South African breakthrough in breast cancer diagnostics

Rosequartz I completely agree with you, mammograms are essential. Sometimes tiny calcification appears and is the first sign of breast cancer and can only be seen on a mammogram, but I'm concerned that not enough is done to educate women about the 20% of breast cancers that cannot be detected that way. The machine that has been developed in SA would cover those but we won't have it in the UK for years yet!

Good luck with your treatment Womblekelly. I was diagnosed with early primary breast cancer nearly 7 years ago and it is certainly a shock. I would be happy to keep in touch if you feel you need support, just PM me. All treatment is now completed and I continue to be cancer free.

Thank goodness you attended for the mammogram womblekelly! I hope the treatment will do the trick, and is not too unpleasant. There are a number of fellow suffers on GN, so do come on here for support and information. Take care!

Oh and there's no history of breast cancer in my family either!

Having just been diagnosed with v early breast cancer which was only dectected because of a mammogram please don't miss out on yours because of fear of pain ..... the alternative could be far worse

Agree with you Annsixty about the biopsy! Mammogram discomfort lasts a very short time. Biopsy is excruciating! Surgery is even worse. And all further treatment isn't exactly a picnic either. So I would recommend everyone take up the very generous offer of a mammogram regularly. BTW here in N.I. Action Cancer, our local cancer support charity, offers free mammograms if a woman is over 70. Is there an equivalent in the rest of UK?

Am I right in thinking radiographers do mammograms not nurses?

Yes, that is right winifred01

So please, all gransnetters, have a good grope regularly as the mammogram does not reveal all!!
barbarbarlynne - and the converse is true, that sometimes a mammogram will show up something that can't be felt, so it's best to go for the mammogram and do regular self-examination!

I have had mastectomy after I found lumps in ft breast had mammogram 7months previous which didn't show anything in rt breast but cysts in left so hope new machine highlights lumps better by the way.mine were quite large lumps as well

Or an extra large Baileys? I am having one now, just in case I get a headache later.

You can take the edge off the pain by taking paracetamol (or your favourite analgesic) an hour or so before the mammogram. Works for dental work too.

Sorry to hear that Barbara, glad you're doing well now though.
I agree, it does seem very short sighted of them not to do more for you.
Yes, a 'grope' is the wise thing to do on a regular basis.
I find the mammogram uncomfortable, but not painful.

Am I right in thinking radiographers do mammograms not nurses?

I was diagnosed 2yrs ago with a type of breast cancer that does not show upon a mammogram - 20% of all breast cancers don't. It did show up on the ultrasound but the full extent of it could only be seen with an MRI scan. I am through the mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy and am on cancer medication for another 3.5yrs.
The hospital have refused to do other than routine mammograms on my remaining breast for the annual screening I have for 5 years even though I was also told that my cancer is prone to appear in the other side as well.
If my oncologist cannot persuade them I plan to try my MP as I consider that to be remarkably shortsighted.
So please, all gransnetters, have a good grope regularly as the mammogram does not reveal all!!

With my first mammogram the pain was so excruciating that I seriously considered not going again. When I did, I explained to the nurse and she was extremely careful, took her time, and it was uncomfortable, but nothing like as bad. Now each time I go I tell the nurse and it has been okay, so if you have had a lot of pain, tell them and hopefully it will be much better.

I doubt that this will be in the UK on the NHS any time soon, but so hope that it will come one day ...meaning that my daughters and grandaughters may benefit from it. Maybe private firms will offer it as an option for those who can afford it, in the meantime.

I am due my 3 year mammogram on Tuesday and always dread it - have had five children, am very large breasted and find it so painful - had a recall the time before last - which in the event found benign cysts, however I still get nervous as the time approaches and try to prepare myself for what lies ahead, both the test and waiting for the letter afterwards. When the letter comes I have to take a few deep breaths ahead of opening it. Am sure that I am not the only one!

We at least get screened, so painful though many of us find it, we are lucky to have the programme here. I have always attended my appointments and have only once had a recall and scary though that was, at least I was reassured once an ultrasound had been carried out.

Be glad when the next couple of weeks have passed, though!

Machine is bad enough, but a very clumsy nurse makes it 100 times worse.

I hope it won't be too long before they can diagnose a lot of illnesses from markers in the blood.

Mammograms can be very painful - even if they're not rounded and youthful!

It's strange how mammograms affect us all differently. I have had 6 now and have never felt the slightest pain. A friend of mine said she has screamed with pain in the testing room.

I think mammograms are excruciating and I really don't have a low pain threshold. When I mentioned it to the radiographer she said " evidence shows that the more rounded and youthful the breasts are the more it hurts, hence your pain". I'll take that!
Like jbf, I hope it doesn't over diagnose.

And thanks for the reminder. Now I'm over the age for automatic recall, I have to make my own appointments so have done so just now. Lucky enough to get one the same morning as I have an appointment at the hospital outpatients.

A bit of discomfort once every three years is a small price to pay for peace of mind - or early diagnosis. It's certainly no worse than a dentist's appointment.

jess I have to agree with you re the pain factor in mammograms. I've sometimes wondered whether I have a high threshold for pain (or something like that) but I've not ever really found it to be unbearable or even that bad. Plus I've had one when I've had a painful breast (hence the mammogram).

But with everyone else saying how painful they are, I've just gone along with that

Mammograms only hurt for a few seconds. Suspect this will still squash the breast. And to be even more gloomy, the NHS is unlikely to be splashing out on any fancy new machinery in the next few years.

It looks different to the "pancake" machine ... so here's hoping.

Sounds very good. Just so long as it doesn't over diagnose.