when should i have my first mamogram?

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myhueandcry
myhueandcry Member Posts: 3
edited June 2014 in High Risk for Breast Cancer
when should i have my first mamogram?
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  • myhueandcry
    myhueandcry Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2008

    hi, i am 36 years old and my mom has had breast cancer twice over the last 15 years. in nov. of 2007 she was diagnosed with a recurrence in her spine, which was treated with radiation. she is currently taking arimidex. 

    my doctor is aware of this history, but insists a mamogram isn't neccesary for me until i am 40. i am in shape, a non-smoker, healthy diet, do not take birth-control pills, and have no children. i do self-exams, but i am still concerned i will miss something. my mom worries too. is it really too soon for a mamogram to be helpful? how about as a baseline? i am debating switching doctors based on the advice i recieve here. 

    thank you very much.

    m.

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  • PSK07
    PSK07 Member Posts: 781
    edited April 2008

    Hi, m.

    At what age was your mom diagnosed?  The typical mammo is 40, but with a first-degree relative, they usually want you to have one at 40 or when you're 10 years younger than your relative at her first occurrence, whichever is earlier.  I was 46, so my girls will have theirs at 36.  My mom's occurence was when she was 62, so I had my first at 40. 

    There's nothing that says that you're in the clear til 40, and the younger mom was when she was dx, the more you need to be vigilant.  If the doc is worried about breast density, digital mammos and especially MRIs can provide clearer pictures.

    take care. Best to you and your mom.

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  • rockwell_girl
    rockwell_girl Member Posts: 1,710
    edited April 2008

    M please get that mamo now!!!

    I suggest all women get mamo's at the age of 35 than 37 than 39 and every year after that.  I had no family history and waited till I was 40.  For me that was to late to save my breast.  I was shocked to see cancer in half of my breast.  I wish I knew how many women under the age of 40 get breast cancer and that now some suggest the ages I mentioned.  I wished I had heard that. 

    I'm hopefull everything will be fine for you but early detection is the key

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  • Rachel4623
    Rachel4623 Member Posts: 11
    edited April 2008
    Please take a look here!
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  • calimom
    calimom Member Posts: 1
    edited April 2008

    My mom is 62 and was diagnosed in August 2007 with stage 2 breast cancer.  I'm 38 (mother of 2) and just had a mamo & ultrasound done last month.  My doctor did not find anything during my breast exam but ordered the mamo/ultrasound for my peace of mind.  She ordered both in order to compare them.  I'm glad that she did because the ultrasound found a couple of areas of concern.  I'm seeing a surgeon next month to see if they can remove the growth and have them tested.  If my doctor hadn't ordered the tests, God only knows what would have happened if she waited 2 more years to order a regular mamo.  You're never too young to have one.  Just keep pressuring your Dr. into doing it or switch to someone who will.  God Bless you & your mom.

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  • LorenaB
    LorenaB Member Posts: 937
    edited April 2008

    I have a family history of bc but not as strong as yours -- my maternal aunt, at the age of 49, and my paternal grandma, but she was over 80 at the time.  Nevertheless, my doctor recommended a baseline mammogram between the ages of 35 and 39 (my health insurance covered it).  I had my baseline at 39 (all normal) and then when I went back at 41 for my first "regular" mammogram and they found a suspicious lump, they had something to compare it to.  I strongly recommend getting a baseline done within the next year!  I also just talked to an old friend last night who went for her first mammogram at 40 and was diagnosed with bc (LCIS).  She did not know anything about her family history (she was adopted) and really wanted to get the mammogram earlier but her doctor discouraged it. 

    Go do it, change doctors if you have to -- it will probably be fine and then you (and your mom) can breathe easier!

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  • leaf
    leaf Member Posts: 8,188
    edited April 2008

    Here's a link to more about mammos. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/mammograms/index.jsp



    I think there is some controversy about mammos for very young women. In very young women, most breasts are very dense and hard to see anything in mammograms, and they may be more sensitive to mammography radiation, although the mammography dose is quite small. However, I think the most common recommendation is, as has been said, to start mammograms at age 40, or 10 years before the age of the relative's breast cancer, whichever is earlier. It is a risk vs benefit situation, and I think most think the benefit outweighs the risk.



