Patricia - Interview 43

Age at interview: 64

Brief Outline:

Patricia had bleeding from her nipple, which was harmless, and a cyst. She always attends for screening and wants to continue after age seventy.

Background:

Patricia is a retired admin assistant. She is married with two adult children. Ethnic background/nationality: White British.

More about me...

Patricia had her first mammogram around 1986 because she'd had bleeding from her left nipple. She was frightened because she'd heard that breast changes can be a symptom of breast cancer. The results were normal and she had no other breast concerns. 

Since the age of fifty, Patricia has had routine mammograms on the NHS Breast Screening Programme. After one of these appointments she was recalled because the x-ray detected a lump. Patricia was shocked because she hadn't felt anything. She saw a consultant privately and was told that the lump was actually a cyst and had started dispersing by itself. 

Patricia attends for breast screening every three years. She finds mammograms uncomfortable for a very short time. She had her last mammogram in 2007 and was awaiting the results. She feels that it is important to attend for screening and has known friends and family who have had cancer. She is pleased women over seventy can continue being screened on the NHS Breast Screening Programme and wants to continue having mammograms after the age of seventy. 

Patricia said the mobile units she's been to are smaller than the hospital units. The atmosphere...

And every time you have been, over the last few years, you mentioned at one point it was in a Portacabin?

Yes.

Now it is in the '

The building, yes. Yes.

The static unit. Have you noticed a difference at all over the last few years in the way that it is done?

Well I felt there was rather a long wait this time, but for what reason I don't know, whereas in the portacabin you seemed to be in and out very quick. But I think the setting, you know, the ambience of the place, it is nice and calm and it has got a nice feeling about it in there. And of course, well the receptionist and the radiologist, whatever you call the people that do it, they are all very, very nice, very kind, very, you know. And I should imagine if you have to go back they would be very, very sympathetic.

And in the portacabin, it was more in and out or was it busier or' was there a different atmosphere?

Well there was a different atmosphere because it was quite small, the waiting area, I don't think they had many people at a time, where obviously now there is more rooms, so obviously more people can gather at the same time for them. But I must admit it was rather a long wait this time. I mean, it was an hour before we even went in. Some people, they had waited an hour past the time. 

Past the appointment time?

Yes. I mean I waited about 40 minutes past my appointment time, but I mean it needs to be done so, you know, and you don't know what happened earlier, there could have been lots of things that have gone wrong, I don't know.

At one of her appointments, Patricia asked the radiographer about the radiation risks with...

And throughout the times that you have been, have you ever had any questions you wanted to ask them?

Once or twice, you know, I remember asking about, they say that there is a very small dosage of radiation and I remember asking one of the ladies that was doing it, and she explained quite fully that it was a very, very small amount and she wouldn't be worried at all and there was no need for concern for anybody. But, it was, you know, she was glad that I had asked her. 

And you mentioned that you sometimes read the leaflets. Do you read it every time you go or now that you are so familiar with the process…?

No, that is the problem, because I have been going for quite a few years you just, you know, accept what is going on and get on with it sort of thing. 

Overall you have asked, you know, the odd question. Have you overall been happy with …?

Oh yes. I am completely happy with the breast screening units, well [hospital name] anyway because that is the only one I have ever been to.

Patricia wants to continue having routine mammograms after she's 70 because many people in their 70s and 80s are still very active and healthy.

I am really pleased that they have upped the age limit from 64 to 70 because people are living longer and people of 60-65 do not seem old people. Even if you are old, you should still have it done. I appreciate now you can still get it done over 70 if asked for, but I  think that should be actually advertised more because, until I went to the last screening, I didn't know that this has actually gone from 64 to 70 which made me wonder in the beginning when I hadn't heard and I thought I had been missed, but I hadn't, that was just a misunderstanding on my point, that I was so pleased because I was thinking this was the last time I was going, time I was going to get it.

Yeah. So people should be told more that it is up to the age of 70?

70, and if required afterwards you can ask for it, according to the information I was given on this visit.

You were given that information at the visit, but you didn't have a leaflet with your invitation?

No, whether it was just unfortunately missed, you know, left off I don't know.

That is a very good point. So when you get to the age of 70 would you like to carry on?

Well yes. I can't see why people at any age, over the age of 50 obviously, you have them done before if there is a problem, but you know, I don't see, because some people 75, 80, are so active and so energetic and so healthy, and so well. But it doesn't mean to say that they couldn't be treated if they, you know, got a lump or any other type of thing to do with cancer. 

So you would phone after the age of 70?

Well I think I would. I think I would. I definitely think it is a marvellous thing to' well it is prevention. Not in every case but in lots and lots of cases, it is prevention.

Before she was eligible for routine screening mammograms, Patricia had bleeding from her nipple and her doctor referred her for a diagnostic mammogram.

One evening I felt sort of discomfort around my left breast. When I got home and changed my top I noticed that there was blood in my bra. Obviously I was concerned, went to the doctors, who then sent me for a mammogram. Fortunately it turned out to be okay. It was just one of those things. From then on, I have gone periodically up to the age when you start having them every three years, to have them. 

That very first time that you went for a mammogram, this was because there had been some bleeding?

Yes, from the left nipple.

Yes, and what were your thoughts at the time, were you worried or did you just think …?

No I was scared, because obviously it wasn't that long ago, it was many years back now, but obviously we all knew about cancer and we all thought if anything changes etc. Probably I was frantic at the time, but you do seem to forget as time goes on, your thoughts, you know, when it's okay… 

Yes. So you then quickly you got an appointment. First you went to your GP?

Yes. Who arranged quite… it was quite fast getting the mammography done. 

Because you had private insurance?

No, not then. Not then, that was National Health.

So you quickly went for your first mammogram. Can you remember how old you were at that time? What was your age at that time?

Probably about twenty years ago. Because yes I was working for a careers office. I remember where I was working and that would have been about 20 years ago. 

And you went for your first mammogram. Did you know what to expect?

No, no, not at all. No.

Had you spoken to anybody else?

Yes, my friend had been, for what reason I can't remember, and she told me that she didn't realise that your breast could be flattened to that degree. I then knew what she meant, you don't realise that your breast could go as flat as pancakes [laughs].

So when you first went, did she tell what it was like beforehand?

Yes. Sort of, she said, it doesn't hurt, I remember her saying to me it doesn't hurt, it is just uncomfortable and it is. 

After a routine mammogram, Patricia was referred to a breast clinic because a cyst was found. It...

I thought it was only about six years ago, but I have now found it was at least ten years ago, that they found, as they said at the beginning, a lump in my breast. I immediately went to see a private breast consultant, who fortunately said that it was a cyst that had dispersed into two and it was draining away. I have, since then, had no problems whatsoever. I do go to the breast screening when I am called every three years and I must say that I am grateful for the service.

I just went regularly and got the letter saying it is okay, each time. Which you hold your breath when you are opening it. I should imagine every woman does and it was up until, I thought it was only about six years ago, but on reflection it must be ten years ago. I came back from holiday and my daughter had said that the doctor had been trying to get hold of me ex amount of times. I rang the doctor immediately and went to see her. She then said to me, 'They have found something in your breast.' And she asked me about had I got private insurance. I said I had got part cover and within a day or two I had seen a breast consultant at the [local private] Hospital I believe, and then later that week, a few days later, I had a latish appointment at the [city hospital]. I can't remember the doctor's name, but he explained that it was a cyst, that it had broken into two. He was going to drain it, but he felt that there was no need to do that. And from then on I haven't had a problem. I have been once before this time and it came back fine. And I am waiting for the results of the mammogram that I had a couple of weeks ago.