scrubbedexpat097

Dorothy

Same as my sister. She went for her baseline at 45 and all clear. 2 years later she got called to go for routine screening (here in Australia you get a reminder notice from Breastscreen) which detected her every aggressive cancer. She's had a double mastectomy.

Glad you're still well, Rete.

Speedwell

My mother died of treatable breast cancer in California. She could get treatment, she just preferred to rely on prayer until it was too late. The doctors did manage to get her into remission once, but there was a patch under her collarbone that could not be reached by radiation and it came back. She was not an especially compliant patient. I admit the cost and worry of having to coordinate her own treatment on top of her belief that God would heal her contributed to her treatment resistance.

Anyway I'm 46 and been doing self-exams, in addition to procedures for a few years that would have turned up biochemical markers of cancer if I had any (or so I'm told). I also take Metformin, which has been shown to have some protective effect against breast cancer.

My doctor is one who felt that false positives in someone with my family and medical history were more likely, anyway. Therefore I will go for my first mammogram this year.

lisa67

I'm the same cup size as you and have never found it painful, just a bit uncomfortable.

toopie28

I did have one as a baseline. It's not painful - uncomfortable. Just make sure not to go at that time of month when they are sensitive.

Karrie72

I just had my first one and it was uncomfortable and a bit weird, but over in 10 minutes. Its really nice to get that letter in the mail saying you're clear.

I'm always finding lumps so I'd rather get the annual reassurance that I'm clear rather than worry endlessly every time I find something.

It's a good idea idea to get a base done before menopause I think.

Weeze

My mam was offered a part in an NHS trial of early screening, along with her friend. Neither had any noticeable problems. Both were diagnosed with breast cancer during their mammograms. Both have completed their radiotherapy and been given the all clear.

I will be forever grateful for her decision to go along with the early screening she was offered.

kins

I have a mammogram every 2-3 years, I'm 43.

Wonder why the OP assumes the UK must have it right and the US must have it wrong?

In the UK they also don't offer pap smears till you're 25. I had my first at that age and already had CIN3 pre-cancerous cells.

Derrygal

I'm 59 (actually will be 60 next month ) I go every 2 years or so. I had my first baseline one at 40. My doctor complains and pesters me to go every year, but I've no family history so I think once every couple of years is fine. My sister lives in the UK - she's 57 and has only ever had one mammogram - she said it hurt too much and so hasn't gone back!! My friends in the UK are in their early 60s and go every 3 years.

scrubbedexpat097

I just don't understand that


Hurts a lot more to have chemo or a mastectomy

Snap Shot

I had my first professional breast screen last year (I'd had breast examinations from my doctor occasionally over the years) which fell due because of my age (45) which is relevant to the government of the country I now live in.

Not painful. OK, uncomfortable but only for a few minutes. A cervical smear is more 'painful' and is invasive.

I just had to lean forward onto the scanning/x-ray machine which gave me a firm squeeze !

The breast screening nurse had to examine my breasts as well as make sure they were positioned properly on the scanning/x-ray machine. My result was all clear, fortunately, and I'm glad to have that information.

AmerLisa

I would imagine so....

And with this whole thread, why should a test to screen for cancer be an issue at all? I don't get it...

judesM

Not painfull and I have large floppy boobs! Brief discomfort annually versus breast cancer....

Ozzidoc

Your Ob/Gyn is an outlier.

WEBlue

I think the discomfort can vary a lot. As someone who had low-level breast cancer diagnosed & treated in my early 40's, I have found that these days mammograms hurt much less than 15 years ago. Some people who say they hurt are remembering the older technology.

Also, as one gets older, the breast tissue loses density, so that even if there was some mammogram-related pain when you were younger, as you get older it will definitely decrease.