family history of breast cancer. regular mammograms?

[jollymollie]

I'm not really sure what to do about this? My mum died of breast cancer in 1980 when she was 41 years old, I was 8. She suffered for 5 years but i'm sure if she'd had the same thing today she would be fine as treatment was nowhere near as good then. Anyway I am now 40 and not sure if i should be having regular screening. I've had one mammogram a few years back as i thought I had a lump and it was okay but nothing since. She had no sisters so i'm not sure if any aunts would have had the same thing. All my family have suffered with cancer in one form or another so it is very much in my genes but i'm worried that regular mammograms may do more harm than good. I check myself for lumps every month but is that enough? I've got two young dcs who are at the age myself and my sis were when mum died so it's very very much on my mind at the moment!

I am in exactly the same boat as you...my mum died of breast cancer too, although fortunately even though she was diagnosed in the 80s it was actually 2007 before it killed her!

I asked my GP to refer me to the family history clinic in Manchester, he was reluctant at first but i eventually persuaded him. Anyway the genetics dept at St Mary's agreed that i am at increased risk and so i get mammograms and MRI scans (i'm 37) once a year.

During my most recent one it picked up a cluster of microcalcifications (hadn't even turned into a lump yet) which have turned out to be a very small and very early type of cancer which probably wouldnt have turned into an invasive cancer for 10 or 20 years but as it's been found now can be treated before it happens if that makes sense.

I think it depends how worried you are by your mum's history. Mine had cancer in both breasts so i always grew up believing something was very wrong and knowing deep down that something like this would happen one day!Now that i'm under this clinic, even though something has actually been found, i'm at peace in a way cos i know i'm being watched like a hawk if that makes sense!

Go to your GP and ask him/her. My mum died from advanced breast cancer, and I was referred to the Genetic Unit at our local hospital. They then put me on the mammogram/screening programme, which meant that every year I had a mammogram and an appointment with the consultant. At my very first appointment we talked through the family tree and where there were any other breast cancers (or other cancers), and this was used to determine my risk.

Good advice from Paddy and BIWI.

it is all very reassuring....i haven't actually had the gene test as i think the relative who had the cancer has to test positive for BRCA1 or BRCA2 before they will test you.....but as there are other genes that they haven't isolated that may also be responsible it makes sense to go and get checked out!

My mother had bc in both breasts pre menopause (in her mid 40s), and like your mum jollymollie, battling it for 8 years and, therefore, considered to be an aggressive bc. Her maternal gm also had bc before the age of 60, although died of an unrelated illness first.

On this basis my gp referred me to the genetic clinic where they took my family history. Unfortunately I have no surviving relatives to test, but they did arrange that I would have yearly mammograms from the age of 40. There was also discussion, but no outright decision, that if I developed bc about what my choices would be, including NSM.

Hi, the is a strong family history of BC in my family and I've tested positive for BRCA1 gene mutation. During my journey I found out about all the options available made my choices etc. As part of this I was examined several times by professionals, I realised that even though I was checking for lumps and changes I was not doing it right at all! The way the did was so much more thorough. I think there are tutorials of how tondo it correctly on YouTube and I know that you can ask a nurse at you GP surgery to examine you too so then you can do it yourself. I also have a friend who was referred to genetics (not BRCA carrier) for a significant family history and she has yearly mammogram and MRI too. I hope what I have said is helpful.

thanks for all the replies and info. sorry to hear that others have also lost their mums. I can't be tested for the gene either as you need to have a living relative. I would like regular screening but i have been told by a doc a good few years ago now that regular mammograms can be more harmful and his advice was just to keep a check and enjoy my life!! very nice but not overly helpful but it has always stuck with me what he said. I might get myself to gp and see what they say. I think getting to the age my mum died at has been a wake up call and I sort of feel as if history is going to repeat itself now

why do they insist on having a living relative i wonder? makes no sense to me :S

Jolly I think you probably need to be pro-active in some of your care. Lots of women (me included) go for annual private mammograms. Perhaps that is something that may make you feel better?

Having had bc 5 and a half years ago I had annual mammos till last year but,on the advice of my surgeon ,have switched to biennial mammos because of the radiation risk.I have mine done privately and am going to be examined by the surgeon in the alternate years.

jolly - my mother had BC, but they got it early so she's still alive. She didn't tell me it was cancer at the time, so I thought it was 'pre-cancerous cells' as that's what she told me. I wish I'd known though, as I found a lump over two years ago, which turned out to be cancerous.

If I'd known my mother had it, I'd definitely have gone to screening from 40. I'm hoping I'll be okay, as it was still caught early enough to treat, but if I'd gone at 40, I'd most likely have been in paddy's situation. Instead of which I've had two mastectomies, chemotherapy, radiotherapy - pretty much everything really. Thing to remember I think is if they can get BC early it's easily treatable. Also the risk from radiation from mammograms is relatively small. In a lot of countries they routinely screen from 40 and even here they're talking about bringing it down, as the number of women being diagnosed is on the rise. Honestly I'd say go for it. I really wish I had.