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Original poster

To wonder why there is no effective alternative to Mammography?

134 replies

Charliesunnysky10 · 13/01/2023 12:47

3 years ago, when I was 48, I was delighted to be asked early for a routine mammogram (I had no pain or lumps). I have dense breasts, and the pain during compression was excruciating. I don't even know if the radiographer managed to complete it, because I went faint. I've had pain in my right breast ever since, which I took to be bruising/strain, but when it didn't go I was referred for investigation at the hospital breast unit June 2021. They did ultrasound which was clear as far 'as they could see' but 'mammogram is the gold standard and only that will tell us for certain'. I had to be content with the ultrasound as my fear of the mammogram pain got the better of me. Fast forward to last Sept, I went on combined HRT and have what I took to be hormonal pain in both breasts which masked the targeted pain in my right. However it's coming through more than ever now and I've been referred back to the hospital for the same process as 18 months ago. Part of me is so angry at myself of being fearful of something that could save my life, and the other part is worried sick about how I will cope even with painkillers if I can get over the fear, and wondering why this is the only scan that still compresses tissue; why in over 100 years there is no effective 3D alternative.

OP posts:
SewingBees · 13/01/2023 22:42

My last mammogram, after treatment for breast cancer, was torture. I cried and shouted out it was so painful, and I'm usually very stoic. I decided there and then that if my cancer comes back I'm having a full mastectomy, just so I don't have to have another mammogram.

lurchermummy · 13/01/2023 23:24

@JenniferBooth J cup here although it seems it can be painful for smaller boobs too

Hongkongsuey · 14/01/2023 09:04

SewingBees · 13/01/2023 22:42

My last mammogram, after treatment for breast cancer, was torture. I cried and shouted out it was so painful, and I'm usually very stoic. I decided there and then that if my cancer comes back I'm having a full mastectomy, just so I don't have to have another mammogram.

Once you’ve had surgery, that side can be very painful due to the effects of the treatment. Ask the Mammographer to go slowly with the compression-and ask her to stop when you’ve reached your tolerance level. That’s what I do with my women-and they often can tolerate more than if I’d just squashed them because they know they have an element of control.

Carriemac · 14/01/2023 09:32

Ultrasound is complementary to, not instead of a mammogram. As others said here , early cancers show on mammograms.

Aphrathestorm · 15/01/2023 09:16

I didn't actually realise they were painful until this thread.

Sounds barbaric.

I think there needs to be more education on prevention.

I breastfed for 3 1/2 years. Having DC when you are younger also reduces the risk but this isn't well known at all.

A lot of the risk is associated with obesity/ inactivity. But our culture creates these unhealthy behaviours.

Notjustanymum · 15/01/2023 09:29

Because women’s health is largely ignored by the medical profession. Can you imagine if testicles needed to be checked in the same way? They’d have spent lots of money developing some other method of testing…
Women put up with far too much medical BS and neglect, IMO.

ReindeerBelieve · 15/01/2023 10:02

I am sorry to hear of negative painful experiences but please please do not put off going when you are called.

I have been having yearly mammograms for a few years now - I was recalled after this years and had to go back for another mammogram , ultrasound and biopsy. I just finished the 2 week wait for my results and found out I have cancer - discovered very very early , for which I'm incredibly thankful - don't get me wrong I'm scared as hell right now but still glad that I go every year .

Skap · 15/01/2023 10:10

Aphrathestorm · 15/01/2023 09:16

I didn't actually realise they were painful until this thread.

Sounds barbaric.

I think there needs to be more education on prevention.

I breastfed for 3 1/2 years. Having DC when you are younger also reduces the risk but this isn't well known at all.

A lot of the risk is associated with obesity/ inactivity. But our culture creates these unhealthy behaviours.

The biggest risk factor for breast cancer, apart from being female, by far is age.
It's really not someting you can prevent because you can't avoid getting older.
I breast fed, didn't use HRT or the pill, no family history, not overweight. Still got it.
I would hate for anyone to be put off a mammogram because of this thread. Yes it's unpleasant but it's momentary. For those like me who have had surgery the breast is permanently painful and more sensitive. It's still a life saver.

Skap · 15/01/2023 10:13

Sorry to hear that @ReindeerBelieve . Very good that's it's been caught early but utterly terrifying nonetheless.
When I had BC I found the long running cancer support thread on MN was a great source of mutual support.

WhiteFire · 15/01/2023 10:19

I would hate for anyone to be put off a mammogram because of this thread. Yes it's unpleasant but it's momentary.

Absolutely. I have one in a few weeks time, I have been having them yearly since 40 due to an increased risk. Something should be offered to those who find them incredibly painful, but for the majority it will be uncomfortable, but not overly painful.

SchoolQuestionnaire · 15/01/2023 10:58

MrsBrandonspiano · 13/01/2023 14:27

I honestly think that if a man needed to have his cock and balls squashed in a device for preventative screening, a better less invasive test would have been discovered years ago.

Agreed.

I had my first mammogram last year during screening for a lump and had the exact same thought.

