I was discussing this with another BC patient and found we were both diagnosed after a routine mammogram. This set me wondering what percentage of patients are diagnosed this way - are we in the majority or do most women find a lump themselves?
Here is a chance to tell your story.
Routine mammogram for me. No lumps, bumps or strange feelings/pains. Calledback and diagnosis came as a total shock to me. It was Stage 0 Pure DCIS, which was confined to the milk ducts and had not spread. Caught as early as it could have been, for which I am grateful, but still had to have Mx / reconstrucion. However, just glad to get rid of it so not complaining. xxx
Hi Alex,
I think I have seen a thread fairly recently where this came up. But hey - it’s always worth retelling.
My first one was found by GP 20 yrs ago. Was on HRT and went for regular 6mth check up. New GP says “thought you ladies did this for yourselves!!!” hard to believe isn’t it. I told her I did and it was her turn now. When she felt around my breast she asked if I knew I had a problem. I was gobsmacked. She said it wasn’t a lump but didn’t feel right. I was scared and didn’t want to wait on the NHS so said I would pay for private mammo. So next day I went and had it done. GP then referred me to the local hospital and as they say the rest was history. When I had a lump in my other breast in 1999 I found that one myself in the shower. It was quite big and am sure it came up very very quickly. I was still under the hospital oncology so was able to get appointment very quickly.
Dawn
xx
Routine mommogram for me as well. I was not so lucky. Grade 3 cancer but it was still caught in time. I have now been through surgery, Chemo and radiotherapy. Hair is growingback really nicely.
I cannot stress enough… if you know of anyone who should go for routine mammograms, make sure they go!
Routine mammogram for me - the lump was deep and quite small so no one could find it otherwise. Grade 3, no nodes, ER/PR/HER2 all positive so it was very aggressive. WLE, chemo, rads, Herceptin, now on Aromasin. I had had a mammogram 18 months before because of breast pain, which found nothing. So I believe that I was fortunate that the routine mammogram was scheduled when it was. I was diagnosed in April 2007 and still NED thankfully.
Anne
My very first routine mammogram - four month before my 50th
Edit: Both my mums were on a routine one too
Routine mammogram for me too. Lump couldn’t be felt so had wle. They discovered 4 tumours plus dcis so mx followed by chemo, rads and now arimidex. As they were all very deep I wouldn’t have felt them for quite a while I was told.
My mum’s was found on a routine mammogram. DCIS and confined to milk ducts so it wouldn’t have been detected otherwise. She wasn’t going to go that day cos she had “other things to do” but my sister persuaded her and thank god she did. That was 15 years ago and she is still here.
I found mine myself. I’m only 48 so routines not available yet. I think they should be. It was quite an obvious lump but I wasn’t too concerned so the diagnosis came as a complete shock. Have had 4 of 6 chemos now and coping quite well.
Had mammograms for 10 years (because of family history) and first one found on number 10. Quite big and aggressive. but I never felt anything before hand. Another 7 years later my 2nd primary bc was found on routine check done early (pure chance, 8 months after last one) on other breast. Smaller but very aggressive. Again never felt anything. Thank goodness for mammograms.
Good luck to you
Maria
My tumour was discovered on my first ever mammogram. Could not feel anything but I had extensive DCIS as well so had mx. Grateful that routine mammograms are available but the shock was so overwhelming, still with me exactly one year to the week that I wnet for the mammogram. Annys xxx
Mammogram for me too. I changed doctors and was invited to go along as it was time for all their patients to go. I went, even though it was well under 2 years since my last one which was clear. Was recalled and it was grade 3, ER no node involvement. Had mx and chemo. Was on Tamoxifen for almost 2 years and am now on Arimidex. When my yearly mammograms end next year I am going to pay for an extra one in between the 3 yearly ones as I won’t feel safe unless I do. xx
I found my lump while in the shower, in fact on my first mammogram it didn’t show !!! This was done private, Luckily my Doctor sent me for a ultrasound 9 days later they did a mammogram immediately after and hey presto there it was… Both on ultrasound and mammogram, very invasive tumour grade 3 … 16 nodes infected…
I also have heard alot of people say there’s didn’t show on mammograms.
