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Original poster

First routine mammogram tomorrow

19 replies

Beachrules · 02/01/2024 21:07

Hi, I have been called for my first routine mammogram appointment, which is tomorrow morning. I am extremely nervous - my mum had breast cancer and I suffer very badly with health anxiety. Could anyone tell me what to expect? Will they give me any results there and then? I get extremely worried when I have tests that health care professionals know what the results are straight away but don't tell you until they have been confirmed - I try to second guess what I am being told and then think I can tell they are hiding something from me and get myself in a state. I am very close to cancelling :-(

OP posts:
Cuppachuchu · 02/01/2024 21:12

Don't cancel it, it's very important.
The ladies that do it are very nice ime.
They don't tell you anything, you get a letter about 7 to 10 days later with results. It is a bit uncomfortable, but take a deep breath, it's soon over. Good luck. 🤞

Soontobe60 · 02/01/2024 21:12

First, I suggest you take a couple of paracetamol before you go - it can be quite painful as your breasts have to be squeezed tightly between 2 plates.
Second, the person conducting the screening will be handling your breasts.
Third, you won’t get any results on the day - you will get a letter in a couple of weeks notifying you.

reluctantbrit · 02/01/2024 21:15

Do not cancel. It's important.

The lady who did mine was really lovely, very reassuring, polite and discreet.

You won't get the result there but it only takes a couple of days/2 weeks.

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2Old2Tango · 02/01/2024 21:20

I've had several now and I've always had such lovely women doing the screening. I think they realise a lot of women are embarrassed and try to make it as easy as they can. It can be a bit uncomfortable when your breast gets squashed between the plates, but it's for a very short time.

Results come through a couple of weeks later. The mammogram service is usually very busy and they don't have time to examine the x-rays there and then.

You'll be fine OP and hopefully afterwards you'll feel relieved. It's so important to go to appointments, especially if you have any family history of breast cancer.

Nagado · 02/01/2024 21:27

I have them annually because of a family history of breast cancer. They are so easy. The women in there are always very calm and very professional and put your mind at ease.

After you confirm your name etc, they ask you to pop your bra and top off and they help position you onto the machine. I don’t find it at all uncomfortable but I have quite big boobs, which I think helps. They’ll take images of each breast and as deep into the armpit as they can get. They position you exactly where they want you, so you don’t need to worry that. Sometimes they’ll retake an image. It doesn’t mean they’ve found something; it might just be really simply that the image they’ve taken isn’t of a great position or quality. Then they tell you they’re done, you put your bra and top back on and off you go. Ten minutes max.

They absolutely will not tell you anything tomorrow. The results go off to someone who is qualified to interpret them and you’ll get a letter in a few weeks.

TinDogTavern · 02/01/2024 21:29

I've had several - I also have health anxiety and family history of breast cancer. Echo what pp have said about the staff, every single one I've seen has been absolutely lovely and as gentle as they can be. It's not much fun but it's not awful and it's over in no time really. Please don't cancel your appointment. X

PauliesWalnuts · 02/01/2024 21:32

I had my first one in November. My scanner was awesome and it wasn’t uncomfortable - and I don’t have a lot of mamm to ‘gram.

Pushkinini · 02/01/2024 21:33

I had my first one a month ago. It was fine. The ladies doing it were very professional. It was a bit uncomfortable, but I was in and out in less than 10 minutes. The results came through in a fortnight.

Pebbles16 · 02/01/2024 21:36

Please don't cancel. It isn't pleasant (neither is a smear, but both equally important). Take a painkiller as it is a very hard squash, but it is fairly quick.
You will hopefully get a letter in a couple of weeks saying all is well and you are due for another one in three years (which makes me think my second one is due soon - eek!).
Give yourself a lovely little treat afterwards for taking a very positive proactive step towards health management.

Nagado · 02/01/2024 21:44

I forgot to say, I don’t particularly worry about my health, but the sense of wellbeing you get when you open that letter and they tell you they’ll see you again in a year (assuming you have them more often than standard) is really nice.

Rufffles · 02/01/2024 21:46

I had my first one last month. I'd been bracing myself for a bit of pain/discomfort and I had none at all. Please don't cancel! x

MumofSpud · 02/01/2024 21:58

I had my first one recently- for years my mum had told me how horrific they were 'you will feel as if your breasts will explode'
I braced myself - figuring it's better to go through it than not!
As it turned out - it was fine - it took longer to get undressed than the actual procedure and it didn't hurt whatsoever!
The results were posted out a couple of weeks later
Good Luck!

Original poster
Beachrules · 03/01/2024 13:27

Thank you everyone. I went this morning and like everyone said, the ladies there were wonderful. Not painful at all - just a slight pulling feeling on one of my breasts when it was done. However I got myself into a right panic as, while she was doing one breast, she asked if I had ever had surgery - enlargement or reduction - on my breasts. I asked her why she was asking and she said she needed to know as it can cause changes to breast tissue. I immediately panicked and convinced myself she had seen something and that's why she asked, even though she tried to reassure me if was a routine question. Just want the results now!!

OP posts:
GrowAndGreen · 03/01/2024 13:29

I'll be 53 this year and I'm still waiting for my first appointment. Should be soon I'm told - I thought they had to start at 50

Original poster
Beachrules · 03/01/2024 13:33

GrowAndGreen · 03/01/2024 13:29

I'll be 53 this year and I'm still waiting for my first appointment. Should be soon I'm told - I thought they had to start at 50

I was told that you should receive your first appointment anytime between the age of 50 to 53. I got mine 2 months before I turned 52.

OP posts:
Rufffles · 03/01/2024 14:11

Well done @Beachrules!!!!!

CoatOfArms · 03/01/2024 14:37

I had my first about 9 months ago. The staff are SO nice and efficient and will get you in and out with the absolute minimum of discomfort. You won't get results on the day - I got a letter in the post.

One thing I didn't know about was that the percentage of women recalled after the first mammogram is relatively high. I read as much as 50%. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE CANCER. I got one of those "additional screening needed" letters and was in bits. All it usually means is that they need a picture from another angle. The younger you are, the denser the breast tissue and the harder to see "through", and there are no previous mammograms to compare to. It probably won't happen, but if it does, don't immediately leap to thinking the worst (like I did). Attended the second screening, got the results there and then which was all clear.

Musicaltheatremum · 03/01/2024 15:04

CoatOfArms · 03/01/2024 14:37

I had my first about 9 months ago. The staff are SO nice and efficient and will get you in and out with the absolute minimum of discomfort. You won't get results on the day - I got a letter in the post.

One thing I didn't know about was that the percentage of women recalled after the first mammogram is relatively high. I read as much as 50%. THIS DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE CANCER. I got one of those "additional screening needed" letters and was in bits. All it usually means is that they need a picture from another angle. The younger you are, the denser the breast tissue and the harder to see "through", and there are no previous mammograms to compare to. It probably won't happen, but if it does, don't immediately leap to thinking the worst (like I did). Attended the second screening, got the results there and then which was all clear.

I was going to say the same. My first mammogram got recalled. Don't panic. It's very common

Florida2020 · 13/08/2024 12:26

I have had a couple and was told at the most recent one ( 2 weeks ago) it would be 7-9 weeks before I heard! I can't believe they would leave people in limbo that long 😕

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