Interview 39

Age at interview: 68

Brief Outline:

Attended for first routine mammogram around age 50. Didn't attend again. Had breast indentation at age 63. Was diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and had treatment.

Background:

A retired secretary. Married with 3 adult children.

She wondered whether her experiences of mammograms depended on the radiographer's skill.

No it was only after I'd had it [the mammogram]. And I really was literally bent over in pain when I came out. Not everybody finds it painful, some do. So foolishly I said to myself I'm not going back for any more, and I didn't. 

So if I was to ask you to sum up your views on screening - breast screening, what would you say?

Well I would say yes, I think it's a good thing, but I don't know if they could train operators to make it less painful.

Did they say beforehand, this might be a bit painful?

No.

And when you've had them on other occasions it's been a bit painful, but never like that first time?

No, that's correct.

So you'll carry on going?

Yes, I would. 

She'd been screened once but decided not to go again. Some years later she noticed an indentation in her breast.

Well as far as I can remember, I think it must go back twelve years, because I went for a mammogram at the National Health place, and I found it extremely painful. And I was bent double when I came out. So I said I'm not going to have another one, which should have been every three years, and I didn't go for it. And then of course I realised afterwards, well a few years I'd missed, obviously, and I found this indent in the breast, a breast indentation, whatever you call it. 

I saw my GP. She referred me to the surgeon and it was a few weeks wait, and then I decided to go privately to a consultant, which I did, and he operated the next week.

Recommends screening and feels that doctors should do more to follow up women who haven't attended.

Okay, and what's your opinion or view on mammograms, with everything that's happened?   

Well yes, they must be useful, I still think so, I do. Yes I'd go in for them, yes.

What would you say to someone who has been invited for their first mammogram, and they're not sure about going?  

Oh, I'd tell them to go, definitely, yes, mm. 

So you do go every time now?   

Yeah. 

Even though it's a bit painful?    

Yes.   

You just put up with it?   

Yes, that's right. Oh yes, the first one, as I say, was very painful indeed. The others weren't. So it must have been the operator, I don't know.   

So you missed a few and found the indentation yourself?

Yes, that's right. Yeah.  

And went to the doctors?

Yeah, yeah.     

And did they say anything about you not going for screening, or anything like that?     

No, no. In fact really, I think they were wrong. Because although I didn't go on my appointment, they didn't write and follow me up, and say 'why didn't you come?' Or talk to me. Now I think that's wrong. I think they should have done that. Whether I went or not, but they should have done that, I think. But as I say this was a few years ago. They might be more attentive today.      
 

She took HRT for brittle bones and feels it might have caused her breast cancer.

I was taking HRT, and I do think it was that. Nobody will confirm it of course, but I do believe it.

How long had you been on the HRT?

I'd been on it a few years. It might have even been going on for five, I don't know. I used to go every three months, or six months, to see the HRT doctor. I saw her a few weeks before I was diagnosed with cancer, and she didn't know even though she'd examined me.

She'd examined your breasts every time?

Yes I think she did. I can't remember to be honest, because it's a while ago now, but I did go every three or six months to the HRT doctor. Not at my practice, that was somewhere else. But I do believe it was the HRT, yes.

Did she ever examine your breasts at all, while you were on HRT?

Yes.

Did you examine them yourself?

No, just looked, basically, yes. But knowing what I know now, I wouldn't have gone on HRT. It took me a while to - I only went on it because she said my bones were sort of 50-50. (It took me nine months to decide), and we all believe that HRT caused the cancer. My daughters think that as well. I don't suppose they'll go on it.

Found mammograms extremely painful and chose not to attend for screening for many years.

And I really was literally bent over in pain when I came out. And not everybody finds it painful, some do. So foolishly I said I'm not going back for any more, and I didn't. 

When you got the results back off that'?

That was all right, clear. Yes, that's right. And I should have gone back I think about three years later, but I didn't.

Yeah. And then three years later again, you didn't?

That's right. I'm just trying to think how long afterwards. Well I'm coming up for five years now, so it was before - it was in the last twelve years.