I am 37 and 3 years from dx. When (and if) i reach the 5 years ned, my annual mammos will then stop until i am picked up in the national system at age 47.
So that means that once i stop the tamoxifen, and feel that i have no safety net, i will not get a mammo or check from the nhs for 8 years!
I guess this means paying privately for 8 years?
Anyone got any experience/views?
bump…
Hello Lolly73
What is your family history re BC is there any? Have you spoken to your breast consultant/surgeon the BC nurse who deals with at the mo, and of course your GP. have you been told they will stop?
r x
No family history of any cancers. I was told by consulatant when i was dx that i would be checked for 5 years.
Hi lolly,
I’m 36, and was told by surgeon, its usual to do mammos for 5 yrs but because of my age I would have them for 10 yrs, by which time i will be 47, so will go onto the screening prog of every 3 yrs.
Hope this helps x
Hi Lolly
July will be my last mammo as I’ll reach my 5 years in August, then it will be every 3 years as usual. As the cancer was found under 2 years from my last clear mammo, (had extra one due to my changing GP) we are going to pay private for one in the middle so that I have one every 18 months, it’s the only way I’ll feel anything like safe. I’m 66.
Hi Lolly,
I was similar to Crazy Cat Lady - diagnosed aged 40, and had annual mammograms for 5 yrs then they’ve kept me on their books, and given me mammograms every two years, till I start the national screening programme.
Luv, Shelley
I was dx at 34 and had annual mammos til now, was told would get them til 50 yrs old then go on ‘normal’ programme,??? I’m now 48, however I have been dealt a cruel blow…see " Icant believe it" on newly diagnosed thread,…dont have emotional energy to retell my story today, xxx ask why others get it til 50? I have been glad of safety net, and needed it!!! tell my story if it helps!!!XXXX
I was 38 and was also told that I would get annual mamos until I was 50 after which I would be picked up by the regular programme. Maybe it’s a postcode thing. There is an argument to say mammograms give you a false sense of security anyway. I had a clear mammo in June 2010 and found a lump in my breast a month later which was confirmed as cancer in August. It has spread to my bones this time so I can assume that I have had it a while.
Hi Lolly
I’m nearly 3 yrs dx, 39 now. I’m struggling to remember the exact details of the plans for after 5 years, but pretty sure I was told I’d have annual mammos until I was old enough for the regular screening, it’s possible they said 18months-but certainly not expecting to drop to none after that time.
hi crawfo64
I too had clear mamo in june 2010 in dec refered only to get a dx with DCIS end of feb had WLE 3 weeks ago, results last wed no margins, extensive DCIS,stage 2 invasive and extensive lymphovascular invasion??? mx a def not sure of what else…it sucks as I bin free 14 years!!! I am finding it more difficult to get my head round as worrying for my kids I have 2 aged 9&7 xxxx
Hi
I’m a bit older at 51 & picked up for DCIS (thankfully low grade & no invasive) on my first screening mammo. I had 2 WLE to obtain good margins & not long finished 3 weeks radiotherapy. Now waiting for follow up appt; where I hope they will confirm no further treatment apart from annual mammos. Although I think I also need to see the surgeon 6 months from second op as well.
I have been told I’ll have an annual mammo for 5 years; then every 2 years & if no recurrance in that time then back onto the national screening programme.
Regards
Lynne
Hi Lolly
we get a clinic appointment for 5 years and have meds reviewed and clinical breast examination as well as a mammo but after that we actually get a mammo for another 5 years taking it to 10 years and then join the national screening programme… if we are under 50 at discharge then we wouldnt be eligible for the NBSP so they continue to do annual mammo to age 50.
i was 37 at diagnosis and then developed another bc at 40 but will have mammos till at least 50.
Lulu x
just had a look at the NICE guidelines and you should get annual mammos until you enter the breast screening programme…
“Follow-up imaging
Offer annual mammography to all patients with early breast cancer, including DCIS, until they enter the NHSBSP.”
check out page 17 of the guideline here…
nice.org.uk/nicemedia/live/12132/43314/43314.pdf
Thanks for this Lulu, it really helps x