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Original poster

Has anyone decided not to go for a routine mammogram?

586 replies

hattie43 · 09/03/2023 15:21

I'm curious to know . I have mine next week and will attend but last time was a nightmare as I was recalled and health anxiety went through the roof . Luckily no cancer . I was reading that about 30% of women don't attend Apparently mammograms don't pick up everything and aren't foolproof , but surely they are better than nothing .

OP posts:
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Nimbostratus100 · 09/03/2023 15:22

Knowing what I know, you would have to be stupid not to go

Wombats23 · 09/03/2023 15:24

Yep, SiL was called back 2 weeks ago, she's having surgery shortly as they found something. Apparently, the care is excellent. She felt perfectly well.

You're well in your rights not to go but bear in mind, costs for the state and yourself are far more if cancers are found later.

SunsetStrip · 09/03/2023 15:26

I will always go and I will make it a priority over 99% of all other scenarios.

Original poster
hattie43 · 09/03/2023 15:28

Oh yes I'm going but was just interested to see if anyone chooses not to . 30% of women not going seems a high figure .

OP posts:
Rebel2 · 09/03/2023 15:31

My mum never had one. Or a smear test. She refused to be seen undressed as she was so conscious of her body/weight and was sexually assaulted as a child by a dentist

SomePosters · 09/03/2023 15:31

So glad youve decided to go ❤️

I had to write a piece recently for an exam about the breast screening programme and I am whole heartedly grateful for it.

Im sorry you had a false positive, it’s a really stressful experience all round but the good news is a false positive is less likely each time as your breast tissue changes as you age.
The younger and former your breasts the more likely a false positive is… something of an upside for us older squishy breasted women

qpmz · 09/03/2023 15:32

Just like with smear tests, people can't skip them because they're anxious about being anxious. Or because tests can be uncomfortable. We can wrap ourselves in cotton wool and avoid them or just get on with it.

CaptainMyCaptain · 09/03/2023 15:32

Nimbostratus100 · 09/03/2023 15:22

Knowing what I know, you would have to be stupid not to go

Definitely.

Eightiesgirl · 09/03/2023 15:38

@Rebel2 I'm so sorry for your poor mum. My mum was in a very similar situation and never went for either. I also hadn't been yet because my mum told me not too and I "caught" her anxiety. However, a few weeks ago a close friend went for one and they picked up a very deep rooted cancer. It's been successfully removed but would not have been found without the mammogram. I'm now awaiting a date for mine thru the post and I'm definitely going.

Whatapickle21 · 09/03/2023 15:43

I’ve never gone for one. I’ve always had really sore breasts and the tales I’ve heard about how painful the process is have made me sure I don’t want one. My mum died of breast cancer and if that’s what’s in store for me, well so be it.

butterpuffed · 09/03/2023 15:49

Whatapickle21 · 09/03/2023 15:43

I’ve never gone for one. I’ve always had really sore breasts and the tales I’ve heard about how painful the process is have made me sure I don’t want one. My mum died of breast cancer and if that’s what’s in store for me, well so be it.

I find it hard to believe I read this . Yes , it's uncomfortable for a short while but it saved my life .

RampantIvy · 09/03/2023 15:50

Whatapickle21 · 09/03/2023 15:43

I’ve never gone for one. I’ve always had really sore breasts and the tales I’ve heard about how painful the process is have made me sure I don’t want one. My mum died of breast cancer and if that’s what’s in store for me, well so be it.

You could take painkillers if that helps.

I went to visit a friend yesterday who has just had breast surgery to remove a stage one, very small and very deep tumour that wouldn't have been found by doing a normal breast examination. This was discovered at a routine mammogram appointment.

You can bury your head in the sand and choose to take the risk, but don't kid yourself that having breast cancer is a better alternative to having a few minutes discomfort at a mammogram.

Downwithallthis · 09/03/2023 15:53

No, I've never been for one and never will. I'm looking into private thermography instead. Mammograms are too invasive and painful and that's without the slight risk the radiation causes.

It's all personal choice though.

