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Original poster

Breast screening Routine

30 replies

noddyholder · 21/04/2015 10:22

Hi has anyone been offered a mammogram (I am 50) and not had it? Reasons? I have read conflicting views on the success of this and also over diagnosing. i have a lot of other health issues and this has taken me by surprise as I am really not sure what to do

OP posts:
BlackNoSugar · 21/04/2015 10:53

Watching this with interest as I'm in two minds myself- I know mammograms have undoubtedly saved many lives, but I do regular self exams and I'm not sure whether to have one or not (I'm 46).

The news about false positives, false negatives, and the whole idea of squashing my boobs down to a ridiculous size really makes me think.

DayLillie · 21/04/2015 10:58

I have had 2 routine mammograms and one recall with multiple mammograms and ultrasound.

I am still in two minds (51)

smee · 21/04/2015 11:04

Obviously it's up to you, but seriously why wouldn't you? I've had treatment for Breast Cancer. It saved my life. I'm not exaggerating. Breast Cancer if got early enough is usually treatable and curable. If you leave it it isn't. It's as simple as that. The NHS is brilliant with Breast Cancer. I had amazing treatment and if they find something suspicious there will be biopsies, etc etc to confirm it's cancer. Please go.

Original poster
noddyholder · 21/04/2015 12:19

I understand all arguments I have had 2 transplants and am not against conventional medicine or anything just not sure tbh. Am considering paying for thermal imaging

OP posts:
malteserzz · 21/04/2015 12:42

I'm with smee, breast cancer at 41, no family history whatsoever. Wish I'd had a mammogram before the lump appeared, it was probably lurking in there for years and I didn't know. Much better to catch it early.

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 12:44

The advice of my consultant (gynae) who arranges my mammograms(privately) is that screening is good for the individual woman but across the population you can get over-diagnosis ( as with DCIS).
His advice is to have the screening then decide what to do if anything is picked up.

50% of women with DCIS do not need treatment as the cancer won't develop. No one knows who those 50% are. But at least if you know you then have a choice to have treatment or watch and wait.

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 12:46

Black many tumours are too small to be felt manually- that's why X rays are used.

It's not the screening that is the issue- it's what to do with the information that may come from it. No one can force a woman to have treatment if something is discovered.

Original poster
noddyholder · 21/04/2015 12:57

Pinkfrocks that is my concern mainly So stressful trying to decide. I have had a malignancy previously caused by my transplant meds but it is common in patients like me but I have been told it does not put me at higher risk of breast cancer. I think I have had so many health problems over the years this is the one thing I haven't had time to think about!

OP posts:
mrsrhodgilbert · 21/04/2015 13:01

I was also diagnosed with cancer last year. I went to my gp with a lump and had a mammogram within two weeks. The lump was harmless but cancer was found in a different part of my breast. I had had a screening mammogram 18 months previously which was clear and I wouldn't have had another until September this year, by which time I would have been facing a very different situation. My tumour couldn't be felt so self examination or even dr examination is not always going to find it. I have no family history.

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 13:32

noddy I can't see the downside of screening as long as women can refuse treatment afterwards. If- god forbid- I had a lump then I'd want treatment.
If I had DCIS then I'd want to see someone very good and decide what to do. I think- but am not sure of course- that regular monitoring could be the answer.

All the hoo-haa over false positives is over DCIS- where some kinds never develop.

Other types of tumours need treating.

DayLillie · 21/04/2015 13:50

Breast screening is far from perfect but is there is nothing better at the moment. Therefore it is best to go.

Ideally, you would go along and then decide what to do with the results.

However, you need to be strong. Once you get past the initial screening, it is hard to find out about what is going on from other sources and you have to rely on the people who are doing the screening. Things move fast. You can end up railroaded by the nicest, kindest of motivated people all trying to do their best to make sure you have not got cancer. One thing you will be sure of is that if there is any cancer, they will have found it.

Also, sometimes, the results are not clear cut, so you will have to go on to the next stage of tests to be sure.

I will probably go to the next screening appointment...........

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 13:58

Noddy, why wouldn't you go for thermal imaging? That's the one that doesn't involve radiation, isn't it?

Original poster
noddyholder · 21/04/2015 14:04

Yes I would go for thermal its what I am considering atm I am just so confused as I don't really know what I would do with the results if they did find something

OP posts:
didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 14:40

Afaik thermal imaging (not that I know much) avoids so much over-diagnosis and doesn't give you a dose of radiation - both issues which are much more openly discussed in other countries, and massively minimised here. I certainly avoid mammograms, but I've never properly investigated thermal imaging; if I were to have anything, I'd have the latter.

I agree with you about treatment decisions being hard to make, though, and hard to anticipate before screening.

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 17:17

I don't know how available thermal imaging is in the UK - or if it is available at all. I thought it was still in trial but could be wrong.
I have my mammograms at one of the best- if not THE best- private hospitals in London and it's never been offered and neither have I seen it on their website.

I don't know enough about the radiation but understood it was tiny now they use digital imaging, and wouldn't be surprised if we all got more radiation from the pc screen.

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 18:08

No, in other countries they take the radiation dose much more seriously.

I'd like to know where thermal imaging is available too.

SwedishEdith · 21/04/2015 18:14

Have you got more info about the radiation dose? I'm not worried (had 3 mammograms and there's a lot of BC in my family) but I'd like the information.

smee · 21/04/2015 18:15

I just googled and found this. Thought I'd post it as it might help allay fears on mammograms (or not, totally up to you, obviously!)
info on mamma rad amounts

smee · 21/04/2015 18:16

Sorry, I was so impressed with myself for working out how to put a link in, I put 'mamma' and meant 'mammo'…

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 18:35

according to This Caner Research do not recommend thermal imaging.

I don't know where if anywhere it is available in the uk- I have googled and so far found nothing.

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 18:37

I wouldn't expect them to, pinkfrocks.

pinkfrocks · 21/04/2015 18:38

explain your cynicism?

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 18:55

www.wholisticmedical.co.uk/thermal_imaging.php

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 18:59

Cancer Research has been much discussed on MN; I'm not alone in my cynicism. Basically it's all to do with money and experiments, and money that funds experimental research which builds medical people's careers. Preventive medicine will never build their careers. I'm not sure I want to go into detail, but I don't regard them as a reliable source of info. I am a dyed in the wool lentil-weaver, though.

didyouwritethe · 21/04/2015 19:02

Harley St:

www.chironclinic.com/