Breast Screening

How long did it take before you get the results? 

I think between fourteen and twenty-one days.

So while you're waiting for the results do you ever think about the letter or the results or not at all? 

I did this time with my doctor saying, and this thing that came out about HRT and breast cancer you know, and if you're on the dual one you're more likely to get it. And I did think this time am I going to be lucky still and it was lovely to get the letter, I thought oh yippee you know, saying I was clear you know.

What did that letter actually say?

Oh I've thrown it away.

That's okay. Is it clear or do you ever think I'm not sure what this means?

Oh yes it's clear, it says I'm not required you know, and we'll see you kind of in three years time, so you know that everything was alright.

So how long does it usually take before you get the results?

Only about three weeks I think, it wasn't long before I got that. And each time when it comes I think oh crikey, that's quick. Which you do because sometimes you know they'll say "Oh we'll let you know, it could be a while but we'll let you know." But I suppose if there was anything wrong you don't worry because you think, well if anything was wrong anyway they would be writing to you or ringing you up and telling you to go back again, yeah.

But between the time you have the mammogram and you get the results, do you think about the results or you just get on with things? 

No, not really. I just get on with my life and you know.

It doesn't worry you at all?

No, no I just think oh well they'll ring me up straight away or something if there's anything wrong [laughs].

And when you get the letter is it a relief?

Yeah you think oh this is it, you know there's nothing wrong you know.
 

While you were waiting the very first time, how did you feel when you were waiting for the results, did you think about it a lot or?

Oh, I was obsessed with it, absolutely obsessed. Because they did say to me that it takes a few weeks, well a few weeks for me, by the end of the first week I was already watching the post. So, as I said, I was totally obsessed with it. I mean, I'm not any more. If it happens to me, it happens to me and I shall have treatment and hope for the best but at that point, no I drove the entire family mad.  I was phoning home from my office every morning, "is there any post for me?" 

So did they know you were worried about the results...?

Yes, yes [laughing] 

What were your expectations of the results?

Oh, I felt sure there would be something disastrously wrong. And when it came I kept thinking, oh the letter says there's nothing to worry about, "no need for further action" or some such phrase. I kept thinking, it's too good to be true. And then, of course, I had to unwind, didn't I? Because I'd got so uptight with all this self-imposed worry. 

So the first time you were really anxious when you were waiting for the results, how about the second time? 

I was quite blas' about it [laughing]. They'll come when they come and whatever they are, they are. 

And that was because you'd done so much more reading and? 

Yes, and also because I know that having had the mammogram half way through the 3 year span of time, if it does turn out that there's something there, it hasn't had too long to get a hold.

And how about this time, this waiting for results, how is it? 

Yes, I'm not too, I mean I know I shall be a little bit nervous when I open the envelope just in case there's something in it, something I don't want to see. But no, I'm not too worried. 
 

Another thing which I think I find a bit alarming, or a bit anxiety making, a bit angst making, is the fact that the radiographers, or the people that actually do the scanning, they have different attitudes to you. And the last time, the very last time I went, which must be the fourth time I've been so I'm quite an old hand at it now, the women, the radiographers were coming out and saying to the women, "Are you all right? Fine, yeah, no it was fine, you're all right, you'll get a letter in a couple weeks' time." 

Well the girl that I had doing mine was a learner, she was a student and she was being very careful and very concerned and when she came out to tell me about mine she came out and said "Thank you very much, your scan was done and it's, and we've got the pictures and you'll be hearing from us." And immediately I was ahh, why, why isn't she talking to me like the other people are being talked to? Why isn't she saying "Everything's all right," da di da, you know, something must be wrong, there's something wrong. So then I spent the next period thinking what am I going to hear? What am I going to hear? And of course the letter came and everything was clear, so yeah. A lot depends on who you are dealing with, how you're feeling on the day, whether it's a nice experience or not. And after all at the end of the day all the scan's going to tell you is that you have got it or you haven't had it, but it isn't going to tell you that you're not going to get it.