Mammograms for Women under 40!

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My Mother has breast cancer and has nagged me silly for ages to have a mammogram at my tender years of 38.

In the UK, obviously we aren’t eligible for NHS screening until we are 50 and when I did some research for private clinics, it would have cost hundreds of pounds to get a m’gram.
However my Mum lives in Cyprus and called her local clinic, who for the princely sum of £50 Cyp ( around £62.) I could have a mammogram and an ultrasound scan and have all the results back within half an hour!

I really didn’t want to do, but did it for her and I’m really glad I did as the doctor was explaining to me that from the age of around 35, our bodies start to change as fertility slows etc.
I have two benign cysts, which I wouldn’t have known about for 12 years in this country and to be frank it may have been too late by then!

Nothing to worry about, but every couple of years when visiting my Mum, I shall have my mammogram and scan and now have a base line to compare.

I know the stats say it’s not worthwhile to scan every woman from 40 - 50, ( read cost effective), but why can’t we have the option in the UK to pay for a scan at a reasonable price.

I would really recommend it and I’d much rather know my situation early, as I have two high risk factors, close relatives with cancer and have no kids myself.

I’d be really interested to know if anyone under 40 has done the same as I, but in the UK and if there are any reasonably priced clinics to go to if you feel you are at risk and want to be pro-active?

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I had my first mamogram at 33 because I had a lump and it first registered as a 3 then second time as a 4 (mamograms are graded from 1-5 for breast cancer) so even though I was years off the menopause it did it’s job and showed up the cancer. Perhaps they don’t work well for early cancer/DCIS for younger women I don’t know? Saying that at 37 this year a mamo also picked up my DCIS. Because of this I have been very worried for my younger sister but they won’t offer her any screening and I don’t know if she has looked into any private clinics. I too would be interested if there is any info on private screening because only from my own personal experience mamograms can detect cancer in premenopausal women. I think MRI and ultrasound may be even more useful but don’t know enough about these types of screening.

Any more info appreciated!!

Sarah x x x

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My MP tried to get the age limit down to 40 in the House of Commons last year but was defeated primarily, I think, on the cost issue which isn’t right.

The main cause they give to reluctance in screening younger women (unless there is a family history and you are deemed to be high risk) is because they say that our breast tissue is quite dense when we’re younger and it’s harder to detect. I do agree with you though that if you are willing to pay then you should be able to have a mammogram.

I’m not sure whether ‘Well Women’ clinics offer anything? This isn’t an area that I’ve looked into.

I was 40 when I was diagnosed and continue to have yearly mammograms as I have a ‘family history’ card which means I just ring them up each year and book an appointment.

Sarah - are you the first person in your family to have breast cancer? I think if there’s already a family link they will investigate but seem not to if you are the first person in your family even though you are relatively young.

Pinkdove

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HI All
My mum had breast cancer at 39, after having my second child at 29 the nurse doing my post natal check up said i should be having mammograms now due to family history and the normally started them 10 years prior to the date of dx of family member. I was referred to the breast clinic and genetic clinic and asssesed as medium risk and had mammograms two yearly until 35 then yearly. I was dx in May at 37 but found the lump myself which was actually an infected node the one in my breast i had not felt until the doctor pointed it out. They did a mammogram but it was very hard to see due to young dence tissue, but because they had previous mammograms they could see the change and im sure it would have been picked up in June at my annual screening.
My sister is also screened and has had 2 benign lumps and mum still well at 65 and im still undergoing treatment.
I think it does depend on age of family member at DX

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I dont know whether i read it but isnt there a concern that mammograms can increase our chances of getting BC?

I am still convinced having had mammograms from age 38 because of a breast discharge which was actually on non cancer side this increased if not caused my BC. I know i am probably wrong but i cant help wondering.

Also lobular cancer is not easily picked up on mammograms. I had a mishapen breast and they had to do 3 mammograms from different angles excruciating and very distressing it was.

