Mammograms

[237SJ]

Has anyone here ever had any luck in getting mammograms more frequently than 3 yearly? Just wondered how much of a fight would entail to get that.

[FrogNog]

I have them yearly. It took breast cancer to get that.

[MargoTester]

Do you know at what age do they stop giving them?

[grasscarp]

from NHS website
Sorry, the NHS Breast Screening Programme doesn't operate on a walk-in basis. It invites women in the target age group (50 to 70) for routine breast screening every three years.

If you have found something that worries you or are concerned about your breast health, don't wait for your routine screening appointment. You should contact your GP in the usual way

[237SJ]

Yes, they do that frognog. Strange how they say that yearly mammograms give you too much radiation (even though yearly is pressed as the ideal in the US) Margo - 70 years I think

[MargoTester]

Thanks grasscarp.

[FrogNog]

Why put yourself through more radiation than is necessary?
3 years is fine if you have no history of problems as far as I can see.

[MargoTester]

Thanks also 237sj

[237SJ]

My Mum has breast cancer. It`s lobular breast cancer which is much more likely to spread than ductal carcinoma. Her sister (my aunt) also has it. Their grandmother had it as well. My aunt`s one was found on her very last mammogram at age 70. It hadn`t even formed into a lump - they had to put a wire in to locate it for the radiotherapy because it wasn`t palpable. Even at that early stage, it had already gone to her lymph nodes and has in fact crossed those and is in other parts of the body. My Mum`s has also spread (and so had the grandmother's - not much is remembered except that "she had lumps under her arm") Anyway, they know about BRCA1 and 2 but there are probably other genes that haven`t been discovered yet. In my family`s case, it is obviously something that comes in when people are older. So even if I get tested, I may well not have one of the BRCA genes but am dreading getting to an age where I get it. I can`t say I`m delighted about the thought of a preventative masectomy (I would have that if BRCA was discovered) so at least a yearly mammogram would give me some hope as at the moment, I feel like a sitting duck.

[Sqad]

237..........I know that this will not reassure yo but:

The new data published in the BMJ now suggests that none of the gratifying fall in breast cancer can be attributed to screening and that the very existence of a NHSBSP should be questioned.

NHSBSP= National Health Service Breast Screening Programme.

[237SJ]

Maybe that`s because people check themselves nowadays sqad. I can think of the mothers of at least 2 of my friends who only found out they had cancer when they had a mammogram though. I don`t see how anyone can say that was a waste of time. Both times it hadn`t gone to the lymph nodes so surgery and radiotherapy was all that was needed. If they had got to the stage that they could feel the lump, maybe they wouldn`t have been so lucky.

[Sqad]

237....;-).......I just knew that you wouldn't be reassured.

\\\\Maybe that`s because people check themselves nowadays sqad.\\\

Yes, you be right.

\\\ I can think of the mothers of at least 2 of my friends who only found out they had cancer when they had a mammogram though\\\\

The prognosis would almost certainly have been the same if your two friends had found a lump in their breasts without the enlightening mammogram.

[hc4361]

A mammogram costs around £250 if you want one done privately.

[bednobs]

The NHS screening program does things in a prescribed way, and will not be varied not even for people in your position i'm afraid. can you get them done privately? i don't know

[237SJ]

No, I`m not reassured Sqad :-) Thanks for the further replies. Yes, I probably will pay for them at some point and I will definitely be pushing for them beyond the age of 70 as that seems to be the danger age in our family. They do yearly mammograms when someone has had breast cancer but I would have thought the chances of getting cancer on the other side are smaller than the chances of the original cancer spreading so really, bone scans would be of more use IMO as that is often the first place it goes. My mother got to 5 years after the original dx before she got a pelvic fracture and that was the first we knew of the spread so mammograms were no indication at all of what was happening. It`s only an observation but I`m going to put it to the Oncologist on Tuesday and see if she agrees with me. Not that anything will change but it does make more sense.

[Clanad]

Confusion reigns here in the U.S. as well SJ… seen here:

http://www.webmd.com/breast-cancer/features/new-mammogram-screening-guidelines-faq

[Sqad]

Clanad.....there is no confusion either in the UK or the U.S.

The medics realise that mammograms play little or no part in the prognosis and diagnosis of breast cancer, but the politicians refuse to act.

Can you just imagine Obama or Cameron cancelling the breast screening programs..........their and their political party's future would be confined to history following a public outcry.

[237SJ]

Hi Clanad. Interesting about the recommendation for high risk women to have MRI scans. I`d love to see the NHS agree to pay for that!

[ladyalex]

What is thought to be the cause of the fall on breast cancer, then ?
Does anyone know?
Is it perhaps the fall in deaths from breast cancer being due to better treatments now?
Or perhaps people coming forward earlier because they know that treatments are mor successful now?
Just curious....

[Sqad]

ladyalex.

Spot on.

Better treatment and earlier referrals.

[237SJ]

Earlier referrals because a lump was discovered on a mammogram? :-)