Breast screening......

My cancer was found during a routine mammogram. They said it was very small and was soon dealt with. A good friend of mine had exactly the same happen. I would never hesitate to advise women to be checked. The discomfort is soon over and forgotten and could be life saving.

However, no one should feel pressurised to go through something they find scary or do not agree with.

It sounds stupid, but having my boobs squished always gives me a claustrophobic feeling! Weird.

As for pain (sorry, not read full thread, so might have already been mentioned) - I was told the bigger you are the better, it is the less well endowed that feel more discomfort. I'm not big and do find it uncomfortable, but it only lasts a very short while, so it's not too bad, it's the claustrophobia feeling I hate.

A smart woman doctor gave me a tip a few years ago (for those of us who are more sensitive). A small dose of Advil or Tylenol about an hour before screening helps dull the 'experience'. Trust me, it really works!

Nothing to worry about...be glad of the opportunity to be screened. I have been screened for quite some years now, purely because of my age, for breast and bowel cancer and I am glad of it. On the last breast screening, there was a shadow that needed investigating and on the last bowel screening I had a polyp removed...neither of which showed symptoms and neither of which were detrimental to my health..I was so pleased these things were found early and dealt with.

I guess I'm looking at the bigger picture as such & it's making me nervous. Lost my father in law to cancer only a month ago so guess because we've had such a recent tragedy that it's heightened my anxiety about the results. Am very body conscious as well so all in all will be most glad once the whole things done & my dignity can be restored.

I was 50 last week and received an invitation on my birthday, for an appointment which is tomorrow!

I too, am very nervous to be honest - but I am going nonetheless having known several women who have suffered breast cancer.

I even find going for a haircut stressful, so am not expecting this to be a picnic....

I had my first mammogram yesterday, was worried beforehand but had no need to be - I was in and out in five minutes and the staff were very friendly, matter of fact and efficient, so I would definitely say please don't worry about them x

Mawbroon and others that have an issue with my point about 'no family history of breast cancer'. Statistically, there is a higher risk of the condition if close relatives have suffered from it. I suppose you would be speechless to learn that I told a female Gynaecologist (I was seeing her for an unrelated matter) my reasons for choosing not to attend mammograms. I asked her if she thought I was being foolish. She said "not at all", since I had researched it properly. She also told me that she had several female Oncologist friends who chose not to have mammograms themselves for the same reasons and having taken account of there being no family history of breast cancer. Now you really do have something to shake your heads at. It is possible to respect someones differing opinion!

She said, I said, she told me.....very interesting but all inadmissible in evidence as hearsay. Yes, we are all entitled to our opinions, but when we seek to dissuade others from a non-invasive, potentially life-saving procedure, which lasts only minutes, then it ceases just to be an opinion and ventures into the realms of persuading others to follow your example. I call that irresponsible.

I just hope you are not one of the many, with no family history of breast cancer, who succumbs to this disease.

Incidentally here is a comprehensive list of risk factors for breast cancer:-

Gettting older. The risk for breast cancer increases with age; most breast cancers are diagnosed after age 50.
Genetic mutations. Inherited changes (mutations) to certain genes, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2. Women who have inherited these genetic changes are at higher risk of breast and ovarian cancer.
Early menstrual period. Women who start their periods before age 12 are exposed to hormones longer, raising the risk for breast cancer by a small amount.
Late or no pregnancy. Having the first pregnancy after age 30 and never having a full-term pregnancy can raise breast cancer risk.
Starting menopause after age 55. Like starting one’s period early, being exposed to estrogen hormones for a longer time later in life also raises the risk of breast cancer.
Not being physically active. Women who are not physically active have a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Being overweight or obese after menopause. Older women who are overweight or obese have a higher risk of getting breast cancer than those at a normal weight.
Having dense breasts. Dense breasts have more connective tissue than fatty tissue, which can sometimes make it hard to see tumors on a mammogram. Women with dense breasts are more likely to get breast cancer.
Using combination hormone therapy. Taking hormones to replace missing estrogen and progesterone in menopause for more than five years raises the risk for breast cancer. The hormones that have been shown to increase risk are estrogen and progestin when taken together.
Taking oral contraceptives (birth control pills). Certain forms of oral contraceptive pills have been found to raise breast cancer risk.
Personal history of breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to get breast cancer a second time.
Personal history of certain non-cancerous breast diseases. Some non-cancerous breast diseases such as atypical hyperplasia or lobular carcinoma in situ are associated with a higher risk of getting breast cancer.
Family history of breast cancer. A woman’s risk for breast cancer is higher if she has a mother, sister, or daughter (first-degree relative) or multiple family members on either her mother’s or father’s side of the family who have had breast cancer. Having a first-degree male relative with breast cancer also raises a woman’s risk.
Previous treatment using radiation therapy. Women who had radiation therapy to the chest or breasts (like for treatment of Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 have a higher risk of getting breast cancer later in life.
Women who took the drug diethylstilbestrol (DES), which was given to some pregnant women in the United States between 1940 and 1971 to prevent miscarriage, have a higher risk. Women whose mothers took DES while pregnant with them are also at risk.
Drinking alcohol. Studies show that a woman’s risk for breast cancer increases with the more alcohol she drinks.

stella,s oncologist and her friends (also oncologists) will have been aware of all those influences and taken them into account in their research when avoiding mammograms. Most people don't have all those facts at their fingertips, hear "more likely when it is in the family" and think they are safe without considering all the other factors.