Sunflower16,
My daughter just 12 now. I was told at DX that because I was pre 50 my daughter should start screening 5 years before my start age, ie 39/40years. Seems a bit abitary to me… wonder whaat the thinking is on this.
You are so right re screening from much earlier… 7 girls in my gang from being at uni together. Lived in each others pockets, God parents to each others kids etc etc. 3 of us diagnosed within 3.5 years… 2 breast and 1 bowel cancer, 41 to 45 years. Only me left now… c**p! We miss them dreadfully…
Blessing
The early screening criteria is that if one first degree relative was diagnosed under 40 then daughters and sisters would be able to have early screening from 40 in some areas it’s 35 or very occasionally from 30… Normally 5 years younger than the affected person but they do not do screening mammos under 30. If you have two affected with bc under 60 or 3 or more at any age or ovarian at any age who are blood relations of each other then again screening would be offered at 40. But it’s up to the individual to ask for a referral it’s not an automatic thing.
If just one individual is affected by breast cancer over 40 then not a significant increased risk…, however screening in England has already come down to 47 and over the next 20 years or so it might come down some more by the time your daughters are in their 30s and 40s.
Lulu xx
Hi all,
Had a mammagram about 3 years ago showed i had calcification with a large blob, blood discharge ozing from nipple, i saw my own xray, yes i was worried mention to the doc told me not to worry about it, nothing more was done.
trying on new clothes month ago notice stain there it was blood tried to pluck up courage to go to doc, where she examined me asked me was i aware that i had a large mass lump on side of my breast.
I examined my breast the way we are told many times did not feel any lump it was only felt by using a walking finger examination as it is deep in breast tissue now i have lumpectomy arranged for 13oct.
I ask myself was this what was seen the first time as i feel it has spread hopefully i am wrong, i have so many lumps finally a biopsy is going to be done tomorrow on muscle on my back doc said because of
outcome of suspicious cells in breast.when you are wrong side of 60 a wait and see attitude is coming into force.
thinking of you all Pat
Hi Pat, sorry i missed your post. I hope your op went well xxx
do any newer forum members fancy adding to the thread? Feel free to do so.
Vickie
x
I had implants and felt a small lump above my nipple, didn’t think anything of it but it grew and felt quite hot so went to my gp, she said didn’t think anything to worry about but referred me just in case.
No other symptoms apart from lump, however any twinge, ache pain etc now I think the worst!
Thank god she did refer me 
Xx
Found on routine mammogram when I was 63. No symptons at all and not able to be felt by anyone- even all the experts. Spread to 5 nodes found. WLE chemo and rads.
i found my lump in the bath 10th October 2011, called my boyfriend up to see if he could also feel it. he couldn’t.
i called my gp surgery the next day and they offered me an appointment for the following week and i accepted the appointment thinking it wasn’t a big worry. then sat it in work it was all i could think of so i rang back and asked what they class as an emergency appointment, when i explained the receptionist booked me in that afternoon 11th October 2011. my gp couldn’t find my lump. he sent me off for a blood tests as i was complaining something wasn’t right with me. once he’d examined me and assumed me it was nothing to worry about i relaxed. i had had some pain in that breast over the last month or so but put it down to that ‘time of the month’.
i had my blood test on 14th October 2011 and on 21st October 2011 my gp called me with the results he was more than pleased with all blood test results and i was happy to leave it at that as i’d forgotten all about my lump but he insisted he wanted to see me again and that i book in to see him to discuss everything in more detail but he was off on leave and i was busy so it was 1st November 2011 before i saw him again. he then asked me how i felt about my breast and the lump. i told him i was fine now he’d reassured me and i wasn’t worried, i’d had no pain since but i was convinced the lump was still there, i could still feel it. he examined me but again he couldn’t find anything so told me he would refer me into the breast clinic to assure me there was nothing sinister going on. i almost told him not to bother but something inside me thought i should go just incase.
i work at the hospital in the appointments centre so knew i’d be seen within 2 weeks as that is our policy for any breast referral. he told me he was referring me for me and that he didn’t wasn’t worried atall. his referral letter confirmed that.
so then i booked myself in to see one of our breast consultants on 11th November 2011 who examined me and found the lump straight away (what a relief, i was starting to think it was all in my head), she assured me she wasn’t worried and wanted me to go for an ultrasound just to be sure. ultrasound confirmed the lump, again the lady said it didn’t look suspicious but they would do a biopsy just to make sure. in came the consultant radiologist who did an ultrasound guided cope biopsy there and then. he had a look and also told me he would be very shocked should he see me back in clinic with bad news. then i went back up to see the breast consultant with the ultrasound and she told me once again she was not worried atall but would see me with the results in 2-3 weeks.
