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?

I had no idea about the foot pedal till i read this thread

Same here. My best friend is of an age to have mammograms. She describes it as her boobs being scanned like you would put paper into a scanner to be printed. Totally flattened.

The whole thing sounds bad enough... which is why it is vital the person doing the screening is patient and empathic. It is really upsetting me now reading how many people think informed consent does not matter.
During my ODP training, one thing I was fucking good at was advocating for patients. Every placement I had brought that up.

Why would you say that ? Would you rather we not have a breast screening programme ? Would women be better just jogging along until a lump appears to indicate something is wrong ?

The breast cancer l’ve just been diagnosed with is lobular, deep in the tissues and doesn’t present as a lump. I was told by the consultant that had the screening not picked it up, despite my regular self examination, l would likely never have found anything amiss until it was too late to do anything about it. So instead of whining about the admittedly uncomfortable procedure and the feeling of vulnerability it produced, l feel pretty privileged right now, not to be under the sentence of death which would have been the outcome without screening.

Maybe calling the OP a baby is a bit harsh, but essentially this poster is right. The discomfort and vulnerability you feel at the mammogram pales into comparison when you’re called back for biopsy and find yourself sitting across the room from someone telling you that you have cancer. Happened to me three weeks ago and believe me, your whole view of the world changes overnight.

This thread could potentially discourage a lot of women from going for mammogram so can we please get some perspective. Yes, it’s uncomfortable, yes it’s potentially embarrassing and yes, someone is going to touch your beasts. But you won’t be ‘grabbed’ or treated like a piece of meat and it should be remembered that radiographers are trained professionals and need to be detached somewhat as they’re not permitted to discuss the images. If you’re nervous or it’s your first time, or you feel you need support then tell them.

I would be shocked if this happened to me as I know nothing about mammograms.I wouldn’t anyone seeing or touching my breasts. At least I know when I go to my first appointment in c10 years time what to expect. (If we still have an NHS…)

Unless a patient is unconscious, they always say what they are doing.

When I have done first aid training, they advise to talk even when someoneis unconscious, as hearing issues often the last sense to go.

You don't necessarily need full consent before every touch, but I struggle to understand why so many (i.e. more than one) here don't seem to recognise it's good practice to let the patient know what is about to happen at every stage, especially if it involves touching their body in some way.

Given it’s your first mammogram, I think they SHOULD take the time to explain the procedure and not rely on you having done your own research as to what it involves.

We are constantly told by health care professionals to stay away from Dr Google. Therefore they need to do their job, and that goes beyond the physical mechanics of taking images.

I’m sorry, OP. But I need to clarify. Did you walk into the mammography suite topless? From where?

My set up is you change into a gown/top in a cubicle so you are covered up while waiting outside the actual room.

Alternatively, I’m asked to remove my top in the same room as the mammogram machine BUT I’m always given a gown and the side they aren’t doing is always covered up.

It always amuses me as there is this pretence of dignity/modesty when there really isn’t any, but at least an effort was made!

Your experience sounds harsh and undignified and I’m sorry you went through that.

My top tip is to keep your feet very firmly on the floor (the tendency is to go up on tip toes to offset some of the awkward positioning) l “jokingly” remind them that the machine is height adjustable. They usually take the hint that it’s too high to be comfortable. But I’m a veteran to mammos as I was at high risk, prior to cancer diagnosis.

I’ll second that. It’s an awful thing to say.

I never found anyone rude or aggressive.

Just polite and matter of fact.

Mamograms can be uncomfortable at the machine squeeze. But I sort of like the lack of drama and getting it out the way quickly and professionally.

I honestly don't like striking up friendly chit chat when I'm in a vulnerable, exposed position. Nope don't want to know a single luvvy/huggy detail about their lives.

They instruct, I follow direction, I leave politely.

Well if we’re playing breast cancer top trumps l have invasive lobular cancer, and l don’t. MN is fucking batshit sometimes. We have a comprehensive screening programme, extensive research and new treatments have improved BC survival rates massively, yet the most important thing to posters here seems to be specific consent to touching the part of the body you already know is going to be examined !! OK then.

They do not have to “grab”. Manoeuvring whilst explaining and grabbing without are two very different things.

im sorry you’ve been grabbed @Sapphireblueeyes . That’s not how it’s supposed to be.

Maybe you stop being patronising, love.

Maybe she has breast cancer - seems to be speaking from experience, so not actually patronising, just factual.

I’m sorry you’ve also been poorly handled at what is a very traumatising time.

It really does not have to be that way. It’s sad to see how many people who have been put through the wringer and seem to accept that is how it should be.

No one's playing top trumps for God's sake, don't be ridiculous. If you read my comment I'm objecting to the OP being told 'not to be a baby' then brought up my own surgery to illustrate that going through it doesn't destroy my empathy for others who are 'only' enduring a mammogram.

Hope you're well now, but I need to step away from this thread now I think. It's very unpleasant.

I don’t care whether she has breast cancer. Its not a free pass to be disablist.

And excuse me, but as I've said elsewhere, I've been through all that and more. But I still wouldn't call another woman a baby. It's nasty.

They are radiographers not nurses who undertake the mammogram.I akways take paracetamol before mine as they can be uncomfortable .

I think people would be far more likely to have the various screenings available to us if they felt they would be treated with dignity and respect. Sadly, as this thread has shown, this isn't always the case, and just because we have these screenings doesn't mean we should be dealt with as 'just another patient on a busy day that we wish was over so we can go home' by the professional doing the procedure.

There is so much dramatic language in this thread. I've had friendly radiologists and more brusque ones. But none of them have "grabbed" or "manhandled" me. They have placed my breasts in the correct position. Sometimes that's just needed a guiding touch and other times it's needed the breast lifting or pushed.

Using the words grabbed and manhandled is trying to turn a procedure into some kind of violence, which it isn't.

It's like the posters who love to say how their baby was 'ripped' from them when they have birth, etc.

Women should be encouraging each other two take care of their health. Not frightening then out of it by turning a beneficial procedure into a violent drama.

This 100%

And I pointed that out upthread when I replied to this poster - but I essentially agreed with what she said about a cancer diagnosis being worse than the mammogram procedure.

I had my first in Wales. She asked me if it was my first time and talked me through the whole process. I have had several more and they have varied between asking me before touching and the grab and push variety. It varies from nurse to nