To beg you ALL to read this, for the sake of your health, please ladies.

[Vallhala]

Inspired by a thread currently in Chat, PLEASE take a couple of minutes to read this and a couple more to act on it, for YOUR sake and that of those you love.

I'm (I hope!) a reasonably intelligent woman, I'm fairly health and news aware, I knew about breast cancer. I knew that it is rarely found in someone with no family history of it, who doesn't eat meat, who is slim and fit, who is under 40.

And I know that women like that generally think the same way. And as a result, like me when I was under 40, they don't check their breasts, they go about life each day informed of an issue which doesn't concern them personally.

Just like I did... until I got to the age of 37 and discovered a lump in my breast by chance when I was having a bath.

I'm one of the lucky ones.

I had a lumpectomy and subsequently my ovaries removed to prevent my body producing oestrogen that could kill me. I've a dent in my boob, was hurled into instant menopause following the ovarian surgery with all the horrible and very pronounced effects that go with it but I'm alive and my children still have a mother.

If this inspires just ONE woman to check her breasts, one woman who would otherwise think as I did that it can't happen to her, I've done right, as painful as it is to me for the memories to be brought back. I'll show my scar off, talk about it to strangers, nag folk, do whatever it takes to prevent someone else's children from losing their mother.

So please ladies, no matter how young, how fit you are, how good you feel... check your breasts and tell every other woman you know my story.

vez123 I don't know how old you are but if you are between 40 - 49 you can ask your GP for a referral to a family history clinic if you have a first degree relative who developed breast cancer before the age of 40. (If you want a referral of course)

NICE quick reference guide here
www.nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/10994/30244/30244.pdf

My dh found his testicular lump at 19 because he always had his hand down his pants at that age, lucky for him
He got his 10 year all clear last year.
Sorry for all those with friends going through it, a timely reminder for us all to have a good feel around so thanks op, a very moving thread.

Thanks, a good tip it to check at the end of each period - apparently thats when they are less naturally lumpy.

I am glad you have got the all clear Val. How bloody scary for you though at the time.

Also - everyone get regular smears. I haven't had my smear for 6 years stupidly - I remembered this this week. Have a mother who has had and survived cervical cancer, a gran who died of it and a great-gran who died of 'womens problems so you would think I would pull my finger out. I am going to book my smear tomorrow.

May I add that during my last check up I was chatting to the doc about life in general and mentioned that I'm a family tree addict. She honed in on that, immediately asking if I have Ashkenazi Jews in my ancestry.

Yes, I have, lots.

She explained that breast cancer in Ashkenazi Jews and their descendants can be a genetic trait, due to for want of a better word from this dog lover, "inbreeding" (apologies to all Jewish people and their descendants).

There are studies and tests that can be taken to identify that trait so if you ARE of Jewish blood or descent it is worth asking your GP to refer you.

Thank you very much, just checked mine! Glad you are okay, and thank you for your bravery.
Question - does anyone know what the NHS schedule is for mammograms and smears? I am now over 40 and haven't had a mammo, and last smear was 6 or so years ago. Not sure how often I should be having them.

Valhalla a fantastic post. I have a close friend currently fighting breast cancer, originally diagnosed at 26, so it can and does affect young women too!

However, I work with patients with breast cancer in my day job and regular systematic checking is no longer recommended. The reason for this is that breasts are notoriously hard to examine (even if its your job!) and it would be very easy to miss a problem and be falsely reassured that all was well.

Rather than this it is now recommended to be 'breast aware'. By this it means know your breasts. Touch them, look at them in the mirror, and get to know what is normal for you. ANY change, be that a lump, a change in the skin or the nipples, pain or discomfort, or just a feeling that things are not right, should be checked out.

All the very best for a long and happy future Valhalla and others who have posted here. Thinking of all of you xxx

cross posted jennifer... Currently breast screening commences at 50 (although I think it is imminently starting a couple of years earlier - watch this space) for regular people with no significant family history. Then every 3 years all being well.

I think smears is every 5 years as long as no problems picked up

Smears are every 3 years up to age 50 then every 5 years.

Yes RIVENINABINGLE they can. Whenever I have a smear test, the nurse always asks if I check my breasts regularly and would I like her to examine them etc

Always good to have a reminder VALLHALA. Sadly I lost my Mum to breast cancer when she was just 48. And previously she lost her Grandmother to it as well, so it obviously 'runs in the family' Shockingly I still don't check myself that regularly, but posts like this remind me to!

Thank you, I will. I must admit I haven't for a while.

Wishing you health and happiness for the future.

