Recall for breast screening

[hillbilly]

I've just had a letter today recalling me for a second breast screen. I had one last week under general invitation given that I am 47. I'm a bit worried and haven't told DH yet as his father passed away this morning so he has enough on his plate.

Hi, so sorry that this has all happened at once. If you really can't tell your DH for a day or two do you have a pal to lean on?

Do hope you will get reassurance quickly. Recall does not equal cancer.

Good luck.

If you can't speak to somebody in RL please can this number a callwww.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-services/ask-us-your-questions/helpline

They were really helpful when i got myself in a rate state over a nasty breast infection.

Also not sure of the figures, but being recalled after a routine mammogram is not unusal and doesn't always mean there is something sinister.

www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-services/ask-us-your-questions/helpline

Was in similar position to you in Jan this year - 47, invited for screening. Few days later had recall letter. Was v alarmed by speed of this. I also did not tell DH (had redundancy worries and was made redundant later that month). Spent time between receipt of letter and actual appt on verge of tears.

The worry with mine was a solid looking patch, on closer examination turned out to be ok. Will be on my records for future screening. Thinking higher proportion of "first" scans get recalled than second and subsequent scans simply because there is no prev info about your breasts. When is your appointment?

Sorry about your FIL as well, you have more than enough on your plate.

Thanks for the support. The funeral is scheduled (not confirmed) for the same day too. I'm going to wait until Monday to tell DH and then call to change the appointment if necessary. I'm a glass half full type so feel positive but my DH would worry a lot.

Hi,

I was recalled and after a biopsy was a week later diagnosed with breast cancer. I'm telling you this to give you heart - there are lots and lots of us who have had to deal with the diagnosis, have treatment and are fine to tell the tale.

This was in 2009 for me. It is horrid but if it is bad news, honestly please do not despair. You will cope far better than you think you can. There is excellent support on the Tamoxifen thread - great bunch. I have been back at work since late 2010 and only had 1 day off sick since my return - a bad cold!

I'm sorry you have the combination of life events to manage just now.

Thanks sandripples. I guess that is how it is. If it's cancer, you deal with it and get as much support as possible.

I had a recall because my original mammogram was done on an old analogue machine. I've always had a lot of tiny cysts and one of them seemed to be glowing a bit more brightly.

I was lucky and went to a London teaching hospital where I was told at the beginning that I would have a diagnosis by the end of the afternoon. They did a digital mammogram and I then saw a doctor who could see immediately that the cyst was harmless. She did a sonar to make sure.

If there'd been any doubt, I would have had a needle biopsy, then and there.

Good luck!

Yes I will also have a diagnosis on the day or biopsy same day.

What bad timing! Honestly though, your recall could v.easily just be that they didn't get a good image. And as sandripples says if it's cancer it's horrid but odds are still v.much that you'll be okay. I was diagnosed in 2010 and like her am very much still here.

Waving to sandripples.

Just a quick update - had the scan this morning and everything is normal. I'm very relieved. Thanks for your kind words and support as I had not told anyone except DH.

Hi hillbilly - pleased that your result was good Roughly 1 in 20 women gets recalled and it's usually nothing to worry about.

Glad everything is ok with you. I had the same thing nearly a year ago. But, thank god, like you, everything was ok.

I am on early screening as both dm and aunt had breast cancer, so I was very worried

Thanks. I have been told I do not need another for 3 years however I fully intend to have one annually even if I have to pay for it.

Yippee. Good news!

That's brilliant.

Only just seen this - glad all ok - what a relief!!

At what age does breast screening start?

50, in this country, 40 in USA, but don't be like me and think that means you can't get breast cancer before you're 50!
If you suspect a problem at any age go to the doctors, oh, and don't be afraid. My bc was picked up at my first mammogram, post 50, five years ago. Due to medical developments the survival rate is extremely good, better than it's ever been.

I'm not sure why I was sent an invitation for early screening - it could have been quite random. My mum died of cancer but it was not breast cancer. I took along a CD from a private mammogram I had in 2009 which they said was very helpful.

Ok thanks

That was good! Unless your problem is screamingly obvious, as mine was, they like a historical mammogram because they are looking for "changes".

UK has recently reduced it to 47.

All women in a 3-year block at your surgery will be offered their first appt at the same time. So I've just had my first one aged 52. If some areas are offering a first screen at 47 then it certainly hasn't reached Hertfordshire!

fortyplus - I'm central London but not sure if that has anything to do with it.