NHS Breast Screening: ridiculous anxiety

[Melty]

I've just received an appointment for Breast Screening.
I am only 46 (47 this year)
Apparenly certain areas are now screening some women 47-50 (randomising half the women in that age group)

I dont know why, but my initial reaction was "I dont want to do it"
One of my work colleagues is now having treatment for Breast Cancer, which was picked up on screening, she had no symptoms otherwise. One of my friends is is a high risk category, due to maternal history, and is waiting for genetic testing.
Yet here I am almost having a panic attack at the thought.

Tell me not to be an idiot!!!

If you have breast cancer, refusing the screening will not make it not exist.

Of course you can opt out of any medical test you want to, but why would you? - BC is a treatable illness, I was diagnosed at 48 - too young to be on the mammogram program. Mine was deep in my breast - it didn't show as a lump - too deep to feel, it showed as my nipple becoming inverted when the tumour had reached such a size that it was distorting my breast. I had no pain, no other symptoms, by the time it was dsicovered it had invaded my lymph nodes and I had to have a lot of surgery and in all two years of active hospital treatment. (and am still having daily medication now at 54) if it had been picked up at 46 or 47 it could have saved me a lot of treatment.

Please go - it is an hour at the hospital for a mamogram, then a few weeks of waiting, after which you'll probably be told there is no problem, If there is it will most likely be an early problem that can be dealt with with much less treatment.

I'm assuming you have smear tests? - this is no different, being pro active about our health saves lives.

Don't be an idiot. (I mean that in a nice way and you did tell us to tell you that. )

I was 27 when I was diagnosed with breast cancer, obviously far too young for any sort of screening. I go yearly now for mammograms and they are no big deal.

Without wanting to be too nosy, are you in good health in general? You remind me of someone I know who has never really been ill and panics at anything health-related.

In the unlikely event that they did find something, it is likely to be very treatable. It's often quoted on the Tamoxifen threads that only 10% of breast lumps are cancerous and 90% of those are easily treatable. I can't speak to the accuracy of that as no idea where it comes from originally.

But if you really don't want the mammogram, then don't go.

There have been quite a few scientific reports, in the BMJ amongst others, questioning whether mammograms are useful as a screening tool. I don't know the stats but I'm sure if you're interested you can Google. The general gist is that they have to scan lots of women to actually save a life from breast cancer, and that there are risks of overdiagnosis and women having to undergo unnecessary and unpleasant procedures.

I'm not being flippant, I've had cancer myself so I know how serious it is.

Whatever you do, I hope your anxiety lessens do you suffer from panic attacks or anxiety usually?

Hi , thank you for taking the time to reply.
No, I dont normally have anxiety issues. (Except a tendency to overeat when stressed)

But I have had a lot of surgery in the past few years complicated by wound infections and all the crap that goes with it. I have been discharged from the surgical team and frankly have had enough of hospitals.
I had a knee injury in Dec, and the surgeon wanted to operate. I read a bit and found that there wouldn't be much difference in recovery with surgical intervention versus conservative management. I managed to convince the surgeon to wait and luckily it got better.

I do know cancer wouldn't get better by itself if I was unfortunate to be diagnosed.

It is completely irrational.
I have read the papers that suggest that there may be some over diagnosis, and that some women are treated unnecessarily and have all the related complications. I also know about the women who might be dead if they didnt have the screening.

I don't know. The rational part of my brain is telling me to get on with it. But I still have an overwhelming desire to cancel the appointment.

I am actuall,y now that I think about it, beginning to sound like my mother, who avoids doctors and hospitals like the plague...

I was called for random screening at 47. No problems or symptoms of anything with my breasts. Dreaded going but knew I had to. They found a small, cancerous tumour deep in my breast (caught early, treated and I'm fine now).

Please go for your screening. You are lucky to be offered it (ime).

Another one here! I was diagnosed five years ago, had treatment, am fine now.
Take this attitude. If there is anything wrong you'd want to know as soon as possible. Early detection is best in terms of a successful outcome. Without getting technical, breast cancer treatment has been revolutionised in the last few years, hence the high survival rate.
Mine was only detectable with a mammogram, so I'd never recommend passing and not having one.
Don't build the whole thing up in your mind. Have it. It's overwhelmingly likely it will be clear. Good luck!