Mammogram emrarassement

[GizmoIsSoFluffy]

Turned 50 this week and wham, had my first mammogram. I was SO embarrassed by it all I cried the whole way through as I hated standing there with a naked top half. I've always hated my body and teenie boobage, but with breast cancer in my family I thought it best to get checked out.

Anything hapoened to anyone else during this procedure which can make me feel better about this...

Bloody painful but mercifully a fairly quick procedure (usually!!)

When mine were very large, they had to take two pictures as they couldn't fit them on in one go. I've now lost all the weight and am (not) looking forward to seeing how they'll deal with my spaniel ear boobs. I've not got long to wait, week after next is my next appointment.

Having had a dear friend die from BC, and another who went through double mastectomy, chemo and radio, I can put up with 10 minutes of awkwardness.

Definitely pop an ibuprofen before as it can be a little squeeze/sore. Especially right before your period.

Good description.

I am a 32DD, so not massive but also not enough to be able to lift and put my boobs on a plate. And when they’ve manhandled and squashed you one way, they do it vertically. All with an air of ‘I hate my job’ in the case of mine.

I’ve had infinitely more enjoyable smear tests, trans vaginal scans and Mirena insertions 😂

I only ever had one. The lovely nurses took 6 week old DD outside. I don’t remember it hurting. I do remember the kindness shown to me. That was the day I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer. I was 36, I’m now 48, still alive and that wee baby is now in high school.

When I had these (I'm 75 now and officially too old for them) I found them painful.

I had breast cancer and the resulting scar has adhered to my chest wall. To get a decent picture, the breast has To be stretched out and the plates slammed over it before my breast springs back.

I always sympathise with the person doing the mammogram, as it's not easy for them,and it's painful for me.

I always tell them that I know it's going to hurt and they should keep on going unless I specifically tell them to stop. Which has never happened.

the bit that always amused me, in a grim way, is when they've got me in position ( chin up, hands clasped on the hand holds, naked and uncomfortable) they always say "now relax your shoulders ".

my shoulders are as close to my ears as they can get, because I'm in pain but I comply, because it's good for me 😂.

the bit about being half naked has never bothered me. Having had breast cancer twice now, I'm used to lobbing them out in front of medics. My breasts are just a part of my anatomy. Sometimes your body goes a bit wrong and the medics are there to put it right.

I’ve had two mammograms at different hospitals and both experiences were fine - friendly, kind, professional staff put me at ease and the actual procedure took 5-10 mins. The first time it was a bit uncomfortable and the second time it was a bit painful, but only for a few mins.

I think it’s important to have a balanced view as everyone’s experiences are different- please don’t be put off by having one - it could just save your life.

This thread has scared me. What if you have tiny boobs that won't fit in the photocopier?!

I had to go for one recently and it was fine. The pressure felt a bit like a letdown when breastfeeding. Obviously it's a bit weird getting boobs out but I've had a midwife wear me like a glove so I'm just over being embarrassed now. They've seen it all before.

Mine are empty after breastfeeding two DC. They got them in fine.

The thing is @Hogwartsian whatever size you are, they have to get all the tissue into the machine plates, right back to the chest wall. So it doesn't make any difference if you have huge boobs or small, the 'challenge' is the same.

I'm very small. Have had a few mammograms and they've been able to get pictures ok.

They've got a new machine at the hospital. Was a painless experience. Before that it was something I didn't look forward to

I’ve also just had my first. No one has seen my boobs but DH for nearly 30 years. I’ve lost some weight which I think helped as they are a bit more floppy. I was expecting the straight squeeze, it was the sideways one that gave me the most pain and made me sore for a few days.
I did feel very exposed by the whole thing, I didn’t think I would just be topless throughout.

It's not a process I love, but one thing I don't do is worry about what my breasts look like - simply because the technicians must see so many breasts every day that there is literally nothing about anyone's breasts that they haven't seen before or that they will find in any way odd or unusual.

Well done for going to your appointment OP. I couldn't care less about having them, it's waiting for the results which stresses me. The actual procedure is a piece of cake in my opinion, certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.

You did something that 52% of the population have to do at some point. Why is that embarrassing?

Someone's going to stick their finger up my bum next week, that's not embarrassing either.

This is what getting older entails, What's the point of stressing about it?

I've only had one bad experience (and i was part of a mammogram trial to scan younger women with no family history of BC).
I have H cups due to weight gain and I also carry extra weight on my belly. The nurse captured belly fat on all 3 attempts, which was more painful than capturing my boobs. I told her that unless she got another member of staff to do it I was going to complain to her boss.

Whenever I have to do these things I always remind myself that the people performing the test, examination, procedure etc. have seen all sorts, some better some worse. You are just another person to them.

I’ve had about fifteen and this has also been my experience, I’ve only ever found it reassuring and if it’s felt uncomfortable it’s been fleeting. I go every year, just pop out of work then go straight back.

again, just for balance.

I've had loads and never found them an issue

I probably won’t be the only one saying this,
but my very early breast cancer was picked up by a mammogram last autumn. Often breast changes can be cancerous way before there are lumps big enough for you to feel them.

I wonder, if you find it particularly traumatic, whether you can explain this next time your booking comes round and perhaps they could let you have the screening done in hospital rather than in the mobile van. The staff in my local hospital are so very lovely and kind. Also, I believe you are allowed a chaperone if this makes it any better for you .

I’m high risk for breast cancer due to my family history so have been having annual mammograms since my early 30s (I’m 55 now). I found the first few times ‘challenging’ because they brought back so many very emotional memories mixed with guilt and loss and all sorts of utter misery. My mum died from breast cancer at age 51. It was the third time she had it that it finally killed her. I was 25 when she died and had been through it with her for almost 15 years.

For years after I couldn’t even walk into a hospital without throwing up as soon as I went through the hospital doors. And mammograms started off as hellish, especially in the ‘old days’ when the waiting room was a mix of women who were actually being treated for breast cancer as well as those of us who were just ‘at risk’ and having mammograms. I would be worried sick that they’d find cancer and I’d end up like my mum yet also feeling so guilty and selfish when surrounded by women who actually HAD it and who would give anything to be in my position where I was just having a routine mammogram check. As well as missing my mum and remembering her and how much she suffered, and how different life might be if she was still here. Quite frankly, all that really fucks with your head.

But these days I’m incredibly relaxed about the whole thing. I’m so grateful that I’m being checked. That I haven’t had to go through what my mum went through. That modern day medicine has moved on so much that even if I do get breast cancer, it’s no longer the death sentence that it used to be. So now when I have my annual mammogram I’m happy and grateful for the opportunity. It’s just a few minutes of discomfort in exchange for another year free of worry. So whilst I try to be sympathetic to those who find mammograms uncomfortable or upsetting there is also part of me that wants to say ‘get a bloody grip’. Be appreciative that you’re getting the opportunity to have a mammogram! If you can’t be appreciative for yourself, think about your children instead (if you have them) and you having your boobs squeezed hard for a few minutes means they still have you here with them, happy and healthy!

I find it pretty odd that they continued as you stood there crying.

Also that you got one in your first week of being 50

Also that you are asking for others stories of being embarrassed about ‘teeny boobage.’

wake up

And this epitomises how important, however uncomfortable or embarrassing it is. A few minutes of discomfort to catch and detect something far worse

We are very lucky to have free screening for breast and cervical cancers. It may be uncomfortable, embarrassing or painful but it could save your life

I asked my last mammographer/radiographer this question and she said that she could take a mammogram even if you can only pinch a bit of skin, and gave me a demo on the skin of her forearm.