Adrelaxzz · 09/03/2023 15:53

Whatapickle21 · 09/03/2023 15:43

I’ve never gone for one. I’ve always had really sore breasts and the tales I’ve heard about how painful the process is have made me sure I don’t want one. My mum died of breast cancer and if that’s what’s in store for me, well so be it.

Are you sure it is the brief discomfort you are scared of rather than the outcome?
I imagine it's quite frightening having seen your Mum die of something to think you might too.
I'm sure you logically know that it's far less painful to catch cancer early than later.

H34th · 09/03/2023 15:54

Is this for everybody? I've never been called for one?

RampantIvy · 09/03/2023 15:54

Mammograms are too invasive and painful

How do you know if you have never had one?

I'm glad you are looking into other options though.

Imnotachap · 09/03/2023 15:55

Whatapickle21 · 09/03/2023 15:43

I’ve never gone for one. I’ve always had really sore breasts and the tales I’ve heard about how painful the process is have made me sure I don’t want one. My mum died of breast cancer and if that’s what’s in store for me, well so be it.

I've had a load of mammograms (I've had breast cancer) and they weren't painful at all. I appreciate that if you already have breast pain, you will be nervous though. I found them odd more than anything. All the nurses who have performed them have checked that i'm okay as we go along.

IceFair · 09/03/2023 15:55

There have been threads on this before and some women don't.
Yes they might not pick up everything but not having one is worse.

I had breast cancer 4 years ago so have more reason than most to go. A good friend has just died of breast cancer.

Whatever the discomfort, whatever the stress, whatever the anxiety, none of these compare with having surgery, often multiple surgeries, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Then living the rest of your life aware that it can come back.

RampantIvy · 09/03/2023 15:56

How old are you @H34th?

Downwithallthis · 09/03/2023 15:58

@RampantIvy i suffer from such painful breasts sometimes showering makes me wince in pain. Having my breasts squashed between plates is going to be horrific. Out of the women I know who do attend the appointments, they have described being in tears with the pain. It's not for me.

Shunkleisshiny · 09/03/2023 15:58

I was diagnosed with non invasive carcinoma in situ when I was 49 I shouldn't have been sent for a mammogram until I was 50 but my GP's surgery made an appointment.
if I hadn't had the mammogram when I did it would have developed from stage 1. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction on the same day, because the cancer was non invasive no further treatment ( chemo/radiotherapy/ tamoxifen) was needed.
I had absolutely no symptoms at all, no lumps, no pain or puckering, in fact I had never been as fit.

Please, please DO NOT ignore your mammogram appointments, these are vitally important.
Don't think 'Cancer won't happen to people like me' it can and it does.
It has been 20 years since I was diagnosed, and had zero problems since.

RampantIvy · 09/03/2023 15:59

Goodness that does sound diffcult. Can anything be done about the pain @Downwithallthis, other than painkillers?

IceFair · 09/03/2023 16:00

Downwithallthis · 09/03/2023 15:53

No, I've never been for one and never will. I'm looking into private thermography instead. Mammograms are too invasive and painful and that's without the slight risk the radiation causes.

It's all personal choice though.

What will you do if you find a lump?

Mammograms are not invasive at all, entirely external. Not painful at all for vast majority and no comparison with breast cancer. They are the gold standard diagnostic tool. The mammographers know exactly what to look for. If anything shows up on there you would then have ultrasound and MRI. In fact more scans than you can count if cancer is found. When my lump was investigated the mammographer was pretty certain straight away it was cancer. I had lots of other tests to confirm what she could see in an instant.

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 09/03/2023 16:03

There are risks associated with over-treatment and the balance of risks and benefits is very fine. It’s all there in the leaflet they send to you.

For me, with my family history, and the risks associated with unnecessary surgery and especially radiotherapy, I have made the informed decision not to attend.

Downwithallthis · 09/03/2023 16:04

@RampantIvy nope, it's always been dismissed as one of those things. I try not to rely on painkillers if I can help it. That said, I'm not ignoring the risk and I do regularly self check and will be booking thermography - it's not perfect but it is a good alternative and was suggested to me by a doctor.