mammograms

[Alnmouth]

Doctor ordered a mammogram. I have metastatic breast cancer. Does anyone else still get mammograms

[nstonerocks]

Yes. I had original lump removed even tho I was metastatic at diagnosis. I don’t have any cancer in my breasts. Just everywhere else😫

[Barbteeth]

Six months before I was diagnosed with my original breast cancer 26 years ago...I had a mammogram and it didn’t show anything sinister so I’m not a great fan of mammograms... if breast tissue is dense then it won’t pick up a cancer

I agree with Sandra...we’re already metastatic and having treatment so I can’t see the point....unless your oncologist has a specific reason to do this

Barb xx

[Duranteg]

No, not necessary with scans every three months. Mammograms did not detect my MBC, so no confidence in them for MBC.

[Teddielottie]

I am in the U.K. (N.H.S.) and I still have an annual mammogram on my left side. I had a mastectomy /axillary clearance and reconstruction on my right side in November 2017 just before my stage 4 was discovered , and I then started on Ibrance in December 2017. I then had a breast reduction on my left side in November 2018 , but have continued to be given a mammogram on that side , in early 2019 and 2020 . I did ask my breast care nurse in Feb of this year whether I still needed a mammogram (on my non -affected left side ) as I was having ct scans (for my bone mets which are stable, currently every 8 months) , and she said that ct scans were not as good as mammograms at detecting bc in breast tissue .

I would therefore ask your oncologist the reason for it if you are unsure . x

[Kathyquilts]

Yes, just one annually, since I get PET scans every 3 months.

[Hidden]

Yes, as my mets are in my lungs and lymphnodes

[SusieIM]

Yeah I don't see the point of having a mammogram either.

[Kiera49]

I am interested In this post as I asked breast care nurses I wont still need a mammogram, they said dont think so ask your onc

[hdhonda]

Not me. I am on Letrozole/Ibrance and since that will treat any breast cancer they don't do mammos anymore. They do cat scan on my lungs every three months. Blessings Hannah

[PJBinMI]

I'm a long term metavivor, 16 years with bone mets, constant treatment. I still get an annual mammogram at the insistence of my gynecologist. She has said something like this 'having one type of bc is no guarantee you won't get another type." Also, she prescribes compounded testosterone cream for me to apply to my vagina daily to help prevent vaginal dryness and atrophy as I have been on hormonal treatment this whole time and lack of estrogen can cause those side effects. I trust my doctors and having an annual mammogram is no big deal to me, not something I'm going to argue with my docs about. I'll save that for something more important. Somebody here mentioned mammograms now showing her bc--that's true for me, too. I had 3 mammograms in the 13 months before I was diagnosed with mbc and they have never shown cancer in my breast. I have lobular bc, which forms strands of single deep cancer cells and it is known to not show up on mammograms alot of the time.

[SpongebobMom]

I do, only had unilateral mastectomy, so there's a chance a primary BRCA could show up in "healthy" side.

[SeattleMom]

Hello, Alnmouth,

I don’t speak from experience, as I had double mastectomy when first diagnosed with BC IN 2000 (MBC in 2017) so no mammograms in past 20 years.

However, I do recall one member of this group mentioning that her oncologist recommended continuing with mammograms. Apparently there could be risk of new primary BC with completely different profile; ie different treatment required.

God bless you on this stressful journey!

🙏🏻🙏🏻💗💗 Linda

[hurricaneheather]

have not been a proponent of mammograms, and the first one ever "missed" the cancer. i found the lump later that year through self exam. regardless, once the mets dx, i chose to stop mammograms, as scans became routine. the med onc and breast onc, as well as gyn, were ok with my choice. as of 2019, scans are every 8 months. blood work, including tumor markers are every 4 months. if i request, or the onc chooses, tests and scans will be adjusted.

[illini9]

I too was diagnosed denovo after regular mamms. At first I did them but then it was like why - we have the PET and CT that show everything. My Onc and OBGYN agreed.

[Hidden]

I have never had a mammogram since I was diagnosed. I asked my oncologist and he said there was no reason as I know I have it.