Breast Exams in Sweden

[Tam]

I have never really been concerned about this issue before but last week my Aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a double mastectomy.

Has anyone had any experience with having a breast exam here in sweden and what the process is?
I have been to the barnmorska twice but breast exams were never mentioned.. Easiest thing to do would be to just call the barnmorska but I would like to know in advance what to expect.

I have a lump that has been there for over a year now and now I am concerned.

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,
Tam

[Brandy]

I don't know that much other than the two people I know who had this problem described their lumps as growing very fast. One said that within two weeks of finding it - it grew to the size of an egg! (When she found it it was very small, but very tender.)

I don't know if this information helped at all, but we all have natural lumps and develop more as the years go on, I believe. They also can become sensitive while we menstruate. The ones that we aren't used to we should have a professional look at.

Good Luck!

[Carolyn]

Call the barnmorska and mention the lump right away, as well as a family history (now) of breast cancer. It's probably nothing more than a swollen milk duct, but get it checked out.

I know that past a certain age, they put you on a list for mammograms. I'm 52 and when I first got there and did my visit with the barnmorska for P-pillar (birth control pills), within a month or so, I got a notice in the mail, offering me a baseline mammogram for a co-payment of $5 and shortly after that, I also got the same kind of letter for my PAP test, etc, same price.

[Tam]

Thanks for the information.. I was beginning to think breast exams were not talked about much over here. I plan on getting it checked out ...

thanks again..
Tam

[Sabeine]

I also have breast cancer in my family.

I have twice seen a OB GYN here in Sweden and neither time did they do a breast exam. They also prescribed birth control pills and never checked for pregnancy, they just asked me if I was!

I asked the doctor (the first one) if he could do a breast exam and he asked me why. Then he tells me that they usually don't do this here until a woman is over 40. What is this backwards thinking? There are plenty of women who get cancer in their 20's and more likely in their 30's. In fact last week here they did a whole Oprah episode on women under 40 who all got cancer.

The second time I went back to the same doctor (vårdcentral) it was the same thing. I am hoping to schedule another appt with a doctor who has a lot more knowledge and openmindeness with breast cancer. Or at the very least one that will give me a breast exam.