How bad is it to not do a mammogram?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting how early mammogram screening begins in the US compared to other countries. Canada, Australia, UK, France, Denmark, Portugal begin in the 45-50 range. The only one I’ve found so far that recommends age 40 is Sweden. Does anyone have any thoughts on why?

Yes I asked a few doctors including a breast surgeon and its because they're seeing more cancers in people who start mamos early and the radiation is causing more cancers than catching them early.
Here are recommendations and START age of Mamos and most say every 2-3 years after 50 NOT yearly.

United States 40 years
Denmark 50 years
Finland 50 years
Sweden 40 years
United Kingdom 50 years
Germany 50 years
France 50 years
Italy 50 years
Greece 40 years
Bulgaria 40 years

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You'll be fine. In Switzerland and most of Europe it's normal to wait until 50. Mammograms are pushed in the US because of insurance $$

+100 the US is so aggressive with most medical care and grabbing $$$$ for surgeries that other countries would treat much less aggressively. Like getting a full hysterectomy in the US for 1 fibroid is unheard of overseas and yet they do it here all the time.

[Anonymous]

I went from no detectible thing to a 4mm IDC in 18 months. I went early for my 2 year "old woman" spacing because I ws there for a DEXA anyway and why not.
It was typed as fast growing, doubling every 6 months.
It was hormone sensitive and I was on low dose HRT at 70 and had been for 11 years.

[Anonymous]

I waited until 48 and it was fine. I spared myself a lot of needless worry.

I had no family history of breast or any related cancer--probably would not have gone that long otherwise.

The larger point is that "bad" is the wrong word here. You will not be successfully shamed into wellness behaviors. That goes for you doing it to yourself AND for others doing it to you, as I am sure has now occurred in this 7-page thread on one of the perennial DCUM hot topics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you call and schedule?

OP - because I first need to call my insurance and figure out why they said I was out of network. I hate talking with insurance. It takes forever.

If you have cancer, you probably want to know ASAP unless you have a death wish.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I’ve avoided it for 10 yrs after I did one, and it was horrible - painful, felt manhandled and disrespected.
However, a friend had cancer found during a mammogram just recently, with no other warning or symptoms or family hx.
So, I’m finally going next month.

I've never had a horrible experience. You need to go in with a good mindset. It's over quickly and you're in and out. I swear some people can't adult.

DP here. I had a very bad mammogram at Sibley around 2008 or so. Something about the way the tech handled things pinched a nerve or something, I still don't know. But I had pain radiating from my armpit for months. Finally it calmed down. Stop assuming that just because you've always had a good experience means no one else has had a bad one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting how early mammogram screening begins in the US compared to other countries. Canada, Australia, UK, France, Denmark, Portugal begin in the 45-50 range. The only one I’ve found so far that recommends age 40 is Sweden. Does anyone have any thoughts on why?

It's a public health risk benefit analysis.

Lets say it costs X number of dollars to have mammos start at 40 and X minus ten to have them start at 45 or 50. They are willing to have some people die of BC in order to save that money and spend it on other things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting how early mammogram screening begins in the US compared to other countries. Canada, Australia, UK, France, Denmark, Portugal begin in the 45-50 range. The only one I’ve found so far that recommends age 40 is Sweden. Does anyone have any thoughts on why?

Yes I asked a few doctors including a breast surgeon and its because they're seeing more cancers in people who start mamos early and the radiation is causing more cancers than catching them early.
Here are recommendations and START age of Mamos and most say every 2-3 years after 50 NOT yearly.

United States 40 years
Denmark 50 years
Finland 50 years
Sweden 40 years
United Kingdom 50 years
Germany 50 years
France 50 years
Italy 50 years
Greece 40 years
Bulgaria 40 years

Cite? Actual cite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s interesting how early mammogram screening begins in the US compared to other countries. Canada, Australia, UK, France, Denmark, Portugal begin in the 45-50 range. The only one I’ve found so far that recommends age 40 is Sweden. Does anyone have any thoughts on why?

Yes I asked a few doctors including a breast surgeon and its because they're seeing more cancers in people who start mamos early and the radiation is causing more cancers than catching them early.
Here are recommendations and START age of Mamos and most say every 2-3 years after 50 NOT yearly.

United States 40 years
Denmark 50 years
Finland 50 years
Sweden 40 years
United Kingdom 50 years
Germany 50 years
France 50 years
Italy 50 years
Greece 40 years
Bulgaria 40 years

Cite? Actual cite.

They can’t because this is misinformation (the radiation from mammograms causing more breast cancer). It’s an extremely low dose, like taking a flight, and is not significant in terms of daily exposure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you call and schedule?

OP - because I first need to call my insurance and figure out why they said I was out of network. I hate talking with insurance. It takes forever.

If you have cancer, you probably want to know ASAP unless you have a death wish.

Most people do not have cancer. Not getting a mammogram doesn't mean you secretly have cancer.

[Anonymous]

Oh fine. Don't get one.
Hey, I had mammograms for decades and never had cancer. Until I did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

I’m not trying to be intrusive, but how do you get to this age and not have a Pap smear? Have you just been a virgin the whole time? Or just use condoms and never had any sort of STD screening?

Because even with the HPV vaccine, not all strains are covered.

Yes, I've been a virgin "the whole time" I've been alive. And I didn't get the HPV vaccine. I'm not opposed, just too old for them to give it to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My sister skipped hers for 2 years, from age 43-45, when she was going through a hard time personally.

When she finally got one she found she had stage 3b cancer and it’s not clear she’ll make it. If they’d caught it sooner she would have had a much higher chance.

She has a chance of making it. I hope you don’t talk that way to her.

Signed, someone with 3C cancer who used to think mammograms every year weren’t necessary.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You should get a mammogram. I'm only one person but in the last 3 years I've had 3 friends under the age of 45 diagnosed with breast cancer. While the guideline is currently to begin at 40, guidelines are notoriously slow to change especially when it comes to women's health.

And that doesn’t make you go ‘hmmm?’

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've never had a mammogram or Pap smear. Pushing 50. I know the risks and am fine with my decision.

45. I've had a couple Pap smears but never had a mammogram and similarly am okay with it.

Being militant towards other people about this doesn't make sense to me. It's a personal choice and their business. I don't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes, or use marijuana, all of which are known to raise cancer risk. But I also don't go around demanding other people do what I do. I assume adults who are drinking and smoking and using pot know their risk and decided they are okay with it. That's their choice.

Of course it's your choice. I just happen to think it's a foolish one.

If you always do the most risk averse and responsible thing in life, 100% of the time no exceptions, good for you.

If you don't and are a human being, then you can be quiet.

My MIL never had a colonoscopy and died of lung cancer. She had smoked for 40 years, quit in her 50s. Died in her 70s.
She was never ever screened for lung cancer despite her smoking history, yet they rode her for years about colon cancer screening. Go figure