How bad is it to not do a mammogram?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Breast cancer is probably the one cancer that I never worry about. I may be delusional but I have zero family history on either side.

I've had regular mammograms and never had a horrible experience but the last one hurt and I thought then that I might never do it again.

I was the exact same way, never gave breast cancer a thought. And then I was diagnosed with it at 47. No family history on either side.

Same. I never worried about it. I was gobsmacked when I was diagnosed at 43. I was convinced for a period of time that they had mixed me up with someone else.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what your insurance is and where you are and someone can tell you if you’re in network. I’ve always been happy with Washington Radiology - for mammograms, breast MRIs because I have family history and a gene mutation that increases my chances, a needle biopsy for something they found, and a thyroid scan. But I have friends who strongly prefer Sibley for this.

Please do this. My sister canceled her scheduled mammogram because she had just broken her driving foot so getting anywhere was a PITA, and by the time she went back a couple years later she had three tumors and needed a double mastectomy and chemo. My stepmother stopped getting them too early and ended up with breast cancer that was controlled after surgery and chemo and radiation but later came back and killed her.

Please tell me about a breast MRI at Washington Radiology. I typically have mammograms there, which are fine, but OB suggested an MRI due to dense breast tissue. I have been dreading this and putting it off because I hate the thought of an MRI.

PO here and if you aren’t claustrophobic it’s long/loud/annoying but not that bad. You have to lay still inside the machine for a bit - maybe 15 minutes? - on your stomach. They have you headphones to help with the noise and a reflector so you can “look out the window” even though you’re in the tube. This is at WRA in Friendship Heights.

PP thanks. I'm extremely claustrophobic and this is what I was afraid of!

Google "open MRI for breast near me" and see who does that. You still lie face down but there are no sides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tell us what your insurance is and where you are and someone can tell you if you’re in network. I’ve always been happy with Washington Radiology - for mammograms, breast MRIs because I have family history and a gene mutation that increases my chances, a needle biopsy for something they found, and a thyroid scan. But I have friends who strongly prefer Sibley for this.

Please do this. My sister canceled her scheduled mammogram because she had just broken her driving foot so getting anywhere was a PITA, and by the time she went back a couple years later she had three tumors and needed a double mastectomy and chemo. My stepmother stopped getting them too early and ended up with breast cancer that was controlled after surgery and chemo and radiation but later came back and killed her.

Please tell me about a breast MRI at Washington Radiology. I typically have mammograms there, which are fine, but OB suggested an MRI due to dense breast tissue. I have been dreading this and putting it off because I hate the thought of an MRI.

PO here and if you aren’t claustrophobic it’s long/loud/annoying but not that bad. You have to lay still inside the machine for a bit - maybe 15 minutes? - on your stomach. They have you headphones to help with the noise and a reflector so you can “look out the window” even though you’re in the tube. This is at WRA in Friendship Heights.

PP thanks. I'm extremely claustrophobic and this is what I was afraid of!

I think breast MRIs are better than ones where you are face up. You can’t see how little space you have since you are face down. But if you still think it will bother you, you could always take Xanax or something.

[Anonymous]

I was diagnosed at 44 with breast cancer, and luckily didn’t need chemo, just lumpectomy and radiation. To me the benefit of doing a yearly mammogram (I also do mris) outweighs the risk of letting breast cancer go undetected. As for the PPs who cite European standards, it’s also worth knowing that the mortality for breast cancer is higher in Europe than in the states.

[Anonymous]

I get annual mammograms.

That said, the research shows that mammograms barely save lives. Early detection increases your survival rate by under 1% overall.

[Anonymous]

The rise in non-hereditary breast cancer among women in their late 30s and early 40s is astronomical. I personally know so many women with breast cancer right now, all of whom should be fine because they caught it early.

Call while you’re driving or walking your dog. I find it easier to do these admin tasks while I’m also doing something else.

