To think that having a mammogram carried out by a man is preferable to a long wait for an appointment.

I would not mind at all.

Don't be ridiculous. You'd be seen quicker because all the people who aren't bothered who they see would be removed from the women only list MAKING IT SHORTER.
Sure we might get seen quicker than you but that's not really any of your business is it? You want to not allow others a shorter wait because you're not willing to take the less preferred choice of practitioner? Even though it doesn't affect you? Talk about selfish.

What do people mean when they say being seen earlier will reduce their risk of dying?
Why do people willingly submit themselves to routine screening without having the faintest idea about its purpose and limits?

Do posters realise that a mammogram is not a diagnostic test for cancer? It's a routine screening procedure which detects changes in breast tissue which could POTENTIALLY be cancer.

Changes in breast tissue can occur for reasons that are not cancer. It's more effective than breast self examination because it can detect changes before a lump is palpable, early detection means early treatment. In my area you are invited for screening once every 3 years, they are pretty bloody efficient, I had my first mammogram when I was 49 and my second at 52. If changes are detected you will be referred to clinic for further investigation the same as if you found a breast lump at home.

If you detect a lump between mammograms your GP will refer you to a breast lump clinic where you will be examined, have an ultrasound and a fine needle aspiration. The cells from the FNA will be analysed whilst you are in clinic and you will be given results and information about any follow up on the day. This should take place within 2 weeks of your visit to the GP.

Male radiographers have not previously done mammograms so will need training. Why choose to train men instead of women when 70% of radiographers are female?

I agree- Least ways a nurse won’t be undertaking a mammogram in the U.K.

it’s disappointing that many people do not understand what a radiographer is and often seem to believe that they are nurses.

nurses do not and can not carry out X-rays/mamograms etc. The word Radiographer is a protected professional title which requires a degree in radiography and professional HCPC registration. I think nurses ( nmc registered and with a degree in nursing) are great but they are nurses and not radiographers and do not carry out imaging with radiation. . Ensuring people know what and who radiographers are is something I would like to see the society of radiographers, politicians and the media promote and improve. Public knowledge of the profession would encourage training numbers and reduce vacancy rates

I’m so sorry you had to go through that and don’t want to derail but honestly why tf do we not have proper painkillers for this kind of thing? Holding you in a vice?? Chatting? Fuck off and give us the readily available pain relief / sedation that exists. Probably in that cupboard just over there.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius the choice is wait for a woman and wait longer (because there a shortage, that's the whole point) or accept a man if that's available quicker and be seen quicker.
I can't imagine anyone would actively prefer a man, but plenty would be happy enough if it meant the wait was shorter.

@Shwish - why does there need to be more choice? I can’t imagine there are many women who would actively prefer to have their mammogram done by a man, so why do we need that choice? I think there is a world of difference between “If it saves my life, I’d be OK with it” - which we have seen on here, and “I want a man, NOT a woman doing my mammogram” - which I don’t think I have ever seen.

No. You have not had a male nurse do a mammogram on you.

I think the point is that there would be 2 queues instead of one.

What? How do you get that? You’d see a woman instead, not go to the back of any queue.

So those of us who are unable to see a man for a mammogram should go to the back of the queue? How very magnanimous of you.

Blimey I've had a male nurse do one.
A male gynaecologist.. a male nurse helping me on a camode and wiping my bits.
What's the problem?.

The point is, women are NOT having late diagnoses of breast cancer due to a lack of female radiographers.
I would like to see the statistics on how many women are not having mammograms within the NHS timescales because theres a shortage of staff, plus how many women do have their mammograms within the NHS timescales and are diagnosed with cancer.
The whole - “men should be trained up because theres not enough radiographers to carry out screening” is a complete red herring.

Radiography nationally has a 15% vacancy rate. Whether it’s male or female radiographers undertaking the mammograms the vacancy rate is still 15%. This is a non and distracting argument from the society of radiographers (SOR) as it will not change the overall vacancy rate. More important would be improvements to training numbers and pay and retention across the whole radiography profession.

Finally, recent NHS finance constraints are also causing services and staffing numbers across all professions (not just radiographers) to be reduced to cut costs.

This thread indicates that there is a significant proportion of women who don’t care. As long as there is choice then more mammograms is best outcome.

And you can’t see how that is different to finding out that your intimate examination has been secretly filmed, @MelindaMermaid? You knew there was a sound reason for the photos that were taken, it was explained and, I hope, done with as much care for your dignity as possible.

Contrast that with secret videos of intimate examinations of women - no explanation, or consent, and no good reason for him taking the videos. I’d go further and say that the only reason someone would take clandestine videos like that is for their own perverted pleasure - wank fodder, basically.

There is a huge difference between the clinical photos that you had taken, and these nasty videos. I would imagine that the victims of this filming felt deeply violated, and it has damaged their trust in health care professionals.

Maybe. Seems to me it's adding a choice. I can choose to wait for a woman or get seen earlier if I'm happy to accept a man.
The only people who seem to be eroding choice are those saying men shouldn't be allowed to fill the roles

I think the running theory is that allowing the choice will erode the women only option.

I’m not sure I agree with that and it just means that there will be longer wait times for everyone.

Yes, it was all explained beforehand - by a male physician associate who examined me with a female chaperone present.

But this makes no sense! The women who won't allow a man to do their mammogram can wait for a woman. Why should others have to wait longer than necessary? Surely even those who are waiting for women will now wait LESS time as there will be less of a backlog. You might want a woman or nothing and that's fine. But I'd prefer to lower my chances of breast cancer being caught late.

I didn’t say anything about anyone - male or female - doing the job “to feel up ladies boobs”

No-one said they shouldn't though

@Shwishmy assault has left me with a phobia of having my breasts exposed and touched, having man manhandle me would be very upsetting and I would wait a long time, and travel a long distance to avoid that. I don’t have the same reaction for gynae but I’ve never been alone in a room during a gynae exam that involved a man, and smears have always been by a woman. My male consultant during pregnancy did make me uncomfortable but not the same level of distress

So they can choose to wait however those that wish to be seen sooner most definitely should have the option experts are calling for.

Well that’s my experience, here in rural Scotland. Glad yours is better.