Mammogram

lizzie157

Thank you all for your advice and opinions. I have decided to go and then at least I have something to go on in the future when I'm called again. As with everything it's just fear of the unknown I suppose. I do go for smears etc so I suppose this is not that much different really.

j.e.j.

some more info:

http://www.wddty.com/SearchResults.aspx?q=mammogram

(this is not aimed at the OP, especially, just thought it might be of interest to people reading this thread)

The wddty website claims to be 'independent information' on a huge range of medical matters, not just mammography.

scrappie_2

Hi OP,

I'm glad you have decided to go and I hope that the experience you have does not put you off going again in the future.

My mum is 'just' in the age range to be offered to attend the screening programme in our area. She had her first 'screening' mammogram earlier this year. Unfortunatly she found out she had early stage breast cancer. She could not feel a lump, nor could the Dr's who examined her. She has now had her treatment and is doing amazing.

It's a personal choice and one that is often not understood by others, but it is an 'invitation' to attend, and in my mum's case it quite possibly did save her life.

As for the radiation risk - yes, mammography uses ionising radiation and as such there is always a 'risk'. However screening programmes are run on a 'risk, benefit' principle. The benefit to you from having the test outweighs the risks associated with the test. This is the principle by which all examinations using ionising radiation are prescribed.

I really do hope that your experience is uneventfull.

floss2

lizzie157 wrote: »

Thank you all for your advice and opinions. I have decided to go and then at least I have something to go on in the future when I'm called again. As with everything it's just fear of the unknown I suppose. I do go for smears etc so I suppose this is not that much different really.

I'm glad to read that - and I'm sure all will be well but like me you will have a base line to compare against in the future.

indiepanda

I bought a new magazine today called What doctors don't tell you that had an article on mammograms and after reading it I wouldn't be inclined to go for a mammogram. (and despite the name, it's editorial panel has lots of doctors)

It commented that the Health Services Research Unit at Oxford Uni reviewed 35 years of mammography it concluded that they neither raised the detection rate of aggressive cancers nor lowered the overall mortality rate for breast cancer.

For every woman whose cancer is correctly detected by a mammogram, ten healthy women go through unnecessary worry, further tests and even treatment for up to a year before doctors realized they had been mislead by the mammogram.

Basically, any decent test has to not only be good at picking up when a disease is present, but also good at not suggesting it is present when it is not. Mammograms are really poor at the latter.

I'd suggest buying the magazine, not finished it yet but found lots of really interesting articles, not just this one.

Miss_Havisham

if you've got breast cancer you've got it, whether or not you have a mammogram. By having the test it would likely be discovered at an early-ish stage

SallyUK

I had a routine mammogram two weeks ago Wednesday. (My second time). They told me it would be two weeks for the results to be sent to me. I came home from work at lunchtime today to find a letter waiting for me saying I'd been recalled for more tests and the first available appt they had for me was Wednesday next week.

Needless to say I am so scared now and can't stop worrying about it all.

Sal
x

j.e.j.

I hope it's all ok SallyUK. Fwiw I think if it was anything very serious they'd be calling you in sooner than that.

This can be one of the disadvantages of screening, be it mammograms, smears, whatever. They can cause a hell of a lot of undue stress and worry.

Torry_Quine

lessonlearned wrote: »

I understand that Bowel Screening is now freely available for over 60's. If you are at risk then I'm sure they will do this for you even if you are younger. I also think that most GP's are pretty up to speed with advice and testing for heart disease and strokes too.

My family history for heart disease is a bit dodgy so I am monitored regularly for that.

I agree that there is no one size fits all solution but I do think screening of all kinds can be very valuable.

Here in Scotland bowel cancer screening starts at 50 for everyone.

I had my first screening mammogram this year and had one previously when I when a lump which turned out to be a cyst. Personally I can't understand why someone wouldn't take up the offer of screening but it's every individual's choice.

bacardi66

SallyUK wrote: »

I had a routine mammogram two weeks ago Wednesday. (My second time). They told me it would be two weeks for the results to be sent to me. I came home from work at lunchtime today to find a letter waiting for me saying I'd been recalled for more tests and the first available appt they had for me was Wednesday next week.

Needless to say I am so scared now and can't stop worrying about it all.

Sal
x

Please don't panic! Ive been having mammograms since I was 40 (due to family history) and have been recalled nearly every year. The first time I got recalled I was thinking the worst but it turned out to be a harmless cyst - they did ultrasound which confirmed it. The same thing has happened after nearly every mammogram and they have only ever found cysts - which apparently get even more common as you get older.

Good luck and fingers crossed it will be ok for you too xx