Is it normal for a mammogram to be painful?

[LadyNellCardross]

I went for my first one today. I'd read the leaflet before hand which described it as sometimes uncomfortable so was prepared for that. The nurse was lovely and reassuring and said the same. It was not uncomfortable, it was bloody agony. I came out shaking afterwards. Is this normal? Obviously I'm glad it's done but not sure I could do it again.

I sometimes find them painful but not always. I’m sure it depends to an extent on the radiographer who manipulates you between the plates.

I'm a 50 yo FF cup and have only had one so far. It was very painful and extremely unpleasant for me. My breast felt as if they were going to burst.
It's odd because I don't mind a smear test at all, but the mammogram is an experience I would not want to repeat (but I know I have to)

It just comes down to choice really and not wanting to go through dementia
my chance of early onset dementia is going to be really high and I would rather go before that starts. I have done a living will for no treatment if I do get dementia anyway

@LadyNellCardross
Please go to all your mammogram appointments.
I’m 62 and went for my most recent mammogram on 7th July and was called to the breast clinic on 23rd where I had another mammogram, an ultrasound and a biopsy. The radiologist said 90% sure it was a 14mm cancer. Confirmed stage 1 grade 2 intraductal carcinoma and estrogen and progesterone positive and her negative on 11th August. However because I have dense breasts I had to have another mammogram with contrast to be sure there was no other areas of concern. On 1st September I was told just the one tumour.
i had my surgery (lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy) on Tuesday 16th. Back home by 6pm the same day. Two days later I’m just a bit sore and nauseous. Also constipated at the moment. Hopefully I find out on 29th that I have clear margins and the lymph nodes are clear as expected. Probably need radiotherapy and hormone blockers after.
I couldn’t feel the lump because it was deep in my breast so it would have to be much larger before it could be felt or seen.
I am proof that the breast screening program works. I have no family history, don’t drink or smoke and eat a healthy diet so I certainly wasn’t expecting that.

I think if you have small norks it can be painful as they try and force them into the machine thing. I imagine bigger norks just sit more comfortably

Not unusual at all sadly. Uncomfortable usually means excruciating in my experience.

I find smears incredibly painful, but my 2 mammograms zero.

Yes, my last one was quite painful. I have small boobs and was wondering how she’d manage to get them squashed flat between the plates…

In my experience if doctors say “some discomfort” that translates to bloody painful.

I’ve found it so painful I almost couldn’t bare it ! I’m each time I’ve almost had to stop it and I’m not actually a wimp . God knows why

I’ve had loads as had breast cancer at 42. I have big boobs, well, one now so
much bigger than the other and find them uncomfortable. A very short sharp pain which disappears almost as quickly.

My first one was absolutely awful but subsequent visits have been much better. Hope it is the same for you!

Yes. Mammograms and smear tests are intensely painful to me

They say it will be 'uncomfortable'. I found it very painful. I had a couple of bruises on my ribs and my breasts were tender for a few days after.

I have small very very dense breasts (apparently) and am quite skinny so it was really hard to squash the boob far enough into the machine without feeling like I was being trapped in a giant Breville toaster. If I had smaller breasts I don't even know how they would've done it. I ended up having to go through twice.

But it's worth it to either find something wrong or reassure you there's nothing bad.

Very painful.. l have to have mine done in two lots... front and back because my boob's are too big to fit on the plate in one go.. plus l have breast cysts..

I have small boobs and find it painful, I use paracetamol and ibruprofen in advance

Possibly related to time of the month? My first was painful, shaking afterwards and still hurt the next day. My 2nd was a breeze. I took painkillers an hour before and mid-cycle.

It's certainly not the worst pain I've experienced but I do find it very uncomfortable. I've had three now and they've been varying degrees of ouchiness but bearable. It's definitely a procedure worth a few minutes of gritting your teeth for every three years though.

Eta: I'm quite small in the boobage area at a B cup.

My thoughts absolutely! After my last one I had bruising all up the side of one boob

I too was told I had dense breasts the first time but I think they have got less dense with age so hopefully things will improve.

I would think it's very common to cause pain to women, however careful you are, and therefore the procedure probably attracts less empathetic staff, as otherwise it would be an unbearable job!

I felt completely gaslighted by the brochure.

I thought I was a D cup which makes my boobs miniature tiny by MN standards.

Felt like my boobs were being scraped off my chest which was Not nice.
Boobs squished in the machine was only uncomfortable, but scraping down my ribs ... <shudder>

Now measuring as E cup, maybe will be less unpleasant next mammogram.

I find them more surreal than uncomfortable.
Mammogram didn't show my mum's cancer or my benign lump.
I imagine there must be a reason for mammograms instead of ultrasound but I'd feel far more confident after an ultrasound check.

I really hated mine. Extremely uncomfortable, made worse by horrible woman doing it and the complete indignity of it. There were no niceties whatsoever.

@LadyNellCardross I often end up with a bruised sternum! Have never found it uncomfortable but always found it really sore!! used to always be said that small breasted women would find it more sore then big breasted women!