AIBU to consider not attending mammogram appointment

[SuperMoonIsKeepingMeUpToo]

Obviously if I decide not to attend I'll let them know but I'm interested in hearing opinions on this. I take my health seriously and normally attend everything going but this one I'm just not sure about as the accompanying leaflet informs me that:

'Screening saves about one life from breast cancer for every 200 women who are screened. This adds up to about 1300 lives saved from breast cancer'.

Great. But...

'About 3 in every 200 women screened every 3 years from the age of 50 to 70 are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have been found without screening and would never have become life-threatening. This adds up to about 4000 women each year in the UK who are offered treatment they did not need.

'Overall, for every 1 woman who has her life saved from breast cancer, about 3 women are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have become life-threatening. '

It is this risk of them finding and treating a cancer that would never become a problem I struggle with.

I'm 48 - our local authority is trialling extending the age range of women called for breast screening. No breast cancer in my family.

ZOMBIE THREAD

Thread started four months ago, there really isn't much point telling OP to go for screening.

I'm still here!

I hope you went OK. My friend went for a routine appointment. She starts Radiotherapy in a couple of weeks.

Super
No breast cancer in my family.
I hear this all the time, hereditary breast cancer only accounts for a small percentage of breast cancer cases each year . Most cases each year are the first in the family so please don't be lulled into a fall sense of security.

I know 3 people who have great cancer at the moment- all found out in last 9 months. 2 were through routine screening

Not great cancer- breast cancer.