Mammogram cut off at 75yrs old?

[rickyrickygrimes]

My mum was treated for early-stage breast cancer about 10 years ago. She’s 76 now, so she would have been in her mid 60s at the time (I’m a bit vague because she didn’t tell us until it was all done and dusted). She had surgery and radiotherapy. Since then, she’s been called for regular mammograms. But after she turned 75 she has been told that she’s no longer eligible for them. Understandably, she’s pretty pissed off. At 76 she is an active, busy, healthy (albeit with some aches and pains) woman.

I’m assuming that the cut off is set at this age because beyond 75 the survival rate does not outweigh the costs / impact of treatment.

if you were older than 75, would you still expect / want to receive treatment for cancer? I’m in two minds tbh: my mum definitely over-estimates what she is physically capable of these days. And I do feel that we go to excessive lengths these days to keep people alive beyond their natural span (my 84 yr-old Mil is currently being kept alive in a nursing home, she’s immobile, doubly incontinent, unable to move / speak / eat etc so this may be clouding my judgement.)

My understanding is that you can still request screening every 3 years post 75 but won't be routinely called. Given your mum's history, she might want to request this.

Is this right? I believe you aren’t called routinely but can get them if you want them.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/breast-screening-for-women-aged-71-or-over/71-or-over-you-can-still-have-breast-screening-if-you-choose

I'm in my 70s and although I won't be invited for another mammogram (cutoff here is 71), after my last one I was given a number to ring if I want to book one.

You are still eligible for breast screening after 70, you just don’t get automatically invited.

This is because there are risks to breast screening and after 70 it is thought these outweigh the benefits. But you can still choose to have the screening.

Cross posted with everyone else saying the same 😊

My MIL has breast cancer which spread to her ribs because she was not eligible for a mammogram after 75. She is having treatment though, now it has been diagnosed.

It’s to prevent overdiagnosis and excessive unnecessary intervention, rather than just being for cost.

I was under the impression you can request a mammogram after a certain age but you are not automatically called.

Generally these sorts of cut off are never because its in any way less "worth" treating an older person

They are always because:

• the test or screen has some risk that make it less justified
• the changes in the body as we age make a test or treatment inaccurate/unsuccessful
• an older person would not be likely to survive a test or treatment

Etc etc

If you were older than 75, would you still expect / want to receive treatment for cancer?

Yes. And you say your mum is an active and healthy 76 year-old. Someone I know was diagnosed with cancer by mammogram a year ago at age 80. She was treated successfully and is continuing her active, busy life.