Is a mammogram a good idea?

a good friend just moved to england.  she's had two abnormal pap smears, and she had pre-cancerous (i think that's the correct termnology) cells removed from her cervix.

she went to see the dr the other day- to register- she mentioned these abnormal paps and said that she wants a pap smear every year.  they said that they would not do it.  she asked about paying privately, but still they wouldn't do it.

where else can she go to get private smears done?  should she change drs or surgeries to see if someone else has a different opinion?  or is there a private planned parenthood type thing? 

meggles, this is pretty much what I have encountered.  When I was about 13 or 14 I had a cyst in my breast.  I have rather large (and what I call, lumpy)  breasts so I do worry. I was suprised when I went for my first pap here that the doctor didn't do an breast exam. I told her about my family history. My sister had pre-cancerous cells in hercervix and at the age of 26 has had a partial hysterectomy.  My mother had problems in the "below" regions and had t have a full hysterectomy.  Except my GP here told me they only do smears every 5 years and mammograms wouldn't even be considered, that I should continue to do self breast exams as well.  It floors me that they won't do anything else even if I ask.

a good friend just moved to england.  she's had two abnormal pap smears, and she had pre-cancerous (i think that's the correct termnology) cells removed from her cervix.

she went to see the dr the other day- to register- she mentioned these abnormal paps and said that she wants a pap smear every year.  they said that they would not do it.  she asked about paying privately, but still they wouldn't do it.

where else can she go to get private smears done?  should she change drs or surgeries to see if someone else has a different opinion?  or is there a private planned parenthood type thing? 

I find that very strange, I thought if you had an abnormal smear it was standard NHS practise to do them annually. She could try a family planning clinic or go to a private GP.  There is also the Marie Stopes which is a private family planning type clinic, they might offer smears. 

whisper- you get a PAP every 5 years?

http://www.mariestopes.org.uk/uk/health-screening-well-woman-well-man.htm

£100 for just the smear.  £160 for the whole lot. 

I find that very strange, I thought if you had an abnormal smear it was standard NHS practise to do them annually.

Meggles, perhaps your friend should get in touch with the NHS directly to find out for sure whether or not this is true. I don't really know 100%, but I was under the impression that you got more regular tests if you had any abnormal results. If it is true, then her surgery will have to do the smear annually.

Sounds like her surgery is full of crap. I had an abnormal smear in the US as well as here. I get smears here every 6 months no problem. You may need to show medical records from the US to prove it though?

http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk/cervical/index.html

NHS direct says 3 yearly for women aged 25-49 but it doesn't say what happens if you have an abnormal one.

there are like (6) or so surgeries in her catchment area (lives in W2).  i'm gonna tell her to get her US gyn to fax over her abnormal report w/ details of the cell removal.  then she can see another surgery.

thanks everyone.

whisper- you get a PAP every 5 years?

Well, I haven't been here 5 years to know yet.  I have been here just over 3.  Do you have to just book it yourself or do they send a reminder letter out like I was used to in the states?

they sent me a reminder (based on the date of my last US pap)... but i'm sure you coudl book yourself...

Does anyone know if a normal GP surgery does mammograms?
I've found "something", maybe a small lump last night , and want to get it checked out since it runs in my family.

how scary- glad you're going to get it checked out.  in my area they send people to the local hospital.  with the 2 or 3 friends that have found lumps- they've always started with an ultrasound to determine what the lump is.  good luck and keep us posted.