To have found my first mammogram really upsetting?

I don't know what the quote was, but men do have mammograms. My dh had one when he had some lumps on his breast area, thankfully gynecomastica and not breast cancer.

What a very aggressive and uninformed immature response.It is a valid point to state that men do not have to go through painful procedures like a mammogram.

This thread is typical of many so called debates that happen today.

For some there is no nuance. Just polarised positioning.

Personally…Yes we can be grateful that screening provision exists, but we should still not be afraid to identify its shortcomings and push for a better process.

Whilst I am grateful for free mammogram s surely you must agree that getting breasts squashed hard in this procedure can be painful and barbaric.I could not see men having these.It would be akin to a man having his penis and testes squashed between plates !

what are you disagreeing with exactly?

I despair!

Following on from the experience I had last time (I commented about this earlier on in this thread about the radiographer being less than friendly and she split the skin under my breast!)
Today's experience was completely the opposite, the radiographer was so friendly, understanding and patient, the process was certainly uncomfortable but not unbearable.
I thanked her and gave her a hug afterwards and told her that her kindness had made me feel so much more at ease.
Please have your mammograms ladies, if you've have previously difficult experience, just explain this before you go in.
For those few uncomfortable minutes, it could save your life ❤️

I had my breast scan yesterday, in one of those mobile units in the car park of the local Health Centre and here's what I experienced, to show what good looks like:

• for various reasons I won't go into, I was very late for my appointment slot. I apologised when I reported in and the receptionist booking ladies in was very helpful, no fuss/issues, took my details and asked if I would mind waiting for them to clear a few appointment slots which were every 5 mins. No of course I didn't mind, it was entirely my fault, I'll wait thanks.
• after 15 mins they'd already cleared the people before me and asked me to get ready in the cubicle. All good.
• was called in by a lady technician who again checked my details, asked when my last scan was (2 years ago).
• the whole procedure of 4 images (1 image per side, from the front and the sides) took 4 mins.
• she was very efficient, no hanging about, but also very friendly, reassuring (lots of "sorry it's so uncomfortable, won't take a moment" and "well done"s when I breathed in and held still.
• thanks and we'll get the results to you in 4-5 weeks, smile.

this has always been my experience.

i hope the OP (or anyone reading this thread) doesn't think her experience is the norm, it was a one off. It's much more likely to be what I experienced

Not saying it's excusable to be rude, but it doesn't happen like that normally. Don't let it put you off having your breast scan!

Yes, it would have been about 10 years ago that I started getting private smear tests.

I think you'd have had more compassionate responses if you hadn't said you were autistic in your OP, unfortunately.

Of course you shouldn't have been treated like a piece of meat by any health professional, it sounds appalling. You should make a complaint.

I don't know when you last had a smear on the NHS but we haven't used one size metal speculum for at least 10 years. We all use variable one use plastic ones for some time.

My NHS smears have always been plastic in my memory - it's possible the first couple in my 20s weren't; I don't remember, but certainly the last few have been. They use different sizes, too, because the nurse had a couple of different ones ready before deciding which was best for me last time I was there.

I'm not autistic and I'm done with any sort of intimate examination c/o the NHS. Horrific and demeaning, always. Went private for a smear test and they used a plastic speculum the right size for my vagina, rather than a one-size-doesn't-fit-all metal one - and was treated with respect.

I agree.

I had this today. I had been experiencing constant pain in my right breast for a month or two, which was different to cyclical period related breast pain, so I was referred for a mammogram plus ultrasound by my GP, which I had at the hospital today.

I can sort of get where you are coming from OP, as the mammogram felt like they were barking orders at me, but I appreciated it was just because I was just one of many that they needed to scan day, the NHS is very stretched, and they need to do it as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Even if the person doing it had been more chatty, I don't think, for me, it would have made the experience of, essentially, having my breasts in a vice any more pleasant!

In my case, there was nothing wrong but they think the pain is inflammation of where my ribs meet the breastbone (Costochondritis) and apparently this feels like the pain is coming from your breast, because of the position. Most likely brought on by lifting 15 kg of 2.5 yr old DS!

You can find my more erudite post/s further back, before the poster I quoted was so dismissive and unpleasant to the OP.

On the contrary - I was perfectly charming until she decided to repeatedly speak to me as if I were something nasty stuck to her shoes.

S

NHS literature states that actually attending for the screening implies consent, and that if the procedure is uncomfortable or distressing, the patient has a right to withdraw that consent.

Agree with this. I'm sorry that happened.

How erudite you are.

Oh fuck off

@BurnoutGP I have no reason to doubt the OPs 'perception' of her treatment as I had a very similar experience. As have several others on this thread.
As I have previously said, I was particularly surprised by the attitude because I have had a lot of dealings with vary NHS staff in different departments, hospitals and trusts, and all of them have been polite, friendly, helpful and informative.
On this occasion the radiographer (as I understand it, although there was nothing to inform me that's who she was), didn't bother even saying hello or give me her name. There was certainly no thought of explaining her actions.

Several people telling the OP she 'should' have googled the procedure first. Because of course - the first thing to come up, would be that she'd be treated in a demeaning an uncaring manner by this particular person on this particular day. How was she supposed to anticipate that? Are we actually blaming another woman for her own poor treatment, because she didn't... What? Lower her standards like a good girl? Prepare properly for someone's lack of basic respect? And the only person who needed to 'use her words' was the HCP and she'd only have needed to utter one or two of the right ones.