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Dementia and Alzheimer's

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Breast screening mammogram for Mum with Alzheimer’s WWYD?

20 replies

SinisterBumFacedCat · 22/07/2024 13:39

I’ve got a breast screening appointment for my mum this week. She has Alzheimer’s, lives in a care home, is mobile but slow but is really suffering mentally. She screams and shouts a lot. She also cries and is very confused. This is her second care hon due to being turfed out of the first for behaviour. I don’t think taking her for a mammogram is a good idea, I don’t mind the hassle of getting her there, it’s the practicalities of clamping mums boobs in a glass vice and telling her to be still. She doesn’t remember any instructions, pretty much has no memory and will not understand the pain and actually might lash out. The nurses at the hospital were very breezy about it on the phone saying they can handle people with dementia but I think they are imagining someone with early stage dementia who can take on some information. Plus if they do find something what will they do, give chemotherapy to a lady who doesn’t know what is happening from one minute to the next? I don’t think she should go but I think I will get a lot of judgment from the nurses and carers if I say this. What would you do?

OP posts:
helpfulperson · 22/07/2024 13:42

Honestly I wouldn't bother. Worst case scenario something shows up is treatment going to be a good idea. We got a review letter for something for my mum, I can't even remember what, and decided as we wouldn't support treatment there was no point in the appointment.

Lovelyview · 22/07/2024 13:43

Is it a routine screening or because they are concerned about something? I think you're right not to want to put her through the trauma. Sorry your Mum isn't well.

Maddy70 · 22/07/2024 13:43

Im in the middle of treatment for breast cancer. If it was my mum i honestly wouldnt bother.

Its unlikely to be successful anyway

Musicaltheatremum · 22/07/2024 13:45

Definitely don't take her. She cannot consent and she may be distressed at someone handling her breasts.

yeesh · 22/07/2024 13:46

I wouldn’t. It will be really upsetting and stressful for her, she will not understand and it is painful. What treatment would they even offer if anything was found? At this stage of dementia keeping her comfortable is better than invasive treatment in my opinion

HateThese4Leggedbeasts · 22/07/2024 13:46

I don't think I would go either. Sounds very distressing to her for not much gain.

ToofHurty · 22/07/2024 13:48

My mum wouldn’t cooperate with her first mammogram, dad took her and they wouldn’t allow him to be in the room, and they couldn’t get her to keep still.

She then got sent to a different screening centre where apparently the nurses were more equipped to deal with patients like her, they still couldn’t keep her still long enough for it to happen.

As far as I’m aware they told my dad after that that there was no need to attend further screening as she’s 70.

WearyAuldWumman · 22/07/2024 13:54

My late mum had dementia.

Before I had POA for her, a young GP insisted that she have an endoscopy. Very upsetting for her.

Later, when dementia was more severe and I had the POA, I said I didn’t want her to have a brain scan.

Consultant: I’m so glad you said that.

Mammograms are bad enough when you understand what’s going on. I wouldn’t put my mum through it.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 22/07/2024 13:55

IT’s routine screening, she’s 68 so gets screened still. There is a family history of breast cancer but my Nan was much older when she got it (and didn’t go to doctors due to extreme phobia of doctors). I don’t have health POA but do have financial. It’s going to be persuading gp and carers that will be tricky. But if she won’t cooperate for a basic wash I don’t think she’ll take to her boob in a vice! I hate having them myself! Thanks for reassuring me I am making the right decision here.

OP posts:
Tygertiger · 22/07/2024 13:59

I was a carer with POA for my Aunt who died of dementia last year and declined screening for her for exactly this reason. She couldn’t have meaningfully consented (to either the mammogram or any subsequent treatment) and I thought the stress of the procedure would be unjustified. Her GP agreed with me. I think you’re doing the right thing OP.

Turmerictolly · 22/07/2024 14:03

Hopefully the HP and carers will support your position. If they don't, tell them that you can't take her so what do they propose to do next.

JackieQueen · 22/07/2024 14:35

This happened to my mil, she was in her 80s and previously diagnosed with breast cancer and was taken from her care home for a mammogram. I was horrified and tried to explain to my dh how uncomfortable and confusing it would be for her but I had no say really as fil and other relatives wanted her to have it. Completely pointless and I felt really sad thinking of what it would have been like for her. 😥 I don't blame you at all for trying to stop this op. 💐

KewBridgeSteamMuseum · 22/07/2024 14:39

I'm so sorry to hear that OP. 68 is so young to be so badly affected, it must be awful for you both.

eurochick · 22/07/2024 14:47

I agree with you OP. It would only be distressing for her and probably wouldn't be successful in getting a clear image anyway.

Plus if there was anything wrong having seen my gran have a long slow decline with dementia I would think other ends might be preferable, callous as that might sound.

PeachPairPlum · 23/07/2024 13:00

I wouldn't go, the breast screening programme is a flawed system anyway.

I've turned a screening appt down myself in the past and they absolutey fine about it and didn't question it.

Ankleblisters · 23/07/2024 13:51

Hi OP, we had a similar thing with my mum a few years ago - similar age and stage too, although my Mum has FTD. Young onset is so cruel.

Honestly, don't bother. We took her to the screening clinic and she was SO distressed and completely unable to follow the instructions even to get into the right position. The nurses there basically just said that there was no point and took her off the list for reminders. It was really stressful and upsetting for everyone (and we also got a parking ticket because we didn't correctly log our car registration when we signed in, due to trying to get her out of the car and into the clinic! Since contested and cancelled, but still, extra stress!)

We still manage to do the bowel screening (poo scraping) every couple of years (extremely unpleasant for me but she doesn't even know) but otherwise there is no way of testing her for anything.

They recently thought she might have pancreatic cancer but they said they didn't think she's be able for the scan (CT or MRI, I can't remember) so they did an ultrasound instead and gave her the all clear. I honestly don't know how we would have responded if she did have it.

SinisterBumFacedCat · 25/07/2024 11:34

Hi, I did cancel the appointment in the end. I spoke to the hospital and home and they were absolutely fine about it. I think the hospital probably saw her age and imagined she was at an earlier stage of her Alzheimer’s, to be honest probably 2 years ago I could have got away with taking her and explaining the whole process to her as it was happening and would have been compliant, now it would be like taking an angry adult sized toddler to an invasive hospital procedure, for which there would be no benefit. Thank you all for helping me realise I was making the right decision 💐

OP posts:
WearyAuldWumman · 25/07/2024 21:14

Thank you for the update OP. Sending you very best wishes.

tribpot · 25/07/2024 21:16

Glad to read your update, @SinisterBumFacedCat . Definitely the right decision in the circumstances.

gymbummy · 25/07/2024 21:27

I think the medical principle of 'first do no harm' applies here. I recently had my first mammogram and it isn't pleasant when you understand what's happening. I can't imagine putting my mil who sounds similar to your mum through that trauma

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