Hi, I have been reading various posts over the past few days and thought it was time I joined myself. I am coming up 41yrs old and due to family history with BC have been referred for genetic testing and for a routine mammogram, admittedly it was me that originally went to my GP in the first place to discuss this! I am now wishing that I hadn’t gone as then I wouldn’t have to worry about it, silly I know. I had my appointment at the breast clinic 2 weeks ago and have my routine mammogram on the 24 August originally made for the 5 August but I managed to put it off! but I am so nervous about going. Its not as though I haven’t had one before so I know what to expect. I am great when it comes to other people but when it is me I get myself into such a state and shake very easily,(I think I am more worried about shaking or passing out than the mammogram itself!
I am also scared incase something shows up, I don’t appear to have any lumps or bumps or anything but I have had pain on my left arm and my left breast often feels very irritated ( I didn’t mention this at my appointment at the breast clinic) what worries me is when my mum was diagnosed 6 years ago, she didn’t have any lumps either - she just said something didn’t feel right, thankfully she insisted her Gp refer her for a mammogram where something showed up. It was caught early and she is very well now with regular checkups. The other thing that is worrying me is that for the past 2 years life has been extremely stressful as my daughter was diagnosed with an eating disorder and we have regular appointments at the hospital for her so I am also worried that if something did show up how on earth would that effect her as she is such a vunerable girl who is struggling enough.
Anyway sorry for the long post but I do feel better for getting it all out and if anyone can offer my any advice it would be most appreciated x
of course you are worried that something might show up. But if there is something to show, then ignoring it will not make it go away, it will grow and grow until you notice yourself, and then it will be a much bigger job to treat it.
Some small tumors can be operated on, given a quick blast of radiotherapy and if they have not got to the nodes then not need any more treatment except perhpas hormone tabs. Isnt it better to find them when they are small?? Especially as you have your daughter to think of. You owe it to here to look after your health. Your mum is a good example of the benefits of catching it early.
So dont let your worries stop you going on the 24th. Do you have someone who can go with you? What about your mum?
Sorry if this sounded a bit bossy, it was supposed to be encouragig and re-assuring but it came out a bit wrong.
Hope i really feel for you.
i work as a breast care nurse in genetic screening and see lots of women who are very unsure about having mammos… but the whole point of screening is to find cancer before they are big enough to feel a lump. if there is a tumour not having a mammo wont make it go away.
when cancers a re small they are very easy to treat with excellent prognosis… also if there isnt anything it will mean you are torturing yourself with worrying that there might be.
my daughter also has an eating disorder she is now 20 and the whole things is a nightmare so i feel your pain… yes she is vulnerable but she needs you to be there for her so go and get your self checked out.
does your mum have a gene change? if not or she hasnt been tested then you wont be tested as they only test an effected person in the first instance… if a gene change is found in the affected person they can than test unaffected family members to see if they carry the same gene change… most of my genetic ladies come from families taht are at an increased risk but not high risk and dont fit the criteria for testing, if your family is like this but there are at least 3 cases of breast cancer in the family mum can ask to be entered into the ‘genetics of familial breast cancer study’ which we refer to as brca 3 trial.
let us know how you get on
Lulu x
Hi, many thanks for your replies. O&L sometimes I need someone to be bossy with me I have a tendacy to bury my head in the sand! your message certainly didn’t come accross all wrong and you are encouraging, thank you. You are right and my mum is a good example and if it wasn’t for her standing up to her GP things could have turned out so differently for her. ( her GP originally told her she was being neurotic as she had just lost her sister to BC, but thankfully she refused to leave the surgery until he reffered her for a mammogram as she just knew something didn’t feel right) She went for her mammogram where a lump showed up it was grade 1 with a small spread to her nodes and she had rads and tamoxifen. how are you doing?
Lulu- thanks its so nice to have someone who understands my situ with my daughter, how is your daughter doing I hope she is ok? My daughter is 17 and its been a very painful journey at times, she also has depression and somtimes self harms but we are getting there but with a long way to go yet with regards to her recovering which is why I am so worried, I haven’t go time for anything to be wrong with me, I go to all her appointments with her which is on a weekly basis, she also has a severe medical phobia which is is having counselling for.
