Interview 26

Age at interview: 52

Brief Outline:

Took part in medical research and had first mammogram at age 43. Was diagnosed with DCIS. Had mastectomy and later breast reconstruction.

Background:

A teacher, widowed with 2 adult children.

Her first mammogram was in a clinical trial of mammography.

I had a letter through the door saying I had been picked up at random from so many thousand women to take part in trials for mammograms. They asked me to go for a mammogram the following Thursday. I nearly didn't go because I'd not had any symptoms, I had not felt any lumps or anything in my breasts. 

You just had a letter through the post right at the beginning didn't you?

Yes and I had been picked up random, you know.

So this was a clinical trial?

Clinical trial, yes they were doing on mammograms for younger women.

Based at a University Hospital?

No, from the city hospital. Yes.

And how did you decide that you would take part in that?

I just thought 'oh, I might as well go along'.  As I say, I nearly didn't go, I nearly, I was busy at work and everything and I nearly didn't bother. And then I thought 'well, I suppose I better do, I ought to go'.

Says that her daughter is extremely anxious that she might get breast cancer.

I've got the concern now, because I've had it, the concern is for my daughter. Because she's convinced herself that she is going to get cancer. She's convinced herself that she is going to get breast cancer and she's been told that she can't go for a mammogram until she's older again, whereas I think....

How old is she? 

She's 24.  Whereas I think that if there is a history of it in the family, again that, she should be allowed to, she should have the option. 

Have you discussed this with your daughter?

I have, yes. 

She feels convinced or she's worried? 

She feels convinced that she's going to get it, yes. 

So does she check herself and...?

She checks herself, but she's actually become depressed over it.  It's had an effect on her that it, depressed, you know, she suffers with depression and I mean when she goes to the doctors and asks she always gets a negative attitude because she's so young, don't worry. 

Had no symptoms except tiredness before her diagnosis and feels that breast screening should be available to younger women.

But, as I say, the thing that concerned, well worried me most, was the fact that I didn't have a lump and all the publicity you see for breast cancer telling you to look for a lump, but there's other symptoms as well. Because the tiredness must have been one of the symptoms and it made me think "well, how many other people since then are walking about that, not as lucky as me, and had that letter through the post". That must happen quite often. So I think someone up there was looking down on me at the time. 

If someone was thinking about going for a mammogram, but wasn't sure about going, because some people don't attend for screening, what would you say to them?

I would tell them to go, definitely, because if it hadn't have been for me going, I wouldn't be here now, would I? You know, I wouldn't be talking [laughs] to you across the table today, this minute. If I had of just, which I very nearly did, said "oh, I won't bother", and I would have signed my own death sentence wouldn't I. Because I had, yes, I had ... I think it should be done for younger women because, as I say I was only, I was 43, I think it should be done from the age of 40, screening.