Got my once every 3 years Mammogram this afternoon

[susan]

Not exactly something one looks forward to even though it has to be done.

So please think of me having my boobs squeezed between plates of glass later this afternoon.

Then the excitement and terror of waiting for the results.

Do any of you on here who are over 50 or whatever your Countrys age is for routine mammograms go for screening ?

xxxx

[gobe]

I feel for you Susan. I also hate the boobs trapped between the plates feeling. It is always quite painful for me as well so I will be thinking of you this afternoon.

In Scotland it is every two years and I have been for two so far. I would never consider missing a mammogram.

[shimmy]

Squished & squeezed boobs is uncomfortable but the wait for the results is far worse..
Good luck x

[susan]

Thanks ladies, this is my third one so at least I know what I am in for. For some reason I was sent for my first when I was only 49, whereas I have had friends not be called till they were 51 or 52. Guess it must be something to do with where your name falls in the alphabet.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

I had a mammogram done privately with an instant result at the London Breast Clinic. My breasts weren't squashed either. However I ran foul of NHS protocol because I declined an NHS appointment. I thought I was doing the right thing by telling them I had been for one - but they wanted me to have their scheduled one four months later.
I refused and requested removal from the list. I was bombarded with appointments. My husband contacted them - they ignored what he said and eventually the PCT made the practice manager telephone to demand I had a mammogram.
Neither of us were happy and my husband contacted them again and they denied any previous communication from him then backed off when he sent copies of the emails.
I know it is controversial but I'm of the Professor Michael Baum school of thought and I think regular mammograms should be targeted at high risk women.
I don't want excess radiation aimed at my breast tissue and went for my mammogram so that I have xrays of what is normal for my breasts.
Jacks

[jacksfullofaces]

Sept 14, 2012 12:19:38 GMT susan said:

Not exactly something one looks forward to even though it has to be done.

So please think of me having my boobs squeezed between plates of glass later this afternoon.

Then the excitement and terror of waiting for the results.

Do any of you on here who are over 50 or whatever your Countrys age is for routine mammograms go for screening ?

xxxx

Susan
Best of luck
Jacks xxx

[susan]

Thanks Jacks I am happy with one every three years I think although as I am now on HRT and getting older all the time I do have a nagging feeling in the back of my mind that maybe I should pay for one eighteen months after my NHS one. It's getting that balance between the peace of mind they give and being blasted with radiation too often.

Don't know if there are any guidelines on what is deemed appropriate anywhere.

I have had a couple of friends, well more like acquaintances as they were Mums at one of my kids schools both of whoms mothers had BC one of whose mothers died from it and they have annuals mammograms.

xxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Susan
I highly recommend the London Breast Clinic in Harley Street. I went in without an appointment had it done and was given instant results. The cost was £200.
Jacks

[jacksfullofaces]

No-one is compelled to have a mammogram - as with all health screenings - the offer and recommendation is there to take up or not as you wish. I know some who don't have them. Maybe it varies with different PCTs how agressively they pursue women to make appts.

I think it varies and I was very annoyed by their paternalistic attitude. Also I wasn't impressed by the glossy girly pink book embossed with flowers and sent with the appointment (money ill spent) I am also not happy with the manner in which women are encouraged to feel afraid of having breasts and are expected to be terrified of breast cancer. How often do we hear about ovarian or pancreatic cancer?

[Robyn]

In Australia there are two trains for thought. Officially the guideline is that women over 40 should have mammograms every two years up to the age of 70. You can have this done for free through a government program which is covered by Medicare (similar I suppose to NHS).

I’ve had one mammogram done through this program and I didn’t think they were very thorough. Also, a friend of mine was getting regular mammograms done through them and they didn’t pick up her breast cancer, even though she had only recently had one. She was just lucky that she noticed something herself, got treatment and survived. However, if she had waited the two years for the next one, she probably wouldn’t still be here to tell the tale.

However, if you talk to a lot of doctors here they recommend yearly mammograms for women over 50, because a lot can happen in two years (as with my friend). So I opt to have mine done privately through the breast clinic at The Wesley hospital. They are one of leading hospitals in breast cancer research. They are extremely good and very thorough. A doctor gives you the results while you wait, but then the mammogram is viewed two more times by two more doctors to make sure nothing is missed.

