To have found my first mammogram really upsetting?

[YompingJo]

Got a letter through with very basic details if an appointment. Turned up and found the whole thing demeaning. Tiny room, intimidating machine taking up most of it. The radiologist was monosyllabic and bossy and manhandled me into the right position including grabbing each breast and shoving it into position, pushing other bits of my body out of the way, not once asking first. I know it's a necessary procedure, but a bit of sensitivity would have gone a long way, and having the respect to ask for consent before grabbing a breast is a basic consideration. I'm autistic and needed to know much more what to expect beforehand. The letter gave a way to request assistance in the case of SEN, but I don't consider myself to have SEN and didn't know what I'd need until I was right there, so that wasn't any help. There was a QR code for feedback, which I gave but I just feel... invaded and demeaned. AIBU?

Mammograms aren’t pleasant. When I had mine a couple of years ago I thought ‘thank goodness that’s over for another few years’ until I was recalled! Thankfully all was well but I did find it a bit if a conveyor belt at the initial screening and it’s very business-like - get the boob in etc. I don’t think the radiographer was rude, just a bit matter of fact.
when I went to the breast clinic everyone was lovely so I think it’s just the nature of having to get through the day’s boobs as it were (although there’s no room for rudeness I do understand why they’re not chatty - they shouldn’t be grabbing boobs though without permission).

Right? And I love your username!

Yes, that's exactly what I found hard - it's an intimate procedure (somehow more intimate than a smear test I think, because those are very clinical) but there was no sensitivity given to that.

Yes, I have a brain and knew to expect that. What I didn't expect was not being asked first (we bang on and on to our kids about the importance of consent fgs) and the total lack of sensitivity.

If you have never had a mammogram before, surely you would have Googled? The fact is that they involve nudity, are uncomfortable (painful for many women), and generally involve manual manipulation of the breast to get it into position before it’s ‘crushed’ by the machine. A 2 second Google reveals this so there should be no need for the appointment letter to spell it out. As an earlier poster said it’s actually a privilege to be able to have these (for free) as an early screening tool.

I’m always distracted by the agonising cramps in the rest of my body that has been contorted to get the breasts into the right position to worry about whether the radiographer is displaying social niceties or not.

I never mentioned you being anxious.

You explicitly said:

I'm autistic and needed to know much more what to expect beforehand.

So if that’s the case, and you need to know much more, then the onus is on YOU to do the research to find out.

I've only ever been treated kindly at my mammograms

The radiographer DOES have to handle you and push and prod and 'shift around' bits of you

I've always been told what she was going to do as she did it..... "Mrs Best, I'm going to push your left breast, and it might feel unpleasant, and it will feel very tight."

No radiographer has EVER asked my permission to touch my body.....I gave that permission by agreeing to the mammogram

I'd also consider how MANY women that radiographer has to deal with each day, cut her some slack, and feel grateful that the NHS is looking after you

However, if your experience was as awful for you as you describe, complain to PALS

I'm glad the experience is normally more positive! I think I experienced one of the women who lack sensitivity. And yes, next time I will be clearer, now I know I need to be. I have done in the past with other things but nothing about this suggested there would be that need in this instance

Sorry but this is bollocks.

First, we pay for the service via our taxes; it's not "luck".

Second, it's totally reasonable to expect a modicum of courtesy from any healthcare provider. Grunting monosyllables and shoving someone into place rather than treating them with the bare minimum of dignity isn't acceptable.

I had my mammogram this week and though it can be a bit embarrassing having your breasts handled they have to do it to get the best picture. being a large lady I had to have my nipples done separately which was not too good having my nipples pressed between the plates, but I am just grateful for having a chance to be examined and if necessary getting treatment in time

I had a really unpleasant nurse do mine a couple of years ago, she was brusque, manhandled me and just didn’t want to ‘chat’ at all! My last mammogram was completely different! A truly lovely nurse, clearly very caring and explained everything as she did it! Made the whole thing less uncomfortable, mentally and physically!