LadyEloise1 · 15/01/2023 16:31

MrsBrandonspiano · 13/01/2023 14:27

I honestly think that if a man needed to have his cock and balls squashed in a device for preventative screening, a better less invasive test would have been discovered years ago.

This 💯
Sad

PaperMonster · 15/01/2023 16:33

As I mentioned earlier, I was injured during my last one. The pain wasn’t momentary - although previous ones had been. I ended up unable to drive, to dress myself or to work for six months. It was a bloomin nightmare.

JenniferBooth · 23/01/2023 17:33

Mammograms and cervical screening being discussed on Twitter with the usual denial of womens pain.

Candymay · 23/01/2023 17:37

Oh my goodness I could have written this post almost word for word!
how can it be right that our breasts are compressed in a vice for this test? I’ve had 3. I’m overdue for one by a couple of years but I just can’t bring myself to go again. It’s incredibly painful and feels like it must be damaging our bodies.
if men had to put their testicles in a vice they would not do it. Why are we not given better scans?

MissyB1 · 23/01/2023 18:42

Aphrathestorm · 15/01/2023 09:16

I didn't actually realise they were painful until this thread.

Sounds barbaric.

I think there needs to be more education on prevention.

I breastfed for 3 1/2 years. Having DC when you are younger also reduces the risk but this isn't well known at all.

A lot of the risk is associated with obesity/ inactivity. But our culture creates these unhealthy behaviours.

The supposed protection from breastfeeding is over stated to say the least - according to my breast cancer surgeon.

I8toys · 23/01/2023 19:15

I fucking hate them and then there is the blurry images and they have to do them again. Oh and also trying to do it with frozen shoulders. I don't want to think about having another one for a while especially with hormonal breast pain.

ancientgran · 23/01/2023 19:27

MissyB1 · 23/01/2023 18:42

The supposed protection from breastfeeding is over stated to say the least - according to my breast cancer surgeon.

Show quote history

As a family with the BRCA mutation we were told the opposite to you.

ajandjjmum · 23/01/2023 19:37

Early 60's, I've had a number of mammograms. As per my usual routine, took a couple of paracetamol prior to my appointment in July, uncomfortable but held my breath, left and thought that's that out of the way for 3 years.

It wasn't. The mammogram detected a 7 mm tumour which has now been removed, and I'm healing from that brush with cancer.

I just thank God that I didn't let the discomfort put me off going, as I would have had a much larger pain on my hands (and in my boobs!) in the future!

Please get your mammograms!

MissyB1 · 23/01/2023 19:50

ancientgran · 23/01/2023 19:27

As a family with the BRCA mutation we were told the opposite to you.

Show quote history

As I understand it the “evidence” was based on studies of third world populations where the women had many babies, often one after the other after the other. So they were breastfeeding almost constantly for years. Hardly comparable to western world 2 or 3 kids usually spaced out over a number of years.

Happy to stand corrected if that’s wrong.

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 20:00

As I understand the reason breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk is because it reduces the number of periods over a lifetime. In countries where children keep having babies they often have only a handful of periods during their lifetime.

ancientgran · 24/01/2023 11:12

AttentionAll · 23/01/2023 20:00

As I understand the reason breastfeeding reduces breast cancer risk is because it reduces the number of periods over a lifetime. In countries where children keep having babies they often have only a handful of periods during their lifetime.

They don't know why it reduces the risk, just that there is a reduction. One theory is that it might be because you release fewer eggs whilst breast feeding, another theory is that breastfeeding changes the cells in the breast in a way that makes them more resistant to cancer. Either way if you are from a BRCA family and have seen multiple relatives die because of breast/ovarian cancer (in my case great aunt, grandmother, 3 aunts) anything that moves the odds in your favour is worth it.

snowsilver · 24/01/2023 13:09

Any reduction in risk from breastffeeding is miniscule compared with the unavoidable risk of age. Age is the biggest risk factor of all.
No-one should allow a history of breast feeding to give them a false sense of protection against breast cancer.
I did all the "right" things. I breast fed, I was fit, healthy weight, never took HRT but still got breast cancer when I was 60.

KnittedCardi · 24/01/2023 16:21

It's a toss of the coin (almost). DM three children before 25, all breastfed, I came along later in her 30's, breastfed. DM is Italian, lots of Vit D, lots of healthy mediterranean food. Small, tiny, healthy weight. No smoking, no drinking. No family history. Breast cancer at 70. Surgeon said just down to age and luck. Caught early though through Mammogram, and she lived until she was 92 (died of Covid).

Clarich007 · 24/01/2023 16:46

I've had 8 mammograms now, I'm 71.The last one was a few weeks ago and quite painful. They told me it was my last one, but I could request one every 3 years after a certain age. I will do this.
All has been fine, no problems but they have ranged from just feeling tight, to full blown "Owww" and gasping for breath. I noticed at the last one, she screwed the plastic wheel down really fast. But... I would rather have these than a smear test I do think that is barbaric and have always found it painful. Thank god I don't have smears any more.