mandatory breast screening?

[1ChelseaMa]

I am getting heavy forceful notices from Charing Cross hospital,demanding I attend breast screening? I am perfectly capable of examining my own boobs, I don't think it should be forced, any views?

Your choice they can't force you but it's not something I would turn down if offered.

I get a regular invitation to attend for breast screening.
I attend because I am grateful for a screening test that is free at the point of care.
5 of my friends have had breast cancer.
1 died.
The others had surgery and chemotherapy and survived.
Nobody has ever demanded that I attend. It is a choice.
I am aware that not all cancers present as a lump that can be felt on self examination.
2 of my friends had the type that was only picked up on the mammogram.
But - it is up to you what you do.

It is not mandatory, but I think if you don't want it, you have to write and say. Otherwise they will just keep sending you invites.

I've got breast cancer,was 41 when diagnosed,no family history. I found the lump myself but if I'd had a mammogram it might have picked it up much earlier. Maybe I wouldn't have had to have chemo and lose my hair. Why wouldn't you go ?

You will have to write in to say you don't want it. Then they will send you a form to fill in and return. Then they will keep sending you things regardless. It's not mandatory.

I agree with capsium.
It is just a computer generated letter that is sent to everyone in the relevant age/sex category. A reminder is automatically sent to those who do not respond.
What is it about it that is "heavy and forceful"?
A computer generated screening invitation can't force anybody to do anything.
However, if you really feel you don't want to be screened, you must write to your GP and ask to be removed from the list.
It's nothing personal.

Because the false positives and unnecessary further investigations rate is pretty high. The pros and cons are really complicated.

Like any medical procedure it's a woman's choice to come to her own decision.

The op asked for people's views on whether it should be forced.
It isn't.

All screening is optional, it isn't mandatory. The hospital has you on a database. Write to them to opt out of the screening programme or you will receive more "invitations". IMO, the letters will be become more "demanding" in their language as fewer and fewer women opt for breast screening. I understand new evidence appears to show that more women will be harmed by excessive treatment than saved.

OP what do you mean by forceful? Did the letters say you had to have it done?
My mother had a couple of letters inviting her for breast screening. She did her research into all available information and decided to opt out. Wrote to tell them, also said she'd let them know if she changed her mind. That was approx 6 yrs ago and she hasn't heard anything since.

Zombie's most recent breast cancer was only diagnosed because she had a mammogram. There was no lump to feel. That didn't stop it spreading to her lymph nodes and liver.

What 3LittleFrogs has said.

Nobody is being forced. You are lucky enough to be offered, and reminded if you haven't gone. If you choose not to, that's your choice.

x-ray eyes, eh? Clever stuff.

your choice, just write back and opt out. You may of course also be reducing your chances if there is a problem. But it is a free country. Great, isn't it?

The point about over-screening causing more harm than good- I asked my gynae about this ( have slightly more regular screening every 2 years as am on HRT) and his response was that if anything is picked up then everyone has a choice over what to do next- treatment or no treatment.

I understand that 'over treatment' is with DCIS when 50% of cancers may never spread. DCIS is in the milk ducts and cannot be found by self examination.

It's at that stage that a woman can choose whether to have treatment, or not and wait and see what happens.