Do mammograms always detect cancer ?

Im sorry you find yourself here having to look for reassurance but I would say, I had calcifications in breast in 2013 but subsequent mammograms in 2015 and 2018 showed clear. In 2021 I found a lump and found myself in this website after mastectomy, chemo and RT. I would ask for clarity and what they put the lumps etc down to. It’s important for you to feel happy with diagnosis. You could try ringing macmillan navigators for more info. I wish you well xx

Hi @Eve1064 I read your post and had to respond because I also had a completely clear mammogram whilst I had an obvious lump. However, an ultrasound then detected a lump which did indeed turn out to be cancerous. This had been seemingly invisible on mammogram. I was told this was due to tissue density.  I don't want to worry you and hopefully this is not the case for you. I would just suggest going back to your GP and pushing for a 2 week referral to put mind at rest. I suspect that otherwise this will be at the back of your mind and you will need reassurance. If it does turn out to be anything to be concerned about then it is better to know and to treat it. If it's nothing, then brilliant. Best of luck with everything and I hope you find reassurance.

Thank you so much ,I do feel something bit right and I am aware of the lumps and would prefer reassurance .Thank you so much for taking the time to reply and everyone on the forums are so inspirational and best wishes to you during your journey xx

Thank you so much ,I have a gp appointment at 9am I have been aware of these lumps now on my right breast for about 8 weeks now along with. Throbbing pain in my right shoulder blade that I’m convinced something not right as I’ve been wanting to sleep all the time and have no energy also .I am so glad you told me this and I’m sorry how it turned out for you but also glad you pursued and they found it .I do have really large breasts being a larger lady but I know this hard lumps weren’t there before and now with the mammogram result I’m getting everyone in my family to feel the lumps as I was starting to think I was imagining them so hood the gp doesn’t brush me of now he will have to mammogram results also as I would rather know for definite or be reassured and often my instincts have been right about things in the past . Thank you so so much for letting me know what happened to you so I know that I’m not wasting time by asking to be seen this morning and hopefully he will listen to me.Best wishes to you xxx

No

Hi, definitely push for an ultrasound.  I went to the beast clinic a few weeks ago, my mammogram was not clear because I have dense breasts apparently but the ultrasound picked it up.  I'm having an MRI today to confirm details and spread.

Hi Eve1064 I think you are right to follow your instincts and seek reassurance. An ultrasound would be the best follow up to a clear mammogram but obvious lump. I hope it goes well for you. Sending best wishes.  xxx

I went to gp this morning and she did a physical check although I felt rushed and not sure if she felt the lumps ,she also said she thought it was just breast tissue and lumps are normal and down to hormones ,also clear discharge from nipple normal as well although I’m 52 and it’s never been “my normal “ she said she would write to breast clinic but they might not see me because I’ve had a mammogram and now she has checked me over but expect it to take 8 weeks .I said i thought it was a 2 week referral Bd she said it was before ,then it was 4 and now it’s 8 and that the nhs was going down the pan (that was her words ) she said I hope that reassures you and I said not really but what can I do ? I will just have to wait and see if they improve and if not try and be seen by another doctor if that’s even possible .xx

Hi Eve, sorry to hear you're going through this.  I felt a lump and got referred on the two week referral, as I had had a mammogram within the last 6 months, they checked me out with ultrasound and found it looked suspicious.  I had it biopsied the same day and it was cancerous.  They did do subsequent mammogram and it didn't show up there, I had an MRI scan which showed another lump in the other breast which was biopsied and also cancerous.  Now having a bilateral lumpectomy in a couple of weeks.  Neither of these two cancers could be seen on mammogram, even the 3D tomosynthesis one.   Apparently my breast tissue is quite dense.  It would be worth asking about that when you do get referred.  I'm not sure if  you are post menopause or not but breast tissue may change around the time of the menopause, it could be that.  In the meantime try not to worry too much (easier said than done I know).  But do keep pushing for another referral.  

Hi and thank you for taking the time to comment .I would feel so much better if she had referred me for an ultrasound in the two week referral but presume I’ve been referred to the other breast clinic when she said it’s 8 weeks wait now and even then they might not see me .A year ago an orthopaedic consultant referred me to the breast clinic after the shoulder pain I had he noticed a lump in my armpit .The breast clinic then wrote to my gp asking if they could check it out first and when they did they just said it looked like a cyst and that was all but it’s still there and now this .I have been in hrt for 18 months and presume I’m post menopausal now as no period in that time due to partial hysterectomy .I will keep an eye on the lumps and request a different gp in a couple of weeks I think .

Im sorry to hear what you have been through but it’s best it’s been found and you can proceed with getting your treatment .Wishing you all the best and thank you again ,the stories in this site are so inspirational and it’s such a helpful page even if I feel I shouldn’t even be on here but my gut feeling tells me I need to be but until I feel reassured properly U won’t settle xx