Hi everyone- I’ve been recently diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer - only picked up on a trial being done in my area (thankfully) screening ladies aged 47 plus - I had no symptoms and could feel no lump - if I hadn’t had an early scan … Don’t even want to think of what if… but my point is - I’m trying to get more mammograms readily available to women under 50 years old as standard practise. Would be greatful for any feedback or stories/experiences - Thank you xx
Hi Lise,
Mine too was locked up by routine mammo, but at 55. There are certainly others here whose bc was picked up thanks to the trial.
Like you, I had no idea, no symptoms & there was no way it would have been picked up as early as it was, if it wasn’t for screening.
Prior to this, I was a screening sceptic - ie. false positives, over treatment etc, but no longer (!) & I promote it whenever I can.
It’s so good to hear about what you’re doing & the more the message is out there, then hopefully, it will be rolled out to all, in due course.
ann x
Hi Lise ,similar happened to me I was part of early screening programme but actually diagnosed on second mammogram at 51, no symptoms no lump -I think they are going to extend it to all women 47 plus .I wonder what would have happened if I had mammogram at 50 then 53 ?? Would it have been too late or detected earlier ?
Hi Jill - yes it’s scary- I just want to try to get more people screened early … at least if it’s caught early - there’s more chance of full recovery x
Ann - my point exactly- we need more routine early screening xx
Hi lise, I was diagnosed at 46 after going to my Gp with a lump, my mum had died of breast cancer so I was very pro active in checking myself, it turns out my lump was just fat but while I was having an ultrasound at the clinic they picked up a suspect area elsewhere in my breast and did a biopsy which turned out to be an early grade 1 cancer of just 4mm , would never have shown up on the mammogram at the stage, the one they did at clinic was clear.
My area do the early screening and I was called the following year at 47 although had to ring and tell them they were a bit late as I was already in the system, apparently they don’t communicate!
I’m all for early screening but it won’t pick up everyone’s cancer, it’s a shame they don’t offer more ultrasounds. Xx Jo
Hi Jo - I agree that mammograms don’t always pick up every cancer - but only speaking from my experience I’m very greatful it did - so maybe there is a case to have ladies mammogrammed and ultrasound scans too x
My cancer was also picked up on my first routine screening mammogram. Apparently, the plan is to extend the age so you become eligible from 47 instead of 50. BUT the number of women being screened is falling and especially first time ladies aren’t turning up. This worries me as I hope they don’t think it’s not worth doing if women aren’t going for screening.
Sadly, take up is a problem, Citty as you say.
Cervical screening has the same issue. Ironically, in my 20s, cervical screening picked up a problem which needed treatment. I had even forgotten about it, until this blew up. So for me, the screening programmes have done their job, even if it doesn’t feel like it, when called back at the time!
As ever, we tend to think it won’t happen to us…until it does ?
So, let’s just get the message out there…
ann x
Hi
I was also involved in the early trial. Mammograms at 47 and 50 then one month before my 3rd mammogram i found a large lump. I took it for granted that as my mammos were clear, I didn’t examine my breasts as often as I should have. On diagnosis I was grade 2, stage 2. I was devastated and my GP couldn’t understand why the lump in its earlier stage wasn’t picked up during earlier screenings. I’m going through treatment and mammograms are scheduled each year for 5 years. Because of my experience I will insist on having ultrasound scans too.