Breast scan. No medical advice

suki1964

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

Yes we did :T
The bloods dept. were brill, never felt a thing. The one time I went to the GP supposedly to save time, both arms were bruised and they mixed my samples with someone else's so the hospital had to do it again anyway!
My toenails came off when the nurse was trying to get the elastic leg tubes on me before my op, I was worried she might faint because I was in the gynae ward (only place there was a bed) and it obviously didn't happen there very often.
We could start a reality thread but it might unduly worry people - like having a male cleaner wander in during my radiotherapy, seeing me in all my one breasted grotesquely naked body :eek:

I really do think that you should start one

I started this one as I am still unsure about going for the mammogram and it's been so heartwarming to read everyone's experience I m still unsure what I will do but I thank each and everyone of you for sharing your experiences here

It's good to talk as they say

Thank you

DUKE

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

Yes we did :T
The bloods dept. were brill, never felt a thing. The one time I went to the GP supposedly to save time, both arms were bruised and they mixed my samples with someone else's so the hospital had to do it again anyway!
My toenails came off when the nurse was trying to get the elastic leg tubes on me before my op, I was worried she might faint because I was in the gynae ward (only place there was a bed) and it obviously didn't happen there very often.
We could start a reality thread but it might unduly worry people - like having a male cleaner wander in during my radiotherapy, seeing me in all my one breasted grotesquely naked body :eek:

I developed a real fear of needles, & almost ran away at one point (no pun intended) as I so feared that needle :eek::o It's not as if it even hurt me, I just became afraid of being afraid. Then there was the time I had a panic attack when I had a scan. I knew they could see me from that room, so I began kicking my legs in the air & shouting for help :rotfl: Even they were trying not to laugh at me

Yes do start a thread! I could say it's best not to know some things, but I suppose if we can put the funny side across (& there usually is one in most things), then it could be a positive comforter for some people.

DUKE

suki1964 wrote: »

I really do think that you should start one

I started this one as I am still unsure about going for the mammogram and it's been so heartwarming to read everyone's experience I m still unsure what I will do but I thank each and everyone of you for sharing your experiences here

It's good to talk as they say

Thank you

Sorry for hijacking your thread suki but we needed that chat, you know how it is.

Your choice, your body, & only you can decide what's right for you. x

suki1964

DUKE wrote: »

Sorry for hijacking your thread suki but we needed that chat, you know how it is.

Your choice, your body, & only you can decide what's right for you. x

You most certainly haven't , chat away

These things should be talked about honestly and openly, those who have been through it have so much insight into what is probably a terrorfying time. It's helpful for survivors and it's helpful for those that may be embarking on that journey

So please, don't stop

badmemory

I had my first one almost 20 years ago now. I don't think they had been doing them very long then and I definitely think they are better at them now. After my second one I was called back with a very reassuring letter. I had 3 lumps (luckily not cancer). They checked them out and even when they told me where they were I couldn't feel them, so don't trust to the self checking. The lumps I had contained fluid & the doc just drained them with a hyperdermic needle as they were just going to get bigger and bigger and could have caused a problem later. They have increased the age now so I will still be going along for my next one aged 72 and 75. The top age they are diagnosing at is going up along with general life expectancy (or so the leaflet I was given said)

elisebutt65

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

Thanks so much for sharing Duke, I identify with every part of this except the tamoxifen as mine wasn't hormonal. Re. Overdoing things, it's brought back my memory of all the skin peeling off the palms of my hands and the soles of my feet, finger nails and toenails falling off, my face so numb my cheeks felt like plastic, no taste buds and even water tasting salty ugh! I'm not so sure I could do it again either but the desire to live is what carries us through isn't it. x

OMG! I'd forgotten about the feet and hands thing. I didn't lose my nails but my feet were baby soft after chemo, cos it had all peeled off.

My 2nd worst bit was the tummy jabs after chemo, to bring up my white blood cells. I had to go on morphine for the party after the 3rd session. The very worst was having my Hickman line inserted. They promised I could have a twilight anaesthetic as local doesn't work on me very well, but it never materialised, so I basically had that tube thrust into my body with no pain relief. OH said he could hear me shrieking a few corridors away :eek:

OP,
Please really think about this. I've posted a few time on threads like this before. I was invited as part of a trial for early screening at 47. I threw the letter in the bin, then fished it out an hour later. I had 3 undetectable (by feel) tumours and was in surgery within a few months, then chemo and radiotherapy. I actually would not have been here for another 6 months had I not gone and I was fairly low risk.

Pollycat

triple_choc_chip wrote: »

We could start a reality thread but it might unduly worry people - like having a male cleaner wander in during my radiotherapy, seeing me in all my one breasted grotesquely naked body :eek:

Just to mention there is a 'cancer support' thread here:
https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5313627

bugslet

elsien wrote: »

This article is a couple of years old, but it gives the gist of the argument.
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/feb/16/should-i-have-a-mammogram

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2014/feb/16/should-i-have-a-mammogram

I have so far chosen not to go. However in all likelihood this is less to do with reasoned argument and more to do with my strong dislike for being poked and prodded and having my bits examined. I feel the same way about cervical smears. It is generally considered a small price to pay for potentially life saving tests, but it's something I struggle with.

I was called for my first one six weeks after Mr Bugs died and I didn't go, I simply couldn't handle the thought of it.

Not sure about the next one. I don't mind the smear oddly, but I've always dreaded the prospect of a mammogram, there's a lot of me and my boobs are permanantly uncomfortable. There's actually no one alive that's seen me without my bra, whereas the smear test is not fun and I put it off for a few months but get on with it.

Odd the way your mind goes!

Slinky

Suki you asked why people chose to go or not. I got called last year for the first time at 51. Like you, I read the leaflet and was concerned about the posibility of having treatment for a false positive. I was undecided for a while about whether to go.

In the end, I decided to go and have the scan. My reason was because if I hadn't had the scan, and found later that I'd got terminal cancer, I would have felt so guilty about denying my husband his wife due to my fear of the false positive. I had it for him in the end, as much as for me. Mine came back clear.

HTH

Pollycat

bugslet wrote: »

I was called for my first one six weeks after Mr Bugs died and I didn't go, I simply couldn't handle the thought of it.

Not sure about the next one. I don't mind the smear oddly, but I've always dreaded the prospect of a mammogram, there's a lot of me and my boobs are permanantly uncomfortable. There's actually no one alive that's seen me without my bra, whereas the smear test is not fun and I put it off for a few months but get on with it.

Odd the way your mind goes!

It is up to you but really the women doing the mammogram have probably seen all sorts of shapes and sizes.

I too have a large bust (but not the uncomfortableness) and haven't found it too bad.

Perhaps consider trying it once when you're next invited then make your mind up whether you can cope with the next after you know what the experience is like.