i received a copy letter of what she had sent to my gp in which she said she wasn’t worried and i would most likely be discharged from clinic at my next appointment after recieveing my results.
i’d booked my results appointment for 3 weeks time on 2nd December 2011 but wasn’t happy to wait 3 weeks as by this stage my lump was starting to bother me. i sleep on that side (my lump was in the left breast on side, tucked away) and it was getting uncomfortable, i don’t know if it was just in my head or not but it was irritating me more and more and i was very aware of it’s presence.
as i work at the appointment centre i was on a mission checking all the time for cancellations on the clinic the week before. luckily for me 2 slots became free and i booked myself into one. i called the BCN’s before i changed it to ensure my results would be back in time as the appointment would be a waste if not. the lady told me to go ahead as they were expecting my results back anytime. so i’d rebooked in for 25th November 2011 just 20 mins before i was due to finish work. earlier that day one of the BCN’s called the office to speak to me, i knew what this meant - BAD NEWS. she wanted me to come to clinic earlier that day although i kinda put this off as my Mum (coming from Manchester) and my boyfriend were coming to the appointment with me and it was a bit short notice for them. i considered going alone but i knew i wouldn’t be able to take it all in so told her i would attend at my original time later that day.
everyone in work tried to convince me she knew i was staff and didn’t want me sat in work worrying all day but i just KNEW. i don’t know how i got through that afternoon at work! what the consultant had described my lump as to the gp in that copy letter was something that moved, my lump never moved. not once. you know when you just KNOW and that call from the BCN confirmed it in my mind.
i had a bit of a wait to see the Consultant and that was also another sign, they like to see the bad news patients towards the end of clinic so they have more time with you and they took me straight in to see the consultant, whereas before they tried to make me see the registrar. the way she was going round the houses and how the room was full of people it was just so blatently obvious looking back what she was going to tell me but it never registered at the time. even though i was expecting it it was still so surreal. maybe i’d gone into denial or just blanked out what happened earlier in the day. she then sent me up for an ultrasound and mammogram to confirm it was just the one lump and that my other breast was clear. thankfully it was.
she asked me how would i feel if she was to book me in for the op on the 30th November 2011 - just 5 days later. as cool as a cumcumber i got my diary out to see what i had planned for that date - you know like it wasn’t such a big thing. don’t think i’d quite realised what she was saying to me. i then told her i wouldn’t be able to do that date as that was the day of the strikes and we had been told we couldn’t have that day off, we couldn’t book it, we couldn’t ring in sick - we HAD to be in work. it just wasn’t real. i’ve no idea how my boyfriend managed to drive us home in one piece, he couldn’t see for the constant stream of tears.
telling my friends was the hardest thing i’ve ever done. my best friend was away on holiday, due back the following evening and had just got engaged to her boyfriend and he aunty had not long since passed of the same thing, she was really stuggling so i absolutly dreaded teling her. i didn’t want to ruin her happy news but i had to make sure she heard it from me and noone else. of course i waited until she was back on home soil but i felt so awful.
My mother and boyfriend were inconsolable as they were also convinced it would be nothing. i will never ever forget that appointment
so far i’ve had my WLE & SNB on 30th November 2011 - saw my BCN on 9th Decemeber 2011 with results of op - grade 3, triple negatice, 18mm tumour successfully removed, margins and nodes clear & no signs of spread thanksfully.
saw Oncologist on 15th December who confirmed i would need chemo aswell as radio, couldn’t believe it. i think she said it was because of my age and the grade 3.
currently waiting to start chemo on 10th Jan 2012, 6 cycles of TAC minus the C for 18 weeks then will start 3 weeks of Rads once all the chemo is done and dusted.
xxxxxx
sorry to go on.
