Breast screening

[LadyGAgain]

Hi,
Does anyone know if you can opt (and self pay of course) for breast screening to check you are healthy/ok? I don't want to waste NHS resources but my best friend has just had a mastectomy. We are late 30's and with 2 young children I would like to ensure I catch anything early.
I called Spire today and the receptionist was unsure. I also don't want to have to share this with my GP Unless there is reason to of course as this then affects things like travel insurance and your eligibility for things like critical illness cover.
Any ideas?
Thanks

Sounds as if you are asking two different questions. I don't know what you mean about how being screened privately could affect insurance or cover? why would it?

1. can you opt out of NHS screening? Yes of course you can. Just turn down appt when they start coming when you are 50+. You won't be called until after your 50th birthday for a mammogram.

2 Yes of course you can arrange your own mammograms. Not sure why the receptionist didn't know (?) I've had private mammograms for years because as I'm on HRT my consultant suggests I have them slightly more often than NHS.

HOWEVER, you may well find some providers want a referral letter from your GP. The results have to go back to someone usually to be discussed so that means you would need to involve your GP OR see a consultant at the private clinic/ hospital.

Many private hospitals offer well women clinics what include a package of screening- where you can just book- and certainly in London you could get this. Just google.

But having said that, I'd be wary of making yourself too worried over this. I'm really sorry about your friend, but BC in younger women is very rare . If you want to be screened bear in mind you will need to keep this up every 2-3 years till you are 50 when the NHS system kicks in. There is a whole debate going on at the moment over the value of screening and whether it is worth it- if you have no risk factors is it something you really want to pursue at your age?

Not much to add what pp said, but yes you can have private breast screening at most private hospitals, I went to our local Nuffield branch.

If there was no diagnosis made then why would any insurance company need to know?

One word of caution,mammograms aren't always that reliable on younger women like yourself as the breast tissue tends to be denser so it can be difficult to get a good picture. An ultrasound would probably be better.

Thank you both - really valuable advice and knowledge. Sorry if I wasn't clear.
We are currently applying for critical illness cover as we have recently moved and getting our lives in order so to speak. If I declare I'm having screening then they won't cover me even though I've not been referred.
I hope I'm just being paranoid and a scaredy Cat but with 2 little ones I would like to try and discover anything before it becomes too serious to treat if it occurs either now or in the future.

why would voluntary screening affect critical illness cover? Do they apply the same thing to smears?

How can they do this?

If you have no symptoms but choose to have a mammo or any screening, it's not the same as if you have found a lump and then had to have a mammo.

Are you sure?

I would like to try and discover anything before it becomes too serious to treat if it occurs either now or in the future.

Well yes, so do all women! TBH I think you are being anxious over this.
You'd be better off just being vigilant and checking your breasts as advised.

One of the reasons they dont screen younger women is because the breast tissie is too dense to be accurate. They are experienting with lowering the age to 47 and i was lucky to get called. Reassuring x