Has anyone decided not to go for a routine mammogram?

[hattie43]

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 .

It's a medical appointment. Tell your employer that you have a necessary medical exam! Don't discuss it further.

Believe me, they would rather you are checked and any issues caught early, than lose a valued member of staff to sick leave for six months or a year.

I'm so annoyed reading people describe the pain as discomfort. I had two DC without so much as gas or air (asthma) so I can tolerate pain. But the pain of a mammogram was horrendous and people merrily type ''discomfort''. Get real.

And what would be even easier ... write like everyone else does ... say you can come for an appointment, here's the number, call.

Treated like children ... not a good sign ... patronising and rude ... both words funnily enough that my friends describe the actual experience as being like. It shows an attitude to women that I don't like. There isn't even a mention of cancelling - just rearranging. Cheeky sods.

Do you think they send men their prostate exam day and time out of the blue that way?

They don’t. There is no prostate cancer screening programme because the risks outweigh the benefits.

I didn’t find it that painful, uncomfortable yes, and I had painful cysts at the time

You’re talking out of your arse

But a breast consultant won’t go straight for MRI. They’ll go mammo, and then biopsy. It doesn’t matter if it’s private - I’m a private patient with multiple lumps.

@xJoy I completely agree - it's so frustrating.

I find smears quick and painless, but I imagine for some it's absolutely horrific and I certainly wouldn't try to minimise or ignore that.
Also I don't think people understand how severe breast pain can get - which explains why I've largely been ignored by the NHS for 30+ years and just told to take paracetamol (which wouldn't even touch it!) This type of test is simply not suitable for some women, sadly.

It's a personal choice but the opportunity to spot cancer at an early stage when it can be treated is a no brainer to me. The mammogram can be painful but only for a few seconds.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer age 46 (nearly 47), so younger than screening age, after finding a lump. I had a mastectomy and reconstruction followed by chemo, full lymph nodes clearance and radiotherapy. Had screening been from age 45, I may not have needed so much treatment. I know younger breasts are more dense so it's harder to spot cancers etc
What I'm trying to say is surely it's better to find out earlier? Cancer treatment is way more invasive than a mammogram.

It’s in the leaflet they send you. It’s a long time since 1988.

Overall, for every 1 woman who has her life saved from breast cancer, about 3 women are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have become life- threatening.

Same. I’m 60, never had a dodgy smear result or recall, married for 30 years and won’t have another smear test. Risk is negligible. I’m happy to have my routine mammogram, not least because my HRT consultant insists upon it.

But it isn't like that for everyone . That's the point.

And yet many women may be having their breast removed and having radio and chemo from something that would never have progressed to a noticeable or luife threatening stage, because of their participation in a screening programme

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2022/jun/09/overdiagnosis-some-breast-cancer-treatments-may-have-been-unnecessary-study-suggests

Bit more care taken with men's private parts

I’ve had 3 mammograms and been recalled each time. I’ve had to have biopsies each time and whilst they were not painful I’ve had a very painful breast for weeks afterwards. Thankfully the biopsies have always come back negative and although I now dread the next mammogram I will have it as I know so many women who have had breast cancer.

@StandUpForYourRights assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1031049/BSP01_plain_text_A4_PDF.pdf

it’s states it here.

Quite. Thanks for posting the article - I was just looking for that.

Anyway, I am all in favour of free choice.

If you decide the risks of an unnecessary breast removal and chemo/radio are worth the benefits of detecting a possible cancer before it is detectable by other means then that is your free choice.

It's a controversial screening campaign where staff, just based on what I have heard, treat women badly and are rude. The screening itself is often described by women as painful but those women are then belittled for saying it is painful.

If I want to make an appointment for that I am perfectly capable of doing so. I don't need one making for me as if I am a child. What kind of agency is that giving me?

It never fails to astound me that "my body my choice" doesn't seem extend to mammograms and smear tests.

But you’ve never actually had one ??

Hmm. I can’t think of anyone I know who has breasts who thinks like this

Of course it does, no one forces you to go

I’ve dropped off the radar for. Other mammogram and smear. I think Covid stuffed it up and my obgyn doesn’t seem to do the reminders anymore. Usually I have a yearly checkup. I also injured my shoulder around the time of the last one and can’t raise it above my head so was unsure about positioning. Here the imaging center send the reminder but I can just call them to make the appt, I have to be my obgyn to send the order through and then book it.

i haven’t had my wellness check for 2 hears either so getting that sorted this month then will catch up with the others. I think they’re important, they might not catch all, but they catch enough to make worthwhile surely

No because I personally think the risks of overdetection leading to the whole programme of treatment for something that would never cause any issues are too high.

It isn't linked to particularly excitingly better survival rates/outcomes overall so I am happy to wait and see. If I find a lump then I will have one. Until then, no

I'm coming up to the age where I will be invited for screening and I'm considering not going.

I have very low risk lifestyle factors and no family history of breast cancer (sister, mother, aunts, grandmothers, great aunts, great grandmothers all fine). The screening sounds horrible and the over diagnosis is concerning.

I've never missed a smear (also very low risk) so I'm not against screening but my poor mum came out of every exam in tears and she's tough as old boots.

oh of course, I must be a man. Silly me. I forgot women don't mind being treated like small children.