incompleteness of breast screening

Many years ago I was shown by a gynaecologist how to check my boobs and I seem to remember leaflets showing how to in the doctors surgery. I know several women who’ve had lumps checked out after finding them this way. More leaflets and awareness of the importance of self examination may be the way to go.

Just a follow-up to what I said above: there was a specialist being interviewed about this on Today this morning (around 8.20 if you want to seek it out). He said that it's impossible to tell which lives might have been saved by screening, as even the screened women may have a cancer that is is not detected and may die anyway; he also said that for every woman who does have her life saved by screening, four more are subjected to unnecessary treatments, so even if 200 women would have had their lives saved, another 800 would have had harm inflicted on them unnecessarily - and we can't tell one group from the other.

Breast cancer over 70 is quite common and I didn't even go then as it is not a 100% sure. Many still die of cancer in spite of a mammogram and many others find the lump themselves and get cured.
I got the feeling it was broadcast to cover up for T.May and turn attention away from her problems.
Too many mammograms are also not healthy, but it is easy for us in Germany we get the breasts manually checked by a gynecologist once a year.

Good post granny.

This article helps to explain the pros and cons of screening, and puts the recent scare into context:

www.theguardian.com/society/2018/may/03/breast-cancer-screening-helpline-inundated-calls-unnecessary-anxiety

Unlike, say, bowel cancer screening, breast cancer screening has a significant false-positive rate. For every life saved by screening, a great many more women will have had treatment (surgery, radiotherapy) for a cancer that would not have killed them, and might never have affected them at all. This seems to be especially the case in older women. So the benefits of screening are far from clear-cut.

They stop at 70 in Scotland as well, but they are more than happy to see you after that if you call them. It’s not the same up here for smears, they stop at 65 and even if you phone they won’t do one after that.

Totally agree with situpstraight

But for screening my cancer would not have been detected early please go for it .

They have to tell you about the issue of false positives - if you’re not given the range of risks and benefits then you can’t give informed consent. In the bad old days we weren’t informed anywhere near enough and we shouldn’t legally or ethically go back to that type of paternalism. There isn’t an age limit on the screening - just on the automatic recall.

I am heartened by hearing so many of you saying just what I have been thinking ever since this recent news was brought to the forefront........what has happened to simply each person taking care of their own body?
Yes these checks and recalls are useful but they should not be in place of each one of us thinking and acting on behalf of our own health.

Although having had multiple cancers including breast cancer in both breasts,as well as Cervix yet I have had no offers of screening.
Just as well I have taken a firm grip of my own health.

Feeling very sad for all those caught up in this scandal though,especially those no longer here but grieving partners and families are.Compensation just does not cut it.

They send a leaflet with your appointment explaining that there are a lot of false positive results which lead to unnecessary treatment and worry. I don't understand why they want to frighten people off nor why there is an age limit on any screening test.

I went for my last mammogram last year but was handed a leaflet with a number to ring should I want one in 3 years time. I hope I will remember to do so - [diary: where are you?]. I had a recall at this particular session which was scary. I was told it was a 'technical fault' with the screening of one breast and luckily the re-xray of the one breast was clear. I can't remember the last time I had a smear test and am surprised not to have been called as I once had to have pre-cancerous cells removed. So that will be added to my diary too!

Something doesn't add up about this story.

First, the fact that nobody noticed this situation for years. Second, why did they take so long to break the story once they realised the situation? And third, they appear to have managed to handle the issue in such a clumsy way that it has upset and worried thousands of families and probably clogged up the appointments system for years to come.

An additional point is that women who choose (for their own private reasons) not to have a mammogram will now come under unfair and intrusive pressure from other family members to do so.

Other Gransnetters have pointed out that they don't normally wait for the letter or shouldn't have been on the list anyway.

I'm not questioning the need for an inquiry and for immediate action for those who have been missed out, and my heart goes out to them ... it's just that this seems to have been mishandled.

Well I’m confused. I had my last screen in March 2015. The all clear letter afterwards clearly stated that if I were to be 70 in the next 3 years ( which I was in Nov 2016) I would no longer be called but could arrange one myself. I actually had the letter on my desk as I was thinking about whether to book ( given the evidence is not clear cut) when the story broke. Yesterday I received the letter saying I should have been called and saying I would be sent an appointment. So I’m being counted in the number missed but that’s wrong. Very odd. The letter does apologise btw ygg it uses the phrase ‘incredibly sorry’

I’m more concerned about smear tests which also stop at 70 I believe. I did ask when my next smear and mammogram were due and was told I’d automatically receive a letter! I was 70 last year and may have been one who missed my last mammogram. I will ask for both when I’m 72/73 as there’s so much cancer in my family.

As SueDonim says, there are risks and benefits to be considered, and of course you could have the result ( and be clear) but start developing cancer a few months later anyway.
I can’t understand why anyone leaves it until they get, or don’t get a letter,it can be easily checked up on by ringing the surgery.
Possibly these women in the 68-70 age bracket were not bothered by not being called.

Yes, that's it. They give you the facts so everyone can make their own decision.

Yes there is radiation but the dose is minuscule but everyone has their different ideas about it I suppose.

It's in the link, Tanith. As you say, there is the risk of false positive/negative results and also a risk from the radiation itself.

There's quite a bit of info about the risks/benefits that is explained in the leaflets issued by the screening service.

SueDonim what risks do you mean? apart from a false positive or negative I can’t think of any risks.

I don’t know when my last one was it seems a long time ago but I haven’t been even thinking about it I just presumed I was just beyond the age group of being offered them
I keep dates for annual things in my diary but wouldn’t know more long term dates I would just go if and when recalled so I can quite understand how people have not realised they had missed their date if they were around the time it was to finish anyway
What age do the smear tests finish that was a distant memory ?

I'm relieved to hear of these replies because I also heard that after 70 there's no recall for mammograns.
We all have the responsibility to check our breasts manually, every month or so.
Any doubts, go to the GP.

Screening stops at 70-ish, as I understand it, because it's not as effective in older women. In fact, there is debate as to its effectiveness altogether. I know someone who has decided not to have any mammograms or smear tests as they feel the risks outweighs the benefits.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-43989516

I have had breast cancer diagnosed by routine screen so feel sorry for these ladies but why did they not pick up themselves that they had been missed .I have lots of different tests and make sure the appointments come when they should .

Ladies over 70 please, please book yourself in for a mammogram . My much loved friend was told at 70 that she would not be called but that she could request one after 70. She kept putting it off and was diagnosed with a very aggressive breast cancer at 74 and by then there was nothing that could be done. I miss her every day.