Interview 20

Age at interview: 57

Brief Outline:

Attended for routine mammogram at age 53. Was diagnosed with DCIS. Had mastectomy. About a year later, chose to have other breast removed.

Background:

A child protection officer. Divorced.

She lives in a rural area, and didn't have her first mammogram until 53.

I knew that when I was 50 I would be able to go and have a mammogram. And when I was 50 I contacted the Local Health Authority and they said that I was too late because of where I lived in a rural area. They only had, they only came out every three years then, so I would have to wait till I was 53. Which I did do, and it was in August 1999 that I had a letter to say would I go to [town]. I had a letter to ask me to attend for a mammogram and I was quite pleased about that.

I knew, you know, it was important and I was a little bit disappointed and disillusioned when I was told I'd have to wait another three years. But I was very busy and it's just one of those things you accept. 

Did you talk to your GP at that stage or did you phone the breast clinic?

No I didn't, I didn't speak to anybody, no.

Who told you that you have to wait another three years?

The person I spoke about them coming round for the next time, that they would come in this area would be three years. It was a mobile screening unit you see. 

Yes.  OK.  And so you waited another three years? 

Yes. 

And when you were invited, did you get a letter to go? 

Yes, I got a letter. 

Feels that women should realise that breast cancer can be found without symptoms such as lumps.

One of my concerns was that if I hadn't gone for this mammogram I wouldn't have known anything because I was always told, like lots of women, that you feel for a lump. There was no lump, there was no problems with the nipple, there was nothing like that at all, I had seen absolutely no difference in my breasts at all.

And it's one of the things that I have been concerned about these few years on that mammograms are not to be put across just because you have a lump. I think there's not enough information about the many different cancers that are breast cancer. 

Says that screening saved her life and she recommended it to other women.

So in your case you would really strongly recommend that women have mammograms because you wouldn't have found yours?   

Yes I do, I think it saved my life, probably. And I also think one of the things I do, or I have expressed to others is that it's important to have mammograms at whatever age. And I did read some, there was some research which suggested we shouldn't have so many mammograms. Well in my case I'm afraid it saved my life and I think that it must be gotten across to women and to men that it's not necessarily about feeling a lump. Because I think it gives the wrong messages out. One wouldn't want to alarm people, but I think it's important. If you have the opportunity, go for a mammogram. 

She restarted HRT after surgery for breast cancer, with the consent of her consultant because it...

And I asked a lot of questions by then and one of my main concerns wasn't about the fact that I'd had a breast removed but whether I could go back on HRT because I felt that my quality of life was more important. 

And it was agreed that she [nurse] would speak to the consultant. He came to speak with me and I felt I needed to put this point across that I would like a reason why I should not return on to the HRT. What he did say was he would have to have a meeting with other colleagues before they made a decision. And their decision was that I could return to the HRT because there was no factors to indicate it was receptive to the hormones. 

When you, before you had the mastectomy, you were talking to the consultant about having a mastectomy, is this when the conversation came up about you will have to stop the HRT patches? 

Yes, yes. He was very, he was very against it. And I had looked up a bit about it anyway prior to all this, and I was feeling so well on HRT and have done for many years that, I really didn't want, I didn't want to go back to what it would have been like without them. And I certainly wouldn't have wanted to return to my employment having suffered menopausal symptoms. So it was something that I felt I would probably fight about, and I did. 

So after the mastectomy, how soon after where you able to take the, have the patches?  

I would say about a week after I returned home. And my GP was a bit unhappy about it, but there was a letter to support what I'd said, so that was fine. 

Yes, so you were back on it? 

I was back on them fine, yes.