Mammogram under 50 advice

[jhmlwos]

Hello
looking for some Scotland specific advice here.

I am very large chested. Now 43. Periods all over the place. Lots of skin changes, moles, or skin tags.

I asked my very difficult mother last week, about peri menopause and she reminded me she didn’t have such a thing as she had breast cancer at my age. As did my grandmother, maternal.

does anyone have any experience of asking for a mammogram based on family history? before 50.

I do have a review next week for anxiety. Which is PURELY based on children. I really don’t care about me. But it seems like a sensible step?

I went for a review with a cancer care nurse due purely to my family history and following on from that I will be sent for yearly mammograms starting ages 40 ( I was classed as moderate risk). I am based on Ireland though so it might be different here. Good luck x

Talk to your GP about your family history of breast cancer. If they consider it potentially meets the criteria for earlier (i.e. under age 50) screening, they’ll possibly get you to fill in a family history questionnaire and then send this to be reviewed by a genetics team and they may decide to start screening earlier. Usually factors they look at are things like what age your mother (or a sister) was diagnosed with breast cancer (usually needs to be under 40 to be considered higher risk) and was it bilateral, and/or is there also a history of ovarian cancer etc.

Not sure where in Scotland you are but this is quite useful information:

https://services.nhslothian.scot/geneticservice/family-history-of-breast-and-or-ovarian-cancer/

Absolutely speak to your GP about this, they’ll likely refer you to a genetics specialist for further investigation and what the recommendations are wrt testing / screening.

Thank you both. So essentially it is worth asking.

i have a concern I will be dismissed as I do suffer from anxiety, but it’s never about me. It’s always the kids. It just occurred to me when my mother said about my age and her being double mastectomy and hysterectomy at that age.

This was mum, and gran. Thank you. 🙏

Go in armed with the facts about your Mum’s history (so her age when diagnosed with what exactly, when, and treatment received), same for your grandmother and/or any other close relatives. The GP will base any decision on these facts rather than whether you have anxiety, moles/skin changes or big boobs (none of which are relevant to your risk level).

If you’ve got to 43 without it even crossing your mind that you might be high risk, you probably aren’t. So try not to worry!!

I’ve been having annual mammograms (in England) since my 30s due to my family history but at 55 I’m still cancer free (whereas my DM was dead at 51 and was first diagnosed well before 40).

The other option if you’re worrying and your GP doesn’t think you’re at risk is to pay to have a mammogram privately if you think that will put your mind at ease.

@HundredMilesAnHourthank you. Yes I know those facts were silly. Was more just me trying to give detail. Other than the skin changes. More the big boobs comment as in I often have pain, hard to tell why.

that’s a good plan. Gran has died, and mother is very difficult, but the GP is usually very good.

It was a different one I saw January re review and u mentioned a pain under right armpit and she just increased anxiety medication.

I just feel that overrides anything else. If that makes sense.

@jhmlwos Hope it didn’t sound like I was being unsympathetic. What I was trying to say was not to cloud the issue with other things when you talk to your GP. Know what you want and give them the facts clearly. I think most GPs are so stressed and overworked these days that you don’t always get the most switched-on response or they hear other things (like anxiety) and focus on them rather than what you were actually trying to explain. So spell it out clearly for them as it will make their life easier too.

I have just been referred for yearly mammograms without any family history but because I have fibrocystic breasts which are impossible to check regularly.

@jhmlwos Once you’ve had the family history conversation, I also suggest you book another appt with your GP (if they have sufficient knowledge) to discuss perimenopause as it’s entirely possible that’s behind your skin changes, anxiety and breast/armpit pain (could actually be breast tissue pain as some woman do have breast tissue that extends into their armpits - I do, in my left armpit only for some reason). You might want to start thinking about HRT at some point.

Small update

saw GP. They noted symptoms and carried out an examination, referred to two week wait due to thickening on right side and history.

hope everything is ok! i had to have checks done just before christmas because of lump and everything was v efficient, although did take nearly 2 hours to do initial check, mammogram, ultrasound, discussion and then biopsy.