2 gems of support in DH and sister so I feel very fortunate.

growstuff Thank you for your useful thoughts. You’re right I will get annual NHS mammos for five years as part of my treatment plan. My regret is that with my strong family history (Mum, her sister, my sister, all the women in Mum’s direct family) I have never explored private annual screening. But you’ve reduced my regret by saying it might have been missed even so. ☺️
I have 3 sons. Apparently if it’s genetic they may have inherited 50%. I’ve yet to let them know my diagnosis and ask if they want to know if it’s genetic. All 3 have daughters.

growstuff

bikergran

Having recently had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, I was told I will have mammograms every year now.(will be 70 soon)

I am in Lancashire so not sure if it depends on your postcode.

I'm fairly sure it's universal after-care.

Only for five years, as others have mentioned, after which you revert to the local NHS interval. Here is the relevant NICE guidance (England & Wales):

1.15.1
Offer annual mammography for 5 years to all people who have had or are being treated for breast cancer, including DCIS. For women, continue annual mammography past 5 years until they enter the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) in England or the Breast Test Wales Screening Programme (BTWSP) in Wales. [2009, amended 2023]

Most breast cancers are found by self-examination, not by mammogram screening. Whilst the screening is worthwhile (& I have mine next week), regular self-checks would be neccessary even with a private programme offering 1 year mammograms. They are the most important thing to be doing.

dragonfly46

I had annual mammograms for five years post my mastectomy. Now I can have them if I ask for one but have been otherwise completely signed off as I am 79.

Same as me after a lumpectomy, I had a yearly mammogram for five years which ended last year, they told me if I want to continue with an annual mammogram or if I have any future concerns to call them.

I had annual mammograms for five years post my mastectomy. Now I can have them if I ask for one but have been otherwise completely signed off as I am 79.

bikergran

Having recently had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, I was told I will have mammograms every year now.(will be 70 soon)

I am in Lancashire so not sure if it depends on your postcode.

I'm fairly sure it's universal after-care.

Having recently had a lumpectomy and radiotherapy, I was told I will have mammograms every year now.(will be 70 soon)

I am in Lancashire so not sure if it depends on your postcode.

This week I celebrate 15 years post mastectomy. I am reminded how grateful I should be to be in good health.

I had annual mammograms for five years post-op, but then they revert back to every three years.

To be honest it isn't something I give much thought to anymore, I just get on with my life...

I know nothing about 70+ but when you go for annual private breast screenings, an ultrasound is very often thrown in. You can also pay a bit more to have a consultation with a breast expert.
I hope all goes well for you.

Rosie51 You sound a tad bitter about my so-called "gifts". As far as I knew, annual mammograms are just standard post-cancer follow up care. They're consistent with the NICE guidelines.

Have you asked to have your other breast reduced? I asked after about two years because I was getting fed up with wearing a prosthesis when swimming. If you look up the NICE guidelines, you'll see that equalisation of breast size after surgery is one of the legitimate reasons for Breast surgery.

Those weren't "gifts". They were standard care, which every health authority should be providing.

I'm really sorry to hear about your diagnosis, and I hope the surgery goes smoothly on Thursday. It must be so overwhelming, but it’s great to hear that your cancer is slow-growing. You’re right about the NHS screening being every three years, but unfortunately, even with annual screenings, some types of breast cancer can still slip through, lobular cancers. It sounds like you're in a tough spot, but I hope your treatment plan moving forward will give you the best outcome. Your story is a reminder for us all to stay vigilant with our health and push for whatever we feel we need. Wishing you strength for your surgery and recovery!