Small lumps/Mammogram

june92

Hi,
I found a few small lumps in breast last week and went to my doc. He referred me for mammogram and ultrasound immediately as he was worried after he examined me.
I rang hospital to make appointment and was told routine mammograms/ultrasounds are no longer done,I will have to send in referral letter and triage consultant will determine if I'm seen within 2,6 or 12 weeks. Then when I do get appt I won't get mammogram/ultrasound instead I will get examined by doctor who will then decide if I get further tests.
My doc already told me that they may not give me mammogram as I'm only 24 and I might only get ultrasound. I couldn't believe this!!! I am now worried that just because of my age they may fob me off, nurse wasn't too concerned on phone when I told her my age her response was "Oh sure your only 24,your far too young for mammogram.Prob be wasting your time coming into clinic"
Kicking myself now I didnt leather her down phone
Can I demand mammogram when I'm in with doc in clinic?

june92

june92 wrote: »

Hi,
I found a few small lumps in breast last week and went to my doc. He referred me for mammogram and ultrasound immediately as he was worried after he examined me.
I rang hospital to make appointment and was told routine mammograms/ultrasounds are no longer done,I will have to send in referral letter and triage consultant will determine if I'm seen within 2,6 or 12 weeks. Then when I do get appt I won't get mammogram/ultrasound instead I will get examined by doctor who will then decide if I get further tests.
My doc already told me that they may not give me mammogram as I'm only 24 and I might only get ultrasound. I couldn't believe this!!! I am now worried that just because of my age they may fob me off, nurse wasn't too concerned on phone when I told her my age her response was "Oh sure your only 24,your far too young for mammogram.Prob be wasting your time coming into clinic"
Kicking myself now I didnt leather her down phone
Can I demand mammogram when I'm in with doc in clinic?

Anyone

biomed32

Try the marie keating foundation, they may be able to give you some advice.

QuiteInterestin

Sorry OP for what you're going through, don't know much about Brest screening but here's what I think for what its worth.

june92 wrote: »

Hi, I found a few small lumps in breast last week and went to my doc. He referred me for mammogram and ultrasound immediately as he was worried after he examined me.I rang hospital to make appointment and was told routine mammograms/ultrasounds are no longer done,I will have to send in referral letter and triage consultant will determine if I'm seen within 2,6 or 12 weeks. Then when I do get appt I won't get mammogram/ultrasound instead I will get examined by doctor who will then decide if I get further tests.

From what you've said about visiting your GP, it sounds like your GP has already referred you for this test and there should be no need for you to send in another referral letter. When you rang the hospital, did they tell you if they had received your GPs letter? AFAIK, when a hospital receives a referral letter, their consultants will prioritise it as urgent, semi urgent and routine and this will determine how quickly they will be seen (this has been my experience anyways, though it wasn't for breast screening). Maybe the hospital misunderstood and thought you were ringing asking about how to go about getting a referral not when you were due to be called (did they ask you your full name and DOB and check to see if they had a record of you?)? I think you should confirm with the hospital if they have received your GPs letter and if not, check with your GP if the letter was sent and which hospital it was sent to.

june92 wrote: »

My doc already told me that they may not give me mammogram as I'm only 24 and I might only get ultrasound. I couldn't believe this!!! I am now worried that just because of my age they may fob me off, nurse wasn't too concerned on phone when I told her my age her response was "Oh sure your only 24,your far too young for mammogram.Prob be wasting your time coming into clinic"
Kicking myself now I didnt leather her down phone
Can I demand mammogram when I'm in with doc in clinic?

In relation to not having a mammogram, as far as I know, mammograms aren't the best tool for detecting cancer in younger women as breast tissue is denser and so if cancer is present, it is more difficult to detect. Other tests (such as the ultrasound) are used, so this is probably why you wouldn't be given a mammogram as it mightn't be appropriate for someone of your age.

Anyways, like I said this is just my opinion of what is likely to have happened, I could be totally wrong, I've no personal experience of Breast check etc, any info I have is from the internet and hearsay. All I can suggest is you get on to your hospital again on Monday and find out if they got your GPs letter and when you are due to be called. If they haven't got it (or they consider you to be routine) check with your GP if they sent the letter or if they agree with the priority the hospital has given you. If they don't, they maybe able to send another letter to the hospital asking you to be seen more quickly.

Best of luck with it all, hopefully it will turn out to be nothing
All the best, QI

lonestargirl

An ultrasound is often used preferrably in younger women. This is because they tend to have a higher amount of dense tissue in their breasts which makes it difficult to distinguish anything on a mammogram. Hospitals don't take rountine referrals for mammograms anymore because any suspicious lump is seen in a breast clinic. Here they will do ultrasound/mammogram where applicable and if the breast specialist feels it necessary they can do a biopsy there and then. GPs can refer online directly to these breast clinics - there are 8 around the country.

See this thread for more details.

EDIT: I cross posted with QI who had some useful advice also

The Princess Bride

Would never let anyone fob me off about my health-
go back to your GP and tell him about your experience.Perhaps if he rang himself,you'd have a better chance?

To be honest,ultrasound is a very popular diagnostic tool with breast lumps,so don't feel you're missing out if you don't get a mammogram.

Also, don't put up with rude staff either,it's highly unprofessional ,especially when you're worried.

Take care and good luck.