I sat on the edge of my bed on sunday 6/11/11 and got dressed, ready to go church, looked down on me and suddenly noticed one of my nipples looked flat and pulled in a bit. I wondered and touched my breast and felt, it just didn’t look different it also felt very different. I couldn’t feel a lump but the whole breast felt hard and solid. I remember going to the bathroom to brush my teeth and starting to shake and thinking what on earth is going on!! After church I went into google “hardening of breast” and up came breast cancer. Next morning I phoned GP and got an app within 45 minutes. She also said she couldn’t feel a lump (neither breast nor armpit) and described it as a fullness and said because it’s onesided and nipple has changed I need a mammogramm and a biopsy, but also not to worry. That day I could hardly concentrate at work and in the evening i was on hubby’s lap crying saying I’m so scared. A lady on a forum (nothing health related) wrote she had fluid filled cysts and it felt like that. This calmed me down considerably. Anyway kept phoning the breast clinic to see if my referral from the GP has come through and to see when my app is. One whole week later they had app for me for 2.5 weeks later (1/12/11), I didn’t want to wait that long and got myself a private app within two days. As the surgeon examined me I asked him what he thought and he said, he is afraid but he thinks it’s cancer. I just was so shocked. Had a mammogramm and ultrasound and four days later 5 core biopsies and two days later a talk with the surgeon again re results. Chemo was nine days later than. The affected area is 5 x 7.5 cm big, no lump was felt as the tumour is scattered they say, it’s in my nodes as well. Had a CT scan which was clear except a 5mm lesion in one of my vertebras and because of that I had a bone scan which was not conclusive. Onc says it’s “probably not a met” but can’t 100% rule it out.
Love from Christine xx
Routine mammogram when I got to 50.
I had absolutely no idea, couldn’t feel lump, nor could the doctor.
To think I almost didn’t go for the mammogram because of the publicity at the time about whether they are worthwhile.
Hiya all,
I was driving home from work after a parent’s evening on 10/11/11 and had been suffering from a sore back/shoulder for a week or so. I rubbed across the top of my breast on the way to the shoulder and found my lump - was shocked - had self-examined a couple of moths before and it hadn’t been there. Made appt with doc for nrxt evening. He assured me that it was nothing (mainly because 37, never smoked, don’t drink, breast fed both children for 13 months, no fanily history, no weight issues so very low risk!!!) but said he would send me for mammogram just to put my mind at rest. He tried to dissuade me from using my private medical insurance and said i would get an appt for mammogram in about 4-6 weeks but I decided to go private. Had app on 25 nov, consultant immediately suspicious of lump - had mammogram, US and biopsy all within less than an hour!! results back on 30 nov - strike day!! Told BC but no evidence in node - WLE and SN removed on 9th dec - results back 15th dec - stage 1 and grade 3 so now starting chemo on lucky fri 13th jan then radio!!
Thank god for my sore shoulder - completely unrelated BTW!!
Marina
I had a scary soft lump appear on the left side of my neck in March 2010 which was painful, but disappeared within a day or two. This soft lump then reappeared in June 2010 but was not painful, and as I work in a hospital , one of the doctors looked at it and pressed my shoulder and he described it as a ’ thickening’ and said i need a scan.
The scan was all normal and the sonographer almost accused me of wasting his time because he couldnt even see a lump (even tho I still could!) and he said it was probably a muscular problem.
So I was relieved and began to live my life again! (age 38)
In July 2010, I changed from several years on the combined contraceptive pill , to a progesterone only pill.
I started to feel very fatigued and achy in my joints within weeks, My energy levels fell and my skin was spotty and blotchy.
In October 2010 I found a lump in my left breast, my wrist just happened to graze over it and i could feel it hard without having to press down.
I saw my lovely GP and was referred to the hospital, and was diagnosed on 23/11/10 following a scan/mammo/core biopsy.
My surgeon and oncologist both say that the neck lump and breast lump are unrelated.
Ive heard somewhere that breast cancer can reveal itself after a period of stress, and i was certainly stressed in june 2010 whilst waiting for my neck to be scanned, and i had my first ever panic attack during this time.
Early October I noticed a yellow staining in my bra. Thought “that’s odd”, chucked bra in wash and carried on. A week later notice discharge again - clear yellow fluid, which seemed to ooze a bit after a shower, ( felt like a let down reflex.) Got to Oct half term, felt a bit fluey, and had a sore breast - felt just like a blocked duct when breast feeding. Did a quick breast check and found a hard, inflammed area - though perhaps I had an infection due to being hit by Tennis ball / a hard 8 year old’s head ! Waited till end of half term and went to GP who looked at breasts, touched hard area lightly, ummed and aahed, and gave me antibiotics and appointment 10 days later for review. 10 days later slight discharge but feeling better, breast less hard. Further 2 weeks of double strength antibiotics prescribed. 10 days into this lying in bed on Sunday morning thought I would check how things were, ( had been checking upright in shower,) and found a hard lump which felt like a marble in my breast near nipple. Thought this won’t go with a couple more days antibiotics. On final day went to see different GP in the practice, ( original one off sick,) who referred me straight to breast clinic. Appointment 10 days later (9th Dec)- mammogram and ultrasound, told that they were 90% sure it was a cancer.So they did a biopsy. Back a week later for results - area of DCIS behind nipple plus a tumour estimated at 16mm. But even just before surgery it was almost impossible to feel the tumour unless I lay flat and put my arm above my head. Upright it just disappeared into the breast tissue. Had minor breast discomfort pretty much all the time after 1st visit to GP, and breasts felt fuller as well, ( almost like early pregnancy.)
