NHS Screening

Thanks again for all these interesting replies. I will look up your links. Just interested to know why they would stop, or at least you won't be routinely recalled, at 65, 70 and 75. Most cancers increase statistically with age, so not cost effective for the general public? I've gladly stopped the cervical but will carry on with the breast and bowel.

Bluesky there are lots of papers on this, I just don't have time at the moment to find them. You could google Margaret McCartney or put something like "smear test statistics" in Google scholar.
I discovered it takes 35000 tests to categorically save a life with smear tests. Personally I am happy with that risk. Others may not be.

Thanks NoSpaghetti.

My mother developed breast cancer in her 80s, so I will carry on with mammograms for as long as possible.

I had bowel cancer at age 78 and anal cancer when I was 94. My niece was 65 when she had cervical cancer. Found after a screening.
Many years ago I remember the Women’s Institute campaigning for cervical screening

Goodness Bijou. Have you recovered now?

Bijou you are an encouragement and inspiration!

If there is a family history of cancer in the family then you might be kept on for screening.

I don't want to go for a mammogram. I had my first one about 3 years ago and it hurt. I wonder if they can screen me using an ultrasound scan instead....

That reminds me...I must request a mammogram- I had a benign lump removed about 3 years ago. My sister had breast cancer at the age of 81 - she refused treatment and passed away a couple of years later.
These 'tests' and waiting for 'results' is sooooo stressful ...

crazyH I'm with you on that one.

I remember bawling my eyes out in the waiting room, absolutely terrified, while I waited for the results of my lump. I was in such a state that I thought I would pass out and unfortunately hubby was not allowed to come inside with me. I think that if there had been any men in the waiting room waiting for results of scans (yes, men do get breast cancer too!) then maybe my husband would have been allowed in with me. But there were only women that day and I think the clinic staff wanted to protect their dignity.

Anyway, fortunately it was a cyst and it was drained.

That's really harsh, because of cervical cancer is a critical disease and their symptoms are crucial and doing not the things right.

AGAA4 I too reached 66 (15 years ago) when the cut-off date had been 65. I wasn't expecting any more appointments and my results had always been clear. Turned out they had just extended the testing age to 70. So I went along, an early cancer was found and succesfully dealt with. I had no symptoms at all, and couldn't feel any lump, so by the time I had noticed anything amiss, it could have been very serious.

So I would urge everyone to take all the tests they are offered. So what if it is embarrassing to sit scared in a waitingroom waiting for the result? It is worse than embarrassing to sit and be told that it is too late for surgery and the condition is now terminal!

TwinLolly The pain/discomfort of a mammogram depends a great deal on the operator. Most of those who screened me were marvellous - just enough pressure to get a good picture, no pain at all - but one must have been a torturer in a previous life. She had me stand right up on tiptoe, squashed my boob in the machine, then raised the plate even further, so that I was en pointe like a ballet dancer, with my weight on the trapped boob! She was, however, the exception - perhaps she did your first one?