1st year mammogram cancelled

Hi Ruthie yes my 1st year mammogram was all clear.I find it strange that your mammogram was cancelled I am still having CT scans as normal.Last one was in April and next one I have in the end of July.Also you should have a nurse but if you too anxious I would try to insist to have the mammogram.Also how can they tell you that your appt in December will be cancelled due Covid?How do they know that we will still have the virus?

I am sorry but these days use covid as excuse for everything.Please dont let them to get rid of you so easily if you want peace of mind try to insist on the mammogram or go private.

Janet

Hi Janet, I am a private patient! Which is why I don’t have a breast care nurse as they are only for nhs patients. The hospital has been taken over by the nhs and is being used as a Covid free hub by the nhs for their cancer patients. As I’m not deemed high risk it’s not considered necessary.

I’ve been told they haven’t even started on the back log ( from March)!as the only face to face appointments & diagnostics are for urgent cases and nhs. Which is why it’s unlikely the December appointment will go ahead as they’ll still be catching up!

As for scans the only one I’ve had was ultrasound at diagnosis, despite having 3/4 positive nodes after surgery. I asked and was told it wasn’t necessary tho I did get a planning ct for rads after chemo.

The thing is I really do know it’s more or less 100% going to be clear, but knowing it isn’t stopping my anxiety over it!

I had my first year mammogram this week -4 months late! Was only in there 5 minutes , just me and the radiographer. Was told I’d hear the results in 3 weeks. If I had any queries then to ring the BCN. I did have questions so rang but got no where as no face to face appointments are being carried out  “ to keep our patients safe” - I feel this is now just an excuse! I work as a dental nurse so at present I have to wear surgical face masks and visors ( not great when your getting hot flashes!) and am only 12 inches away from the patients mouth- I fail to see how having a consultation appointment where both parties are wearing PPE and are socially distancing is less safe than my working environment. I was due to have DIEP surgery this October but had my final consultation appointment cancelled so I’m not yet on the waiting list and have been told that it will be at least 18 months before this will now happen. In preparation for the operation I’ve lost nearly 2 stone so my false boob no longer fits but I can’t get measured for a new one as “ it’s not safe” . I am well and truly fed up! I haven’t had a proper consultation since my 6 week post op check and can’t see me getting one any time soon!

Hi I apologize I didnt know you are a private patient and you dont have nurses.

I was just trying to help.Looks like you are angry with NHS patients its not our fault.I am one and I am suffering with lymphoedema in my right arm I cant get it sorted since January and I am loosing my mobility in my arm.My appt for clinic was cancelled in March so unfortunately I am suffering too.And I am stage 4 cancer now.

So very sorry Janet you weren’t to know. It’s not something I shout about at all as I find that I’m judged a lot!

I’m truly not angry with the nhs or it’s patients one bit, if anything im angry with myself for finding myself in this situation!

I do find that once ppl ( I mean non cancer patients) find out I’m a private patient shutters come down and they secretly pleased it’s no where near as good as the nhs.

Hey...

I am a private patient but have a bc nurse if I need to talk or message someone....I also had my 2 year mammogram and consultation as normal ( masked up!) at the beginning of June - I am surprised you have been told this is as a valid reason to cancel or delay. My hospital was also used as a nhs extension and I am waiting for an operation but have been given dates in August....

Galligirl wow! I’m well jel! Lol! Looks like I simply lucked out which is typical!!! Wonder if it simply depends on the hospital? Perhaps in much the same way nhs trusts vary? 

Okay guys, lying here unable to sleep yet again with all kinds of stuff going round and round and it occurred to me that it seems I’m going off topic here, getting into a nhs v private debate.

thats not what I intended, I was merely asking for reassurance that the vast majority of first yr mammograms are clear! That’s all. Not laying blame or fault, it is what it is, I felt if I heard positive experiences it would stop my negative thoughts. 

Thanks in advance, now I must get some sleep somehow as I’ve my almost 2yr old grandson coming at 8 this morning x

Just had an email to say it’s definitely cancelled and I’m now on the recall list for May 2021. They still haven’t resumed face to face appointments.

Now it’s definitely cancelled I’m not too sure how I feel right now!

Hi ruthie2

On a positive note they must think you are at low risk. However they have to realise the anxiety of those of us just completed treatment. Yes we will have to accept a delay in mammogram appointments due to COVID but I do feel asking you to wait until May is unacceptable. I think all of us would hope we wouldn’t have to wait till then. Especially when you hear of others who are getting their appointment promptly.

So I think you should get your complaint hat on but appreciate it’s not an easy thing to do. In my case throughout treatment I just got on with it and didn’t get upset about the future. As many here have said it was after my treatment finished a month ago that my mind is now racing ahead and imagining all types of scenarios. Reading posts here I calm myself by finding that’s quite normal. I have got myself in such a tizzy I can’t bring myself to check out my remaining boob. I am terrified if I find anything. I have got my final consultant appointment on 21st and will force myself to check things before that just in case. But the thought of waiting till May is too scary !! I got wonderful care with NHS throughout but I would be tempted to have a private mammogram if asked to wait so long.

Best of luck and try not to be too anxious. Eeeeek !
Love Jojodot