I don’t know if mum has gene change but she is happy to go for genetic testing if required due to our family history, we lost my grandmother and aunt to BC and my mums other sister has just finished her treatment for BC. I also have 2 cousins who were both diagnosed when they were 40. I have been asked to complete a questionaire and send back to genetics clinic, do you know what the next steps would be?
I will go along to my appointment on the 24th, I am not taking my mum as she is more of a worrier than me and I will probably feel worse! so will probably go on my own.
many thanks and I will keep you updated x
I am 46 and have been going for breast check-ups for last 15 years. Since turning 40 I have an annual mammogram, no they are not pleasant and can at times be painful. My Mum had breast cancer and a mastectomy at 42 year old and then another mastectomy at 53 followed by ovarian cancer at 54, another lump then open wound appeared under her arm at 55 and she passed away aged 56.
My sister and I had our ovaries removed a couple of years ago as it was discovered scan/blood tests were not reliable and we wanted to reduce our risk.
I went for annual mammogram on 3rd and the nurse felt a small lump, I was scanned and a biopsy done, got results today - lump ok but pre cancerous cells have been found, Lobular carcinoma in situ! Naturally I am really worried and scared, has this ticking timebomb been lit!
Hazel x
Hi Hazel,
I am really sorry to hear about your mum and it must of been so hard for you and your sister. You have helped me put things into persepective though in that it is far better to have regular check ups if there is any kind of family history. I do hope that your ok, I can certainly understand that your recent results must be such a worry for you right now, do keep me posted on how you get on. xx
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Hi Hope
i hope you will still go to your appt… not going wont stop you getting cancer but if you gdogo and there is anything there then they can deal with it so you can get on with your life… screening helps to identify small cancers or pre cancerous cells which you normally cant feel or see in your breast yourself until they are bigger which gives them more chance to go elsewhere…
so go to that appointment!.. we will all be checking up on you ;o)
im sure your daughter would rather went and got checked than left it with the possible consequences… i asked my daughter what she would do and she said she would rather know… she has been living with this since she was 13 though since i was first diagnosed… she also has a 50% chance of carrying the BRCA 2 gene mutation that i have.
the ED isnt her only problem either she suffers from depression and self harms too… they all seem to go hand in hand… she also has dyspraxia which just adds to her difficulties… it is extremely stressful having a child with these problems and its very hard work… im glad your daughter is getting help and she continues to recover… unfortunately when my daughter turned 18 the support suddenly stopped and adult services here are pretty poor in comparison… she has a psych assessment in a couple of weeks though so hopefully will make some progress there.
the criteria for testing is usually at least 4 breast cancers over 3 generations before age 60… but they do have a points system they use too so in some cases testing may still be available if your family dont quite fit this criteria… when you go to the genetic clinic they will normally make a family tree and assess the risk to you and other family members… they often will give you consent forms for you to get confirmation of the cancers from your relatives medical notes or cancer registry. if your family meet the criteria and they wish to be tested then they would need to arrange to get blood tests done… if you dont fit the criteria for testing then your family can request to be tested through research.
Hazel we arent really concerned about LCIS as it seldom turns into cancer and you will be having annual mammos anyway which is more frequent than most women with LCIS… having your ovaries out is protective against breast cancer too in families with family history it reduces the risk of breast cancer by 50%. im presuming they didnt have a blood sample from to do genetic testing on if it was at least 15 years since you started your check ups and they didnt test at that time as the genes were only just being identified.
Lxxx
Hello,
thank you for your messages, I will go for my appointment on the 24th but I am so scared, I will certainly be having a drink the night before! I don’t know why I am so scared as I have had mammograms before and a lump removed when I was 29 I am really trying to be brave and strong and I will try to be on the day, I just can’t help wondering what if? Thank you Norberte for your postitive words and yes I know your right in screening works and you are a good example, I will take advice re my daughter if I need to thank you so much for the advice, how are you getting on now? I hope you are doing ok.x
Lulu, thankyou for the info re the genetic testing, I do find it all so confusing! It must have been so hard for you being diagnosed and looking after your daughter also and I certainly know how stressful it can be, my daughter is 18 soon and I must admit I do worry re he support she will get when she is reffered onto adult services, do feel free to pm me anytmime you fancy a chat, I know how hard it can be, it must have been even harder for you, how are you now? thank you all so much for your support, this is a wonderful site with such lovely inspirational ladies and I am glad I came on here.
take care and I will keep you posted xx