Morrisons breast screening

I really don't understand why this is an issue or why being screened in a mobile screening unit in a supermarket car park is undignified!

I would probably have been dead long ago if it hadn't been for the mobile screening unit in my Sainsburys car park, where two tumours were found in one of my breasts - they were both very deep and the cancer would have spread long before I could have felt anything by self examination. I was, and still am, very thankful to have free screening available in a convenient location that I visit frequently, and where I can park easily. The screening unit is completely private, staffed by lovely women, is always warm, and is run very efficiently. I really couldn't care less who might see me going in or out of the breast screening van - surely every adult knows that women have breasts and that they are called for screening for breast cancer once they get to a certain age?

@AnotherWeasel
Unfortunately men don't get invited to a prostate examination. There is no screening programme for them because at the moment there is only a PSA blood test which they have to request from their GP. It is very unreliable and not all GPs will agree even though men over 50 can request it.
My brother requested one and his GP refused because he doesn't ' believe' in it.
My husband was diagnosed as stage 4 even though he had yearly PSA tests.
More men die of prostate cancer than women do of breast cancer. 1 in 8 men get diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Stop moaning and be grateful that women have screening for breast and cervical cancer. I'm glad I can go for both checks.

Sablefox, it is nowhere near what Americans pay. I pay over 500 a month insurance and all the fees for mammograms and any other check up, with each appointment as needed. My point is OP will not have to pay any extra and she should avail herself of this service. Maybe it is not technically free as you paid for it with NI, but it is not more money out of pocket?

Maybe you are deflecting your frustration onto this non-isssue to avoid thinking about the bigger worries in your life?

Have you really got nothing more important to worry about OP?

It’s not free, most of us pay hundreds of pounds a month in National Insurance, which is actually a compulsory tax for working people.
The NHS isn’t free at all, anyone who is working pays a lot of money for it.

@AnotherWeasel - you really need to get over this.

If it upsets you, it upsets you.

This is your reality, not that it helps, but I wouldn’t like it either.

See if there is anywhere else you can go on a different date, just give them a phone call, I’m sure there will be other people who’ve asked to change appointments and venues.

🩷

If I tell you that I am in the United States and that I am looking at paying in excess of a thousand dollars for a six month check up mammogram ( and I have decent insurance) will it make you more likely to take advantage of this free resource? Please take advantage of it! Any indignity will be quickly over and it will teach you how to examine your breasts going forward.

Most of those rural hospitals were.closed when you were in primary school, @AnotherWeasel

Then how would you find the right van if it isn’t labelled?

I was just like you until after my breast cancer was diagnosed. The costs of treating just this will likely exceed what I’ve paid in compared to the costs of it under a private healthcare system like they have in the States.

I had my babies at home with a private midwife. If you had babies in hospital, you probably have only paid in slightly more than you have cost…

It seems strange to be offended by a mobile mammogram unit that goes to where it is needed instead of forcing women to spend extra money and time going all the way to a large hospital.

I had breast surgery for breast cancer last week. It was all started off by being invited to the routine screen at a mobile unit in a car park. I still had to walk 3 miles each way to get to it. Very glad I made the journey.

I feel having these mobile units that can come close to home is more respectful than requiring I journey so far to a big hospital. We have a local hospital but it doesn’t have any cancer treatment or screening in it.

Your sense of “respect” seems to require it be hidden away and kept taboo.

It's not like you have to undress outdoors. Our local breast screening unit happens to be at the hospital but is still a mobile unit in the car park. They don't let men in.even in the waiting area.

You're not being unreasonable because this is how you feel, based on your experiences.

It's your body and you should feel comfortable in the choices you are making about who touches it and when/where.

There's a very unpleasant "put up with it the NHS is doing you a favour" approach to a lot of healthcare, particularly women's, and it's not progressive at all.

DH had an MRI scan in a van in a carpark. Better than going to the local hospital which is always busy and crowded and noisy.

Smears and mammograms are no fun

Cervical and breast cancer are less fun

I could understand you might be embarrassed being seen by friends/family if it was an STI clinic but not a breast screening one.

Talking from the point of view of someone who currently has suspected breast cancer, that trip to the Morrison's car park could literally save your life. Stop whining and be grateful you live in a country with free access to such sophisticated technology.

As the youngsters would say, check your privilege!