    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17038413?ordinalpos=6&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum



    http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9718526?ordinalpos=17&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum

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  • myhueandcry
    myhueandcry Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2008

    hi all,

    thank you, this is sound advice and i will push my doctor for a baseline mamogram at my next appt, which is coming up. my mom was 60 when she was diagnosed the first time.

    thanks again,

    m 

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  • lag
    lag Member Posts: 209
    edited April 2008

    I had my first mamogram done at 37, (thats four years ago) and thank god I did, because that is where and when they found my BC. the tumor was 5cm. I dont mean for this to scare anyone, but the sooner you have those tests (mamogram) done the better chance tht there is to catch something earlier on.

    lag

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  • kimbly
    kimbly Member Posts: 398
    edited April 2008

    I had my first at 35 and have no history of bc in my family that I know of ( adoptive dad).  The baseline was fine and so was the one after that done at age 41.  The cancer was found after 4 yrs of skipping... so i would get it now.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited April 2008

    My gyn sent me for a baseline mammo when I was 34 because of my mom's  history of bc. (she was 57).  I then had repeat mammos at 36 and 38, then started yearly at age 39.  I was diagnosed with LCIS at age 46. I don't understand why your doctor won't let you go now for a baseline mammo, especially with your mom's history of bc.  I had no problem with insurance coverage becuase of my family history.  I would push for a mammo.  If you don't get anywhere, get another doctor to send you for one.

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  • Peaches70
    Peaches70 Member Posts: 210
    edited April 2008

    Not having children is a risk factor, so I would definitely get that mammo done soon.

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  • Leeayn
    Leeayn Member Posts: 40
    edited May 2008

    My mother was diagnosed, had a mastectomy in 1985, she was 56 at the time.  Back then, my dr recommended that I have a mammogram, I was 24.  I have had a mammogram every year since, which is how my breast cancer was detected this year. 

    My girls are 24 and almost 26.  My oldest is having an ultra-sound at the end of May, the Dr. didn't want to do a mammogram, she's of child-bearing age and they recommended not subjecting her to that much radiation from the mammogram.  As long as she's checked, that's what matters the most.  My youngest daughter, her dr said the same thing, they will do an ultrasound (or sonogram, can't remember). 

    And the Dr. said the same thing to us, they should get a baseline now, and every few years, then yearly 10 years earlier than I was diagnosed.  So they will start yearly at the age of 37 since I was diagnosed at 47. 

    It's more of a peace of mind for me to have them checked.  Both my mother and mother-in-law both have had breast cancer, now me.  All are negative on the gene test, though  :)  which is good!

    Fighting Cancer with Dignity and Grace

    <><  Keeping the Faith  <><

    www.caringbridge.org/visit/leeaynbyrd

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  • Deen
    Deen Member Posts: 105
    edited May 2008

    Butting in here without having read the entire thread - sorry of I'm off path, but going off the initial positing question. 

    I don't want to be a scare-monger but, my mother was diagnosed at 45, had a recurrence 11 years later and passed 3 years after that.

    I started having mammos at 30 and was diagnosed the second time I had one.  Only got them at my insistence.  I caught it early and it was only stage one.  But, I had a bi-lat with immediate recon, just because I never want to go through this again. 

    I personally think that if you have bc in your family, waiting til 40 is a gamble.  But,  you need to do what feels right to you.

    best,

    D.

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  • jezza
    jezza Member Posts: 698
    edited May 2008

    I asked to be referred for a mammogram when I was 40. My mum had been dx 12 months earlier (she was 73)

    I was told, no..women should get to know their own breasts etc. Well I guess I did that as I found my malignant lump about  3 or  4 months later.

    I would have liked to have had the opportunity to have had that mammogram when I had asked.

    For peace of mind I would ask for a proper examination.

    jezza

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