I have been referred to a one stop breast clinic by my GP this week because of persistent stabbing breast pain where my previous tumour was. I first visited a GP with a small lump 21 years ago but sad not diagnosed until 7 years later because three GPs and a breast consultant told me there was nothing wrong. I had yearly mammograms until I reached screening age this year and had a clear mammogram this Spring. I had been experiencing pain before the mammogram. I expressed my anxiety about only having three-yearly mammograms and was told (rather unpleasantly) that I absolutely could not have them more often because scans can actually cause cancer.
My original tumour didn’t show up on a mammogram, despite having spread to two lymph nodes during the seven years when there was “nothing wrong with me.”
The receptionist and radiographer at the screening clinic were both unfriendly. This hospital is new to me and I am worried that I will be refused an ultrasound because of my age and the recent clear mammogram. I do understand that mammograms are more effective as we get older, but I feel that something is wrong and I dread being fobbed off again. Yes, I understand that scans can cause cancer but I am willing to take the risk rather than have an undiagnosed recurrence. I don’t know if there is a lump, I knew I could feel one previously but was told repeatedly that there was no lump so I now don’t know what to feel for. I am dreading this appointment.