This I think is a tad scary.
If I never went back to the Doctor with this lump, i would probably not be here today! The private clinic told me go home there’s nothing there to worry about!!!
Love Teresa x
Forgot to add, I did feel a lump but as it hurt I thought it was okay.xx
This time last year my daughter aged 26 found a pea size lump at top of breast near ribby bit (thin girl small boobs!)so went to her GP who luckily was a breast specialist who rather than say ‘oh its nothing to worry about’ sent her for an ultra sound…rest is history as she was dx with 10mm grade 2 er+ Her2+ tumour no node involvement…so as my mum and gran died of it and apart from forementioned and other daughter there is a total lack of females on my side of the family I went to my GP and asked for some genetic testing to be done for the sake of the rest of the family. Was then referred to local hospitals genetics dept( took about 6 months for referral) who in their turn decided I had better be sent for immediate mammogramme aged 49 and BANG…was called back within a week and a deep unfeelable tumour had been found which eventually turned out as 19mm grade 3 er+ pr- Her2+ with 1/13 nodes…I would not have got called for a routine mamogramme until 51 so it could have been a whole lot worse by then!
So I have had a mammoplasty to remove the offending item, a ANC and am now on FEC-T regieme with rads Herceptin and tamoxifen to come.
Daughter now has hair and finished rads and on Herceptin and Tamoxifen and looks fantastic!
Under investigation as to wether we are a BRACA gene family.
in dec found a small lump which hurt and everyone said if hurts its ok! had ultrasound and needle thing and had lumpectomy mast, chemo and radio
grade 3
Had pain in breast which came and went so thought it was hormonal, then a lump appeared literally overnight. Went dr’s, immediate urgent referral, one stop appt so saw dr, had mammogram and then biopsy. Told then it was cancer, week later results of biopsy were 3cm grade 1, stage2b, ER+ HER- possible node involvement. Had WLE, ANC by chioce, good call as 7 nodes infected, 2/3rd’s through FEC chemo with 15 rads and 5 yrs tamoxifen to follow. Mum died of cancer 2 yrs ago started as womb cancer but her mum died of breast cancer. Paternal side grandmother died of breast cancer. Needless to say my 2 daughters have had a very through chat about checking and I have been told they will be able to start routine mammograms early from 40.
Mine was also a routine mammogram, I nearly didn’t go as I’d got the time wrong and thought it was at 9.50 when my appointment was actually 9.05! I just popped onto the ‘caravan’ to apologise for missing my appointment and they said lots of people had cancelled so they’d see me then. so glad they did. Mine was only Grade 1 and no nodes, so ‘lucky’ as they say LOL.
Second rads today and a bit sore, hot and pink but doing OK. Also on Tamoxifen.
Definitely recommend everyone to go for their mammograms!
Found a patch which felt a bit thicker than the rest, then found a lump. The lump turned out to be a harmless cyst, the thickened patch was a 3cm tumour. Nothing had shown on a mammogram 2 years earlier. I think there should be more emphasis on looking out for ANY unusual changes, not just “lumps”.
Sarah x
I had a definate lump, which im ashamed to say i stupidly ignored for a few months thinking it would proberly be nothing ,i was 47 so also below the screening age at the time. It seemed to grow very quickly and by the time i went to my GP, he could see it even before examing me ,i think i knew by the look on my GPs face that it was BC and i think if im honest i proberly knew it too.
I was stupid i know,needless to say i wouldnt ever ignore anything like that again.
All the best
Linda x
Hi mine found on routine mammogram. Had appt waiting on return from hols last year. Appt for 11am, 11th Nov so changed it as felt that was a bad day/time. Did not make any difference of course going to appt on 6/11. I could not feel lump and nor could Onc or surgeon.Was grade 1 thought to be 12mm and no lymph nodes. Turned out to be 2 separate areas next to each other, totalling 21mm and 4/11 nodes.Jackie