[Anonymous]

I’m curious how many doctors are recommending MRIs for dense breast tissue. My report always says dense tissue throughout , so I think my mammograms are probably not even very reliable but no one has said I need an MRI instead.

[Anonymous]

BFF never did mammograms (host of reasons that she kept rationalizing.) Well, the kicker was that she had metastatic breast cancer (finally went to a doctor when it became the size of a golf ball and protruded into her armpit.) By then it was too late and she died 18m later. I often wonder what would have happened if she got regular mammograms.

Flip side - my sister gets them regularly, caught her breast cancer early, had it removed, did 10 courses of radiation (no chemo needed), and has been cancer free for 8y.

Figure out your insurance.

[Anonymous]

Zero family history, but after over 10+ years of finding benign fibroadenomas on mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs, I was finally diagnosed as being high risk. I had a preventative double mastectomy with reconstruction (all in one surgery), and now I have peace of mind. It sounds like a lot, but I didn't want to worry about getting cancer and needing chemo/radiation. After the mastectomy and reviewing the pathology, my surgeon said my risk of getting cancer was 40%. Now my risk is lower than the average person, it's 3% or 4%. Everything looks the same on the outside, but I have implants. I must get an MRI every 6 years. It's all very low maintenance now. Be proactive and get a mammogram -- and an ultrasound if your breasts are dense. I'd rather do less now (via screening) than more (treatment) later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:BFF never did mammograms (host of reasons that she kept rationalizing.) Well, the kicker was that she had metastatic breast cancer (finally went to a doctor when it became the size of a golf ball and protruded into her armpit.) By then it was too late and she died 18m later. I often wonder what would have happened if she got regular mammograms.

Flip side - my sister gets them regularly, caught her breast cancer early, had it removed, did 10 courses of radiation (no chemo needed), and has been cancer free for 8y.

Figure out your insurance.

I have an acquaintance who got annual mammograms religiously (she was a nurse) but was nonetheless diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 breast cancer. Mammograms are a great screening tool but some forms of cancer are deadly and aggressive regardless of when you find them. Unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:BFF never did mammograms (host of reasons that she kept rationalizing.) Well, the kicker was that she had metastatic breast cancer (finally went to a doctor when it became the size of a golf ball and protruded into her armpit.) By then it was too late and she died 18m later. I often wonder what would have happened if she got regular mammograms.

Flip side - my sister gets them regularly, caught her breast cancer early, had it removed, did 10 courses of radiation (no chemo needed), and has been cancer free for 8y.

Figure out your insurance.

I have an acquaintance who got annual mammograms religiously (she was a nurse) but was nonetheless diagnosed with metastatic stage 4 breast cancer. Mammograms are a great screening tool but some forms of cancer are deadly and aggressive regardless of when you find them. Unfortunately.

Yes. Some cancers kill you regardless of when they are found. Most breast cancers are treatable. I think the biggest pro of early detection is that it makes treatment easier and less intense (often no chemo). And that is very important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I get annual mammograms.

That said, the research shows that mammograms barely save lives. Early detection increases your survival rate by under 1% overall.

How much would you value the costs and benefits of a lumpectomy instead of radical mastectomy, no chemotherapy, no recurrence?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I get annual mammograms.

That said, the research shows that mammograms barely save lives. Early detection increases your survival rate by under 1% overall.

How much would you value the costs and benefits of a lumpectomy instead of radical mastectomy, no chemotherapy, no recurrence?

I get annual mammograms. I value it a lot. But the idea that mammograms save lives isn’t backed by research- or it should be amended to say that mammograms save very few lives. It’s worth it though if you’re one of the few.

[Anonymous]

On average they reduce the treatment you endure to live the 5 years they track in those pro rationing mortality studies.

[Anonymous]

I have four friends with BC - and every single one was missed on a mammogram. I've put mine off and now want to talk to my doctor about doing an ultrasound or MRI as well.