It does cost almost $200, but I am able to claim some of that back through my insurance. I would much rather do that, and be certain everything is okay, than have something missed. I’ve known quite a few women who've had breast cancer and in some cases they had it without even knowing it, despite doing their own examinations. So doing a self examination doesn’t always work, especially in the very early stages. For you to feel something it has to actually be large enough to be felt, or be in an area where it can be felt, but a mammogram will pick it up much earlier and will pick up things that aren't in an area that can be felt.

My attitude is if you do have something the earlier it is caught the easier it will be to treat. I know some people are concerned about radiation, but to be honest you get more radiation just going about your daily business, than you get having a mammogram done once a year. I have a friend who flately refuses to have a mammogram done because of the radiation issue, yet she has a mobile phone constantly stuck to her ear.......

Anyway, having a mammogram has never bothered me. It's slightly uncomfortable for about 3 seconds, but then it's all over, and you get free coffee and biscuits while you wait..lol....

My breasts have never been that sensitive anyway, so I don't find it painful at all. I'm actually due to have one done this month, so your post Susan will have to prompt me to phone on Monday and make an appointment.

[stumpy]

I has my first one earlier this yr Susan, one of the 'lucky' ones who fell into the new screening programme age group.

Not the most pleasant experience.

Hope it went well for you.

Stumpy xx

[jacksfullofaces]

My attitude is if you do have something the earlier it is caught the easier it will be to treat. I know some people are concerned about radiation, but to be honest you get more radiation just going about your daily business, than you get having a mammogram done once a year. I have a friend who flately refuses to have a mammogram done because of the radiation issue, yet she has a mobile phone constantly stuck to her ear.......

I don't use a mobile telephone or a lap top and stay away from microwaves and we don't own a television set. The mammogram I had was digital which involves less radiation. There are doctors who believe radiation is best avoided if possible.
Professor Baum believes that many women are agressively over treated for conditions which are benign.
Jacks

[Robyn]

The mammograms that The Wesley Hospital does are digital.

[susan]

Thanks for all you comments and good wishes everyone.

Actually it went fine I was in and out in ten minutes and that included me having forgotten to fill in the form and having to do it there.

They took he normal four plates two upright and two sidewards. She was really nice, I mentioned being on HRT and she seemed quite interested(she was of an age where I guess she might be going in) she asked me how I found it, I said good and she said that will be because it is topping your hormones up and keeping you ticking over. No negativity at all. Hurrah.

I also asked if it was worth having an extra one between the three yearly ones we are offered and she said no, just keep checking yourself and if you feel anything go straight to the GP.

Just got to wait for the results now.

xxxx

[Gelis]

Glad it went well - hope the wait for the results isn't too stressful for you.

Gxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Bella
A digital mammogram does use radiation but less then the normal ones. Also the results are ready immediately on the computer. I stood there chatting to the person carrying it out and looked at the images on the screen.Ultra sound is then offered if the mammogram shows cause for concern.
Jacks

[Robyn]

Digital mammograms are also able to pick up things that are much much smaller. The one I had done last year was digital. I've also had one ultrasound done. That was when I had my very first mammogram done, because there was something there that they just weren't sure about, so they wanted to be certain what it was. It turned out to be nothing (althought it did give me a fright for an hour or two..lol..), but they said that now that they had it on file they had a better picture of what everything was like.

[Gelis]

I've had a couple of ultrasounds (because I had cysts) and the second time they did a mammogram as well. The ultrasound was great - so good to be able to see for myself what was going on in my boobs!

[susan]

Just wanted to update the thread as you were all so kind enough to show such interest. Got my all clear via letter yesterday morning so pleased about that and will be called in again in three years time. I am supposed to do the manual test myself in between of course and must confess that a I tend to forget and b I am never sure if I am doing it right even when I do remember

Not sure what I am domg still up at 1.30 am, no wonder I have an insomnia problem I am not even trying.

Very poor from someone with Fibromyalgia who is supposed to go to bed and get up at exactly the same time every simple day - but so so boring. Makes me feel old to think I should like my life by the clock with no deviations.

xxxx

[susan]

Thank you just noticed it is 1.35am I'm getting worse, I swear I have no body clock. Must go up now, or I won't want to get up in the morning.

xxxxx

[jacksfullofaces]

Susan
Glad it was fine
Jacks xx

[susan]

Thanks Jacks.

xxxx

[susan]

Thanks Lainey I am the same really, but I know now I am older I should really be a bit more vigalent about it. I try and do it when I have a bath.

xxxx