A milestone last Friday. Visited my surgeon and had the last of my stitches out. Now I only need to see him every year for a mammogram on my remaining breast. Since that breast is as lumpy as a bag of potatoes, having just a mammogram is not going to give me peace of mind. I've had mammograms since I was 40 and none of them picked up my DCIS or my two breast cancers. In fact, I hardly know anyone whose cancer was picked up by a mammogram. I'd like to ask him to put me in for an ultrasound and maybe also an MRI to back up the mammogram. Does anyone have more than just a mammogram at their annual visits?

I always have a mammo and ultrasound. I too agree with the mammo not being so reliable. My first bc was picked up by "moi" and the second on an ultrasound. I like to have a full body scan at least yearly. It is 5 years since the first diagnosis and 1 year since the 2nd. I hate having both tests as my breasts are still very tender. If you want a test carried out - then ASK for it. It is your body and health. I am much more "upfront" these days and we all should be. XLeonie

I've always had mammograms and ultrasounds together since my first cancer when I was 34. I found the first one myself. I also found my second cancer myself when I was 43, just 4 months after a clear mammogram and ultrasound. Luckily, both of my tumours were easy to feel, with the second one being very close to the surface. I don't want to keep getting my remaining breast squished and ultrasounded each year, so I'm planning on having it removed. I don't think I can fully trust the screening any more, and I really don't want to have chemotherapy a third time!! xx Jane

Hi I understand your misgivings about Mammogram as I found my lump 4.9cms! about 4 months after an all clear one! Last year I had a mammogam and ultrasound of my remaining breast and already have the form from my surgeon for this year. I also had lumpy breasts but seems to have become softer since chemo and tamoxifen when the girl did the ultrasond she commented on the change in my breasts it freaked me to start but realised she was comparing it to my previous ultrasound when I had BC diagnosed. Definitely have ulttrasound it is very accurate on breasts and less radiation than MRI. Good luck Sarah x

Mammogram/Ultrasound/MRI or all of the above

20 Replies

Sarah_51
Member
13 years ago
Hi

There are variations in how long you stay on tamoxifen. I have heard 5 years yet know in my job (as an RN) that I have seen people on it for a lot longer. As I haven't reached the 5 year stage yet will wait until then to find out how much longer.

Sarah x
Sarah_51
Member
13 years ago
Hi

There are variations in how long you stay on tamoxifen. I have heard 5 years yet know in my job (as an RN) that I have seen people on it for a lot longer. As I haven't reached the 5 year stage yet will wait until then to find out how much longer.

Sarah x
Debbie_J
Member
13 years ago
Your GP can arrange for you to have an ultrasound, mine did as my Surgeon did not want to do it.

Debbie
marilynd
Member
13 years ago
Hi everyone,

Helpful input ,thanks! I wonder why the recommendation to use Tamoxifen for only 5 years is currently accepted. I'm not sure. Is it that the research has shown no added benefit for survival rates if it is taken for longer? Do some people stay on it longer than 5 years?

Marilyn D.
marilynd
Member
13 years ago
Hi everyone,

Helpful input ,thanks! I wonder why the recommendation to use Tamoxifen for only 5 years is currently accepted. I'm not sure. Is it that the research has shown no added benefit for survival rates if it is taken for longer? Do some people stay on it longer than 5 years?

Marilyn D.
Sarah_51
Member
13 years ago
Hi I have been taking tamoxifen for 2 years now and apart from the hot flushes and sweating have not had too much trouble. I take meds for the flushes and sweating which help. The flushes are very rare now but I still have some periods of profuse sweating, can be a bit embarrassing!The risk of clots is the same as taking the pill. I take fish oil which slightly thins the blood so feel I have something to counteract that! My only other side effect after about 18months was that I had some Vaginal bleeding (I am 54 and no period for 2 years). Had a scan to check my endometrium and all ok so was referred to Gynae consultant and I have huge fibroids which could be the cause. Also they couldn't see the ovaries cos of the fibroids.My grandmother died at 50 from ovarian cancer so am now waiting to have a hysterectomy. I consider all this pretty minor compared to having a recurrence of my cancer I am now 3 years clear and loving life. Sarah x
Sarah_51
Member
13 years ago
Hi I have been taking tamoxifen for 2 years now and apart from the hot flushes and sweating have not had too much trouble. I take meds for the flushes and sweating which help. The flushes are very rare now but I still have some periods of profuse sweating, can be a bit embarrassing!The risk of clots is the same as taking the pill. I take fish oil which slightly thins the blood so feel I have something to counteract that! My only other side effect after about 18months was that I had some Vaginal bleeding (I am 54 and no period for 2 years). Had a scan to check my endometrium and all ok so was referred to Gynae consultant and I have huge fibroids which could be the cause. Also they couldn't see the ovaries cos of the fibroids.My grandmother died at 50 from ovarian cancer so am now waiting to have a hysterectomy. I consider all this pretty minor compared to having a recurrence of my cancer I am now 3 years clear and loving life. Sarah x
marilynd
Member
13 years ago
Hi everyone, Just started Tamoxifen June 2013 because I didn't want the possibility of increased chance of osteoporosis or joint pain. My oncologist was willing to go along with my choice. I know there are som slight increased risk of clots. Could you let me know how the side effects went after a period of time? Has anyone opted to stay on it for more than 5 years??
marilynd
Member
13 years ago
Hi Jrova,

I needed to hear about the testing possibilities and about being proactive. This is only the first few months after first dicovery of bc - it wasactually found on a mammogram. Have finished radio recently and haven't been thru first follow up screens. Thanks for making me a bit wary about just having the screening they recommend. You're right . Be well and Happy! Marilyn D
hdubs
Member
14 years ago
Thanks Chris. Peace of mind is a valuable thing, isn't it? I know what the stats are for getting cancer in my remaining breast. My surgeon tells me that while I'm on Tamoxifen, I have a very low chance of a cancer in that breast - 1/2000 and actually less than that because he reduced my breast on that side. But nothing beats peace of mind!

I'm glad to hear you are happy with your reconstructions. I am pleased with mine also. I think it would have made my emotional recovery very difficult if I did not have a reconstruction after my mastectomy. I think those girls who are happy without reconstruction are heroes.

take care Chris,

Helen xx