Please don’t dwell too much on this particular experience, you know what to expect for next time (regarding the actual mammogram itself) and it’s highly unlikely you’ll see the same unpleasant nurse again!

There are lots of amazing, compassionate, considerate healthcare workers. There are also some thoughtless ones, and a few who are downright cruel.

I'm sorry you had that experience and hope next time is easier for you.

I've had many mammograms and although never been manhandled I've always found it uncomfortable - hugging that machine and seeing my breasts flattened like pita breads.

I must say since Covid the system has changed for the better... before you would go into a changing room, bra and top off put on gown, go to another waiting area, wait to be called, then after procedure back to changing room. Wearing a gown always makes me feel vulnerable - it's that sitting around with no bra on that does it.

Now, as instigated during Lockdowns you get called into the X-ray room, take off bra & top behind a curtain, have procedure, get dressed and go!

I have always had the most respectful and gentlest of nurses (technicians? - I think they were nurses). They don't ask, per se, but tell me what they are doing or want me to do. Like 'I'm need you to lean forward, arm raised and I'm going to place your breast like this, ok some compression now...'. It's not comfortable, it can be embarrassing, but so far it's been fine.
I'm sorry you've had this experience.

They would have been radiographers not nurses.

no, it is not ideal, but lets keep this is perspective. Someone was less than perfectly polite, v you get regular screening to help catch a deadly disease when it is still treatable.

And yes, we are incredibly lucky to live in a country where we are rich enough to pay the taxes to afford this, and the government is stable enough to organise it.

Most women in the world don't. We are among the luckiest

YANBU, they would never screen testicular cancer this way, men wouldn't tolerate it.

I just had mine. It was all a bit conveyor-belt like but fine. It was a van in a car park, which wasn't signposted and hard to find.

In the prep notes they sent I was told I would get into a gown and then go into room. In practice I was told to get undressed in changing room, and put my coat back on, before going though to the x-ray room.

The radiographer was quick but they do need to grapple you into position so you need to be a bit practical about what that involves. I don't remember if she asked permission, I doubt it, probably just mentioned she was going to position me.

Sympathies with those who find it painful (I don't). I find smear tests excruciating so know where you are coming from.

Why didn't you read about the procedure beforehand? If they don't send info telling you what will happen, ask or look it up. Would you go for bowel surgery without finding out what it involves.
Sorry, OP, it's a shit procedure, and definitely designed my a man. But the radiographer may have been having a bad day, and you were just one of the 40 or so pts she had to mammogram that day. Let me tell you, heaving boobs around alk day for a living isn't all roses and champagne.
Complain if you want.

Everything other than the radiographers manner was absolutely normal. The tiny room and big machine, the handling of the breasts, all normal.

You say this:
I'm autistic and needed to know much more what to expect beforehand. but you obviously didn't try to find out what to expect. The simplest of Google searches would lead you to photos of the machine and to how the examination is carried out.
Then later you say you're not anxious and happily go into appointments, so it's all a bit confusing.

Your mammogram sounds awful.
Please give feedback.
Yes, we all have the right to be spoken to and gently handled if not asked first.
I had my first time I had the loveliest woman and no repositioning, fortunately.
I did find my last position so uncomfortable I had to really hang in, and as I just couldn't handle nit anymore, it was done.
Your future mammograms will never be like this I would hope.
Complain..the person might need to be more considerate or find a new job.

Yes,yes - radiographers.

The first mammagram I had was like the OPs and I completely get where you're coming from. It was really bloody painful as well.

I got a callback, and had to go to a breast clinic and have another mammogram and ultrasound, but on that occasion it didn't hurt nearly as much - maybe because the radiographer was nice and actually talked to me instead of treating me like a piece of meat?

I work as a nurse, and will always chat to patients, and make eye contact etc, as it's important to put people at ease.

@YompingJo some of the responses on this thread are so ridiculously patronising and rude - ignore them - as these posters are not trying to help.

Ever heard what a prostate examination involves?

This. Surely you could have researched for yourself about the procedure?

@saraclara it's not confusing at all.

The radiographer was rude and uncaring.

That's it