Hello everyone, I’m 78 and have had regular mammograms, this time I have been diagnosed with cancer. My surgery is Friday.
I have found reading all your posts helpful and less isolating.
It’s good to know there is so much support.
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Hi nutmeg and welcome to the forum. There is a lot of help, advice and support on here and I have also spent a lot of time reading and not so much posting. I wish you all the best for Friday and any following treatments you may need. Sending hugs and best wishes to you. xx
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Hi nutmeg1, you will get tons of support on this forum. Just ask any questions you wish and for any advice before and after your surgery. Will be thinking about you on Friday. Best wishes x
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HI @nutmeg1, I’m so pleased you found our forum.
I hope you’re able to connect to many lovely people here.
We’re here if you need us, both before and after your surgery.
Sending our warmest thoughts
Bernard
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Hello Nutmeg - sorry that you’ve found yourself here, but it really is a very supportive forum. Sending you best wishes for your surgery, and any further treatment xx
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Dear nutmeg,
Wishing you lots of luck for Friday, will be thinking of you, along with all the other lovely people on this site,
Wishing you well, with lots of happiness going forward, please let us know how you are getting on, when you’re feeling up to it.
Biggest hugs Tili 
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Thank you so much. You are all so supportive. I’m really glad I found your group and that there is place for us to be there for each other
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Hi @nutmeg1
I’m so sorry to hear you diagnosis but glad you have found the forum.
Be thinking of you Friday.
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Hi @nutmeg1, we hope you’re doing well today. Thank you for your lovely message.
I’d like to ask if it would be okay with you to use your message (anonymously) to promote the forum on our social media channels. We’d like people to know that there is also this peer-to-peer support platform where they can learn from other people’s experience.
We’re sending our positive thoughts for Friday and hope everything goes well. Please remember, that we are always here, if you ever need to chat things through.
Sending you our warmest wishes,
Zoe
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Hello Zoe
Please do use my post.
I’ve found BCN incredibly helpful and more importantly supportive.
Thank you and all the lovely BCN peeps for everything you do
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Hi nutmeg1
Welcome to the forum and I’m so sorry you find yourself ‘one of us’.
The reason for you posting and joining may not be the best but as others have already said, this forum provides everyone with a voice, and people who really understand how you feel. Our combined experiences will doubtless give you a chance to read, reflect, ask questions and most of all know you are not alone.
I am curious to know if your regular mammograms continued after the age of 70 because you asked for them - maybe family history or past concerns? I have a bee in my bonnet about routine screening stopping at the arbitrary age of 70 - beyond which you are deemed either to be at lesser risk (not so) or that your age doesn’t make it cost effective. The same is true post diagnosis where you have annual screening for five years then it stops… unless you self refer - if you are then over 70! If it wasn’t for routine mammograms I would not have known I had a tumour as it was tiny, deeply embedded in the breast tissue and not apparent from regular self examination. I was very lucky. Had I been over 70 and without regular screening, it would have gone unnoticed until it had got bigger, possibly spread and incurred the need for more invasive surgery, treatments and worry. So worse for the individual, worse for the treatments necessary and worse in terms of cost - both financial and personal.
My apologies for the rant but I feel passionately about this as I was so lucky because of routine mammograms. They should be available without age limits.
I send you my best wishes and hugs. Xx
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Hello and thank you for your post.
I am 78 and have requested a mammogram since I was 70.
All have been clear until now. I have my op today.
The cancer is tiny and no way easily felt. I have no family history of breast cancer but I know that the older we get the more likely these things can happen.
I agree the scans should carry on after 70 .
Also I’m completely shocked how many invites are not taken up.
As you say caught early it is less invasive and less expensive to the NHS.
Surely as women we would want this.
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Thinking of you today @nutmeg1 . See you on the other side.
@peonyviolet-4 I’m 56 and agree that over 70s should continue to have mammograms and not have to request, many don’t know they can. Maybe there is research out there that suggests that bc after that age isn’t life threatening and other health conditions are more of a concern. But that’s just me speculating. It doesn’t make it any easier when you are diagnosed. I still believe find it early and the treatment as you say is less invasive and less arduous for the individual whatever their age.
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Hi naughty-boob (love the name btw!)
The reason I was given for routine breast screening being discontinued post 70 was that over this age it is more likely that an individual would get misdiagnosed with cancer and to have unnecessary treatments! Personally I think this is a fob off as with age your immune system can deteriorate unless you actively look after it and make sure you keep it in prime condition with diet, supplements and exercise. In my experience it’s all about reducing costs. I was 68 when diagnosed with Apocrine TNBC and will be self referring when my five years post surgery screening is finished. It saved my life. Xx
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Thank you for explaining, I’m sure it will come in handy if someone else posts about over 70 mammograms at a later date.
Take care
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Hi
I am so pleased to be part of BCN although I have not posted much.
I am 75 this July and my 5 years of treatment for stage 3 breast cancer (chemo, surgery, radiotherapy and Letrozole) finish May this year, I have just had my last mammogram unless I request one in 3 years time. I will now definitely be requesting a mammogram in 3 years!
It is very true what you are saying, that suddenly they drop you from their list for everything!
After 5 years of tablets and someone at the end of a phone it feels quite scary.
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