Breast scan. No medical advice

greenbee

I'm not old enough to be invited for screening yet. Despite that I've had 4 mammograms in the last few years, plus ultrasound and a needle biopsy. Several times I've apologised to the consultant when I've had the all-clear. And he's always said to me that he'd rather I came in when there was a potential problem than didn't bother him for a couple of months and it turned out to be too late.

He did say that mammograms don't always find everything (particularly at my age). And that he doesn't always find everything. But that it is better to check. Last time I went to see him I didn't have a mammogram as my previous one had only been 6 months before. But he could see why I was concerned and reassured me that I had done the right thing coming in for a checkup - I have a high risk of breast cancer due to treatment i'm having to deal with another pre-cancerous condition.

I occasionally see posts on FB saying genetic testing is more important than screening. But not all breast cancer is genetic in origin. Some of it is due to other factors.

OP - if you are concerned then maybe talk to one of the breast cancer charities or local support groups if you can't talk to your GP or practice nurse about it.

theoretica

suki1964 wrote: »

This isn't what I'm reading.

I'm reading that 3 out of 4 given cancer treatment because they have cancer are being treated unnessecary as their particular breast cancer is not life threatening

Could you post a link to this?

I wonder if you are only looking at the unnecessary and life saved figures and not the women who die from the cancer, but may (or may not) have their life prolonged by treatment.

suki1964

oldandhappy wrote: »

how can you quote such crap figures and feel like you know what your talking about...you need to go back to the drawing board and find the real facts out about such a serious illness which affects so many people ...you really need to be more responsible for your postings.

Please don't be rude to posters

The phamplet I've been sent states 1 in 5 diagnosed with breast cancer will have non invasive cancer. Only doctors can't tell

It also quite clearly states "some women will be diagnosed and treated for breast cancer that would otherwise not been found and would not been life threatening" " this is the main risk of screening"



I guess that's why I posted. Do I think it's worth the risk?????



<<<pretty confused

suki1964

theoretica wrote: »

Could you post a link to this?

I wonder if you are only looking at the unnecessary and life saved figures and not the women who die from the cancer, but may (or may not) have their life prolonged by treatment.

This is from the public health agency phamplet sent along with the appointment details


It also goes on to say

"Screening saves about one life from breast cancer for every 200 women screened"

" about 3 in every 200 women screened every 3 years from the age of 50 to 70 are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have been found without screening and would never have become life threatening This adds up to 4000 women a year being given treatment they didn't need"


Now can you see why I'm concerned and am questioning it?


I did have a scare myself back in my 30's. I was very fortunate and saw one of the best breast cancer teams of the time. Within 48 hours of seeing my GP I was given the all clear. I have lumpy bumpy boobs . Lumps never got any bigger in 20 years. I trusted that surgeon who diagnosed by feel and ultra sound only

theoretica

suki1964 wrote: »

This is from the public health agency phamplet sent along with the appointment details


It also goes on to say

"Screening saves about one life from breast cancer for every 200 women screened"

" about 3 in every 200 women screened every 3 years from the age of 50 to 70 are diagnosed with a cancer that would never have been found without screening and would never have become life threatening This adds up to 4000 women a year being given treatment they didn't need"

I can see how you got 3 in 4 from these numbers, but people with breast cancer are not just divided into lives saved and would never have been life threatening. Most people diagnosed with breast cancer die from it, still, and that isn't in those figures anywhere. The figures I have seen would add about 10 women who are treated for breast cancer and die from it anyway - the big question for me is if their lives were improved or lengthened by the earlier treatment. I haven't seen any good information on this.

So about 3 in 14 women treated for cancer are being treated for cancers which would never have become life threatening.

ERICS_MUM

If I had any cancer, even if 'not life threatening'' I would want to get rid of it and have any treatment the doctors felt necessary. I couldn't cope with worrying if it could turn to life-threatening over time in some way. Cancer cells aren't normal, how would we know if they change, what triggers changes etc. I don't want to take that risk.

ERICS_MUM

when I turned 60 last year I was 'invited' to do a test to check for bowel problems - basically smear some pooh onto a lolly stick and post it off in a Jiffy bag to a lab.

It was a no brainer - a 2 minute job that could save my life. How lucky am I to have access to smear tests, mammograms and now this faecal occult test ? I am so grateful for this investment in my health.

PasturesNew

What age? I've never been asked/invited. Never had any test, nor heard of one at any "age"... or is that age 60-70?

I'd probably ignore it through fear ....

Pollycat

Dill wrote: »

have you ever tried 'quizzing doctors'..?

Yes.
Not only have I tried it, I got the information I needed.

Pollycat

PasturesNew wrote: »

What age? I've never been asked/invited. Never had any test, nor heard of one at any "age"... or is that age 60-70?

I'd probably ignore it through fear ....

PN
You're called for a mammogram when you reach age 50.
I think you are then called every 3 years until you are 70.

If you're over 50 (apologies if this is rude) and have't been called, I'd get in touch with your GP.

Decide not to have a mammogram after doing research - as some women posting on here appear to do - or make a concious decision to have one.
Ignoring it (or any other screening, such as cervical smear or bowel cancer screening - you are sent a kit through the post when you reach age 60) through fear is not a good choice.