Forum Discussion
So ... I received a Breastscreen NSW reminder for my 2 yearly mammogram!
Who else has received their Mammogram Reminder after being diagnosed & treated?
Last week, I was a bit surprised to receive a reminder to have my 2 yearly mammogram as I thought there might be some sort of communication between the various health professionals & the organisation .... then again - why WOULD they know about my ILC BC?
So far, I've received a written letter, an email & an SMS to my mobile phone - so they are really keen to get me back!!
I thought a letter explaining why I wouldn't be going back would be in order. This is what I wrote. I'll let you know if I get a reply!!
Hi guys,
I’ve received my reminder for a mammogram, but I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer 6 months after my previous mammogram, which wasn’t picked up by it.
There is no breast cancer (or any cancer) in my family, so this was (and still is) a real shock to me. I’ve had surgery (Jan 2018) and also radiation and am now on hormone tablets for the next 5 years+.
Apparently I have dense breast tissue, but I wasn’t advised of this by Breastscreen NSW and that it would be beneficial to have an ultrasound for earlier and better detection rates.
Breast Screen Western Australia advises their clients with dense breast tissue to do this.
It is time for Breastscreen NSW to do the same.
I will be having yearly mammograms and ultrasounds as a part of my ongoing breast cancer management, so would request that you remove my name from your reminder lists.
I only hope that I am not one of the 30% who then randomly go on to develop metastasised/Stage 4 breast cancer, irrelevant of the ‘good outcome’ of my surgery, Rads and tabs. It really is a lottery.
Much more research is needed in this area, to determine WHO will get Stage 4 and WHY? Tissue and bloods should be taken from all having surgery, to provide material for researchers to work with!
I would be interested if a radiographer could take a closer look at my last mammograms with Breastscreen NSW in 2017 ... to see if, in hindsight, anything could be detected on them, now that we know it was there all along? It was in my right breast.
What do you reckon? Not too rude??
Last week, I was a bit surprised to receive a reminder to have my 2 yearly mammogram as I thought there might be some sort of communication between the various health professionals & the organisation .... then again - why WOULD they know about my ILC BC?
So far, I've received a written letter, an email & an SMS to my mobile phone - so they are really keen to get me back!!
I thought a letter explaining why I wouldn't be going back would be in order. This is what I wrote. I'll let you know if I get a reply!!
Hi guys,
I’ve received my reminder for a mammogram, but I was diagnosed with invasive lobular cancer 6 months after my previous mammogram, which wasn’t picked up by it.
There is no breast cancer (or any cancer) in my family, so this was (and still is) a real shock to me. I’ve had surgery (Jan 2018) and also radiation and am now on hormone tablets for the next 5 years+.
Apparently I have dense breast tissue, but I wasn’t advised of this by Breastscreen NSW and that it would be beneficial to have an ultrasound for earlier and better detection rates.
Breast Screen Western Australia advises their clients with dense breast tissue to do this.
It is time for Breastscreen NSW to do the same.
I will be having yearly mammograms and ultrasounds as a part of my ongoing breast cancer management, so would request that you remove my name from your reminder lists.
I only hope that I am not one of the 30% who then randomly go on to develop metastasised/Stage 4 breast cancer, irrelevant of the ‘good outcome’ of my surgery, Rads and tabs. It really is a lottery.
Much more research is needed in this area, to determine WHO will get Stage 4 and WHY? Tissue and bloods should be taken from all having surgery, to provide material for researchers to work with!
I would be interested if a radiographer could take a closer look at my last mammograms with Breastscreen NSW in 2017 ... to see if, in hindsight, anything could be detected on them, now that we know it was there all along? It was in my right breast.
What do you reckon? Not too rude??
112 Replies
- @Queendonut. Years ago, just after having my mastectomy, the female owner of the local bra and prosthesis shop asked me if I thought I really needed a prosthesis my remaining breast was so small. My breast surgeon was horrified.
I do not know where some of these women learn their customer service skills.
Thankfully I have never used BreastScreen. I have never had a free mammogram. - @Queendonut Good idea. If that is her standard way of treating newly diagnosed women she needs to be stopped from causing any more hurt and suffering.
- Yes- i told my surgeon of the experience (not a breastscreen surgeon) and he recommended i report her. Did not have the strength or mental capacity to do so at the time. I know he spoke to the practice manager. Even today her words ring in my head- ‘reconstruction are not breasts-just lumps under the skin’. Her tactics were ruthless and very damaging. I think tomorrow i may make a phone call and see if she is still working there. Time to act now i am stronger if she has not been repromanded already.
- @Queendonut I am speechless... :o That woman clearly should not be doing that job. Gobsmackingly appalling. :#
- I had an excellent experience with breastscreen and early diagnosis but an awful time with their ‘nurse counsellor’ Who basically said that I had no right to be thinking of a full matectomy and the surgeon should not have offered it as it was obvious I would only need a lumpectomy. She then refused to measure me for the post surgery bra saying they didn’t have them big enough for me (i was a size 16 F before surgery). She then ordered me a ridiculous size 20 E. She also told me (whilst looking me up and down) that there were better ways to prevent cancer coming back and I would do well to lose some weight. I left there non-verbal and could not speak to my husband for the 2 hour drive home. I then came inside went to bed and just cried for hours. Out of the blue a local breast care nurse called me to check in as she had just gotten a referral about me- my saviour! Gave me accurate info and direction.
- If they were reviewing your scans they should have told you the result of the '2nd' review!! Probably, like mine - they'd tell you that you didn't have breast cancer! :(
- I haven't heard back from Breast screen @rpie , but then again I wasn't expecting too.
- @Blondy - Did Breast Screen get back to you after the review of your Mammogram with their 'new results?
That is interesting that the woman didn't seem surprised that you had been diagnosed, following your clear Mammogram. That would indicate it was not a 'one off'! And once again, no empathy.
You shouldn't receive another reminder in Nov - as your surgeon/Onc will be doing your referrals for Mammogram/ultrasound for some years to come now.
Yes, Mammograms still have a place for 80% of women ..... just not suitable or reliable for those with dense breast tissue, who already have a higher incidence of Tumours. I have mine (mammogram and ultrasound) done thru a reputable Diagnostic Imaging Centre - @arpie, yes a good letter. Mine have always been dense and my 2 yearly reminder came the day before my surgery. In a way, if I hadn't of known I already had Bc it would have been picked up for sure. When I rang and told them why I would not be going, the lady sounded like that's all she ever hears. If it was me I would have at least said something positive for the coming surgery, but no. I'll be due in November for my reminder. We'll see. My surgeon requested my last mammogram from breast screen. Also breasts screen rang me and said that they'd be looking at my last ones too to see if anything was visible 2 years prior. It's still a good thing to have the luxury of breastscreen.
- @arpie this difference for Indigenous women is three-fold in reasoning:
1) BreastScreen Aus needs to see a certain quota of Aboriginal women. They need data on the indigenous...so they gather clientele from wider parameters.
2) Indigenous women have one of the lowest % participation rates across the country, so getting in to screen earlier will help rates increase.
3) It is pretty much unheard of for Aboriginal women to have dense breast tissue - genetics. They are better candidates for successful mammography images.
Having said all that, your point is valid. Call them on it.
BSWA have a big banner for Indigenous from 40...printed years ago. Similar banners for general population say 50...