Hi everyone,
There seem to be a lot of new ladies on the forum now. I used to post daily (who am I kidding? More like hourly…!) but things thankfully move on. However, it would be really interesting to read more about how younger ladies, before the age of routine screening mammograms , found their lumps and how their medical professionals responded. Are younger women out there proactively checking themselves or are we mainly finding our lumps and symptoms by chance? Are the medical professionals taking us seriously or fobbing us off? Please add your experience to the thread and, if you haven’t read this thread before and have a few minutes spare, have a read as there are some really interesting stories that people have shared previously.
Thanks in advance,
Vickie
And last but not least, THANKYOU to everybody who has already added their account to the thread.
Hi,
I was in bed with flu and just put my hand on my chest and there it was.It was just before christmas so left it for a month. Had 2 periods and it was still there. Went to the GP about something else and said nothing!! I thought I was imagining things. I had to go back in 2 weeks , and thats when I said “by the way” I have a lump. I was referred under the 2 week rule, was seen 1 week later, end of the day on a Monday. The scanner had gone home! but did have a biopsy. I was diagnosed on Feb 14th, with Lobular BC I was 46yrs old.
Went on to have Lobectomy, then mastectomy and reconstruction, then a prothesis. 3 operations.
Good old flu!!!
I knew when I went to the doctors, so no suprise, but when the reality hit, it hit hard.
Interesting thread,
Lots of good reasons to be breast aware
I am 52yrs had routine mammogram 2yrs ago which was clear, felt sore under armpit thought i had caught myself when shaving but then realised breast felt strange, had a feel in shower and found thickened area the rest is history. Grade 2 invasive ductal cancer (2cm) + 3 lymph nodes now 2 weeks post mx + anc i have no idea how long it has been there and have wondered did routine mammogram miss it.
Totally by chance and thanks to my GP to whom I will always be grateful. He had no obvious reason to refer me but decided to play safe. Oh, and thanks to the node in my opposite armpit.
Early November 2010 I had a cyst/infected follicle in my left armpit that was a bit sore and rubbing on work shirt seam. This went on for a several days so thought I would maybe need some antibiotics. Normally I wouldn’t have bothered to take time out from work but as I knew I was being made redundant in a couple of weeks time went ahead and made an appointment. During consultation GP asked if I did checks which I did. Not religiously as I had Mirena coil and so no periods (had that fitted as a last resort before hysterectomy became only option). Told him that no lumps but got a dip by my nipple in my right breast when I raised my shoulder…yes, sounds odd but nothing visible normally just seemed to cave in on certain movement. GP said to come back following week to see how node was and he would have a nurse present to do an exam.
Almost cancelled as node had cleared up but forgot so went ahead with the appointment. GP could not feel anything but decided that it was better to be safe than sorry even though he was convinced there was nothing to worry about.
Appointment came through for mammogram on Friday 10th December and I went along on my own, convinced it would be fine and not wanting hubby to mess up his work days. Mammo, followed by US followed by FNA and I knew something was wrong.
Had my 49th birthday on the Sunday with results on 15th!
Diagnosed with Grade 2 18mm Invasive Lobular and Ductal, plus a bit of DCIS. ER+ 8/8 & PR+ 7/8, HER2 Neg. SNB 6th Jan 2011 with clear results so followed by Mx plus free flap DIEP on 27th Jan. Pre-op evaluation was that no additional treatment likley as mixed cancer tends to behave more like Ductal. Post op biopsy showed ILC was the dominent so borderline chemo and therefore my choice. I opted for the chemo and had 4*Epi and 4*CMF (12 doses in total). Now on Tamoxifen as borderline menopausal with expectation to move to Arimidex in a couple of years.
During my ops I received an invite for a screening mammo as my area is gradually reducing the age and I had just turned 49 by then.
My 50th birthday in December 2011 was quiet but lovely, spent with hubby and son and then folloiwng weekend a meal when our daughter came home from Uni for Christmas.