I really feel we should be given MRI scans but my surgeon said unless something is seen on my mammogram we are not entitled to them. Awaiting 2 yrly mammogram results now and my breast has been sore since i had it, maybe psychological.

Rx

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I just wanted to add that i know ususlly mammograms are not great at detecting things in “younger women” but when i went last july for my yearly mammo (was high risk anyway due to family history) the mammo picked it up straight away and apparently it was only a small tumour!! Mri scans are expensive but to me that is no excuse - this is peoples lives we are talking about!!!

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As Rachie says, I have also been told that my daughters should have mammograms from the age of 34 as I was dx at 44.

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Hi forum members

I wanted to clarify a few points in relation to the discussion in this thread.

In the UK mammograms are offered to all women over the age of 50 as part of the NHS national breast screening programme, there are many reasons for this including the possible life time risk of a cancer related to radiation exposure through x-rays. Also the majority (about 80%) of all breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.

Mammograms are not as effective in younger women as dense breast tissue makes it more difficult to detect problems. The average age of the menopause in the UK is 50 therefore it is at this age when women invited to NHS breast screening programme. Past the menopause the breast tissue changes and becomes clearer on mammogram so interpretation is more reliable.

Lobular cancer is often very difficult to see on mammogram, and because it can be felt but not seen, ultrasound maybe the preferred test as lobular cancer can sometimes be seen by ultrasound.

It may be reassuring to know that breast cysts are very common, and they are benign (non-cancerous) condition that can come and ago with no intervention if they are not causing any problems to the woman and they are not a risk factor for breast cancer on their own.

If you are concerned about a family history of breast cancer, you would need to see your GP where a detailed family history will be taken. It is important you know about your parents and siblings cancer history first, before including close relatives, as 50% of your genes come from your mum and 50% from your dad. Your GP will refer you on to a more specialised clinic as necessary.

Only 5-10% of all breast cancers are hereditary or familial (running in the family) which means that about 90% of breast cancers happen by chance.

Breast Cancer Care has produced a factsheet on Familial breast cancer which you may find helpful. The weblink is;
www.breastcancercare.org.uk/docs/familial_breast_cancer_updated_may_06_0.pdf

All GP’s work to the latest guidance set out by NICE, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (the governments advisory body) you can read more about this online, and download a copy of the booklet which encompasses the guideline, this may give you further understanding of hereditary breast cancer and gene testing. The direct weblink is;

nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=CG014

Best wishes

Tara

Clinical Nurse Specialist - New Media

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I’m sorry to say, but I really don’t believe the stats, every time I open a magazine or hear yet another woman has got breast cancer they are below 50.

I’m being controversial because I firmly truly believe there are lots of woman out there who were diagnosed under 50 and it is in the best interests of the NHS to tell the over 50 story.
Where do the 20% 80% stats come from?? Is it recent and it is ony a straw poll?

I’d be very interested in a poll of the users of this site and who was diagnosed under 50.

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It is not a straw poll. Statistics are collected on us all when we are diagnosed and they are roughly correct.

It is awful that young women are getting breast cancer in increasing numbers but the statistics are correct: 80% of breast cancer occurs in the over 50s. Getting older is one of the biggest risk factors. A poll of this site would tell us nothing…except that younger women are probably more likely to use internet breast cancer forums.

The over 70s are more at risk of breast cancer than younger women. But young women with breast cancer makes a better story than older women…that’s why so many storuies in magazines are about young women.

Mammograms are often not effective on younger women who are more likely to have dense breast tissue. ‘Early’ detection fo breast cancer does not in any case necessarily lead to better survival…its a bit of a myth for many women with breast cancer.

Mammograms can also lead to a false sense of secuirty…they did for me because I had 4 ‘clear’ ones between the ages of 47 and 52…at age 54 I was diagnosed with locally advanced breast cancer.

Jane

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Hi JaneRA,

agree that older woman are not as likely to use the internet, therefore skew the figs.

Very sorry to hear about your diagnosis, I wish you luck.
Vikki