There is a breast screening truck outside my health centre, but I'm not sure how old you have to be to get checked, whether it's a drop in, or what?

Thank you, will call doc and try to get myself checked out.

Vall, Thankyou for this thread.

I found a lump when I was 21yrs old. I was petrified so much so that I took my dad with me to hold my hand while I had a biopsy, it turned out to be nothing to worry about and 15yrs on is still there.

BUT reading further through your thread I see that those of jewish descent are at risk, well I best keep a proper check on myself being as on both sides I have jewish Grandparents, and my Grt Gran had breast cancer which ate inwards and she being an ex nurse dressed it herself daily. She wasn't lucky enough to survive it was a very long time ago.

Thankyou for the warning and advice and I am extremely glad things are going well for you!

I've always been very breast aware, my bio mum died of breast cancer when I was a baby, she must have had it while carrying me and no-one has ever been able to tell me whether having it in pregnancy gives any greater risks or not, even that breast cancer Q&A on here last year failed to answer my question.
I've never had early screening as you need two close female relatives with BC before they'll consider you, the fact that I have 4 bio older sisters out there somewhere, with no idea of whether they've had it is seemingly of no consequence.
The best advice when checking your breasts is to use massage oil or shower gel so your fingers glide over the skin and to use the pads of your fingers, not your fingertips.
It's my biggest health worry tbh, my MIL had it at 52 and was clear for 5 years before it came back in her liver, bones and brain.

Thanks for taking the time to write this! Best of luck for the future. I checked mine as I was reading! x

I think a smear is more important than a breast check.

I sadly knew two women who died from breast cancer. Both early 30s, both with young children. A good friend also found a lump aged 30, was dx swiftly and treated. It returned 8yrs later at which point she had a double mastectomy and is just fine several years later.

My mother has recently survived cancer (malignant melanoma) and I fight a constant battle in my head between wanting to bury my head in the sand and to make sure I have ever possible check going (breast awareness, smears etc). I make sure the sensible bit of my brain wins.

Thanks for this. I'm only 31 but check mine regularly. I'd like to add that everyone should keep up with their smear tests too. Really simple things we can do or get done to make sure we stay healthy.

So glad you're OK and sorry to hear what you went through - you must have been pretty frightened.

Blueberties, the two are equally important, I would beg to suggest?

This is why on those FB cancer awareness campaigns with the silly slogans that everyone posts I always, but always, post back saying that words on a screen wont help - checking your breasts regularly will! The number of people that don't connect the two always astounds me!

Malifience - re "my bio mum died of breast cancer when I was a baby, she must have had it while carrying me and no-one has ever been able to tell me whether having it in pregnancy gives any greater risks or not"

If I understand your question correctly (i.e. "Is cancer more dangerous during pregnancy?), it is fairly easy to answer: Yes, cancer is more dangerous during pregnancy because it grows and spreads faster due to pregnancy hormones that allow for fast growth and the muted immune system that allows a foreign organism to grow inside your body.

Glad to hear you're doing well, well done for being so strong. My Mum has been battling recurrent Breast Cancer for 20 years so I always check, it's a great message to pass on.

Glad to hear you are doing so well Valhalla. I do check from time to time, not as often as I should.

I am equally evangelical about smears having had cervical cancer at the tender age of 31. Turned life upside down for me, dh and our young children but I have come out of it a stronger person with a drive to do things I never would have contemplated pre-cancer. I am more than 6 years post diagnosis and it feels good.

I hope things continue to go well for you and sharing your experience will serve as a reminder to all of us that these horrid diseases are not just something that happens to others.

Malificence You do not need two relatives with Breast Cancer for early screening. If you are between 40-49 and have one first degree relative who developed breast cancer before the age of 40 you are entitled to early screening.

See the link to the NICE quick ref guide I have posted above.

My mum developed breast cancer before the age of 40 and I have had annual mammograms since my late 30's (I think they stretched the guidelines a bit in my case i.e. not waiting until I was 40 because my mum died of a different fairly unusual cancer 12 years later).

Chazs - My bio mum was over 40, that's perhaps why I was refused early screening? I have often thought of paying privately for a mammogram but there is then the niggling thought of unnecessary radiation, I would go for one immediately if I found the tiniest lump though.

Cotedazure - I meant risks as in what are the risks to me, if any, by being a developing fetus inside a woman with aggressive breast cancer, by the time I was born ( 2 months prem and tiny by all accounts) it was apparently the size of a grapefruit, this was 1966 so maternal care and cancer care were pretty non-existent.