Meena - Interview 42

Age at interview: 60

Brief Outline:

Meena always attends for routine screening and has had normal results. She doesn't worry about breast screening or the results before her appointments.

Background:

Meena is retired. She is married with 5 adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: British Indian.

More about me...

Meena has had three routine mammograms in London and about two in Cheshire, which is where she lived before moving to London with her family. She felt there were no differences between the procedure in the two different units. She has always attended for screening every three years and has had normal results. She expects her invitation letter in the same month every three years. On one occasion when she didn't receive her invitation letter when expected, she chased it up and was sent an appointment date several weeks later.  

Meena finds the results letter clear and said that, if she was unsure about it, her daughter would read it and translate it for her. Her daughter also helps her with any form-filling.

If Meena has any problems, her daughter helps her fill in forms and translates letters for her.

Every time you have had the appointment you have always gone?

Oh yes.

You have never missed?

No.

Never missed it?

No.

Never missed it. And this time when it was late, you phoned them? 

That is right yes.

No problem. And if you read the letter and you are not sure, you ask your daughter?

Yes. If I don't understand anything, you know, then I ask my daughter and she explains to me, fills out the form for me if I can't do it. So they help me, you know.

And sometimes they do have leaflets in Gujarati?

Yes.

Have you read those?

Yes, but I haven't got any in Gujarati this time. It is easy to understand Gujarati. 

If this letter came in Gujarati, would it be easier for you?

Not really. It doesn't make any difference to me because if I don't understand I ask my daughter you know. So there is no big difference.

No difference. How it comes now is okay?

Yes.

When Meena phoned to find out why she hadn't received her routine invitation for screening, she...

And this time or any time that you have been for breast screening has it just been normal, straightforward, or has there been any problems, like very long waiting or'?

In the hospital or'

Both?

Oh no. But this year I didn't get the letter straight away. Because I phoned them and they said that they are behind because something happened, you know. So they just take my name, and they sent me the appointment, you know.

This time the appointment came late?

Yes. Because they said they are behind'

Yes. And when the appointment didn't come, did you worry?

Oh I was not worried but I just was worried why I didn't get the appointment. So I just phoned them, you know.

So you were expecting'?

I was expecting that it might come any time, you know, but it didn't come by the time, so I just rang them.

And you remembered, I must be expecting the appointment this time around this year?

Yes, because they say every three years and I had been a keeping a record. Yes. So I know about this time, the appointment would be come. 

And when it didn't come you rang them?

That is right.

And it came a bit late?

Yes. They said they would send it but they were behind so'

And every time you have had the appointment you have always gone?

Oh yes.

You have never missed?

No.

Never missed it. And this time when it was late, you phoned them? 

That is right yes.