Sx
Hi,
I found my lump just by chance, it was a Fri night March 2011 & i’d gone to bed early I snuggled down & something made me check my left breast i’d had no pain or anything, something just made me check(sounds wierd now) & there it was the lump my heart sank,I checked the otherside but that felt normal. I got my hubby to check n he agreed but said not to worry just go see my GP.All weekend I couldnt stop worrying, I kept checking to see if it was still there (it was).Went to my GP & she didnt seem worried she said it felt like inflammitry tissue but she would refer me, she had to check the age they would do mams she thought it was only from 35 (as I was only 32)but thankfully it was 30 so off she sent me.My grandma had BC but was in her 60s.
I had mams, a scan, A FNA & then she hit me with it, we have to wait for results but im pretty sure you have BC, oh my god I just couldnt take the words in luckily I took my great friend with me.Once the doc had finished with me the BCN took me into a side room & that was when I fell to pieces all I could think about was my 2 little girls & that I was going to die!!
That was the darkest time of my life the ist time I had ever had to think about my own mortality.
Thankfully I had a mx & my lymph glands came back clear so I had chemo which finished Dec & Herceptin & started Tamoxifen Jan this year & i’m waiting to have me reconstruction sx 16th March.
I often think what if i’d not found the lump & tell myself how lucky i am.I defo think they need to bring the age down for routine mams because its happening to so many young women
xx
Hi and apologies in advance if I’ve already posted on this thread, don’t think I have tho must be the chemo foggy brain.
3 months after my 43rd birthday in Feb 2011 and I’d just embarked on a new art project painting the night sky including nebulae also was drawing and painting Glastonbury Torr in silhouette (please stay with me on this will explain later) so whilst working on my computer I realized I kept itching my right breast it became constant just would not stop, so chatted with my best friend and she said I should got to GP to get it checked out, saw GP who said she thought it was a cyst as it was moving, she referred me to the breast clinic but I had to wait 2 weeks for the appointment during that time she gave me some penicillin to treat the cyst, 2 weeks later the itching has stopped but now my boob looks very very poorly inverted nipple, lymph glands swollen, and breast larger and more solid looking ( I only had very small boobs) glulp!
Went to the breast clinic where the Dr examined me then had a mammo, followed by biopsy followed by the worst news possible I had breast cancer I could see it on the ultrasound screen I asked the Dr who performed the biopsy “is that a cyst” she said no and showed me the now shrunken cyst that had sat on top of my 6cm lump masking and hiding it, sneaky sneaky cancer, could not stop crying and thinking I was going to die, they sent me for CT and bone scans good news the bone scans came back clear bad news the CT scan showed multiple mets to both of my lungs wallop!! On hearing this new news I was not as upset as finding out first of all maybe I had gotten used to it, it did just keep going bad news after bad news, started chemo by the end of March had surgery mx and lymph node clearance in September and finished 3 weeks of rads at the end of Jan this year all in its been a full on nightmare and very very quick.
Going back to the painting project I started to perceive that I had been shown signs that I had subconsciously been trying to warn or tell myself something was wrong the painting on my easel was of a nebulae but now looked like a massive lump so I cut out the canvas and burnt it on the fire (this was very therapeutic) also Glastonbury Torr viewed in silhouette format looks just like a breast, I was gob smacked at this revelation and feel my spiritual beliefs have helped me through this, the cancer in my breast is long gone but her children are playing on my lungs and I want them gone, they are now tiny and stable as of Oct last years ct scan, I am so grateful for that here’s hoping they will disappear with Herceptin/Tamoxifen which I am told I will be on forever. I have completely changed my diet and lifestyle and will do anything I can to fight this.
So if you have an unusual itch DO get it checked out, and take heed to your subconscious be vigilant for signs and trust your instincts.
Sending you all big hugs
love and light
sarahlousie xx
I found my lump on holiday in the South of France. We had only been there five days but decided to return straight away. Those two days of driving through France were the longest days of my life. Referred to breast clinic and seen 6 days later. Result grade 3, 1.5cm cancer.
Estroegen positive. Unfortunately no clear margins from two lumpectomies (and a bit more cancer found in 2nd) so ended up having a mastectomy. Borderline for chemo, but decided to go for it, last one (6 FEC) next Tuesday, following with rads and hormone treatment. So glad we decided to return straight away. I’d actually been called back two years earlier after my first mammogram and had gone through biopsies of the calcification in exacty the same place which hospital said were completely harmless and told me not to worry and that they didn’t need to see me until my next mammogram in 3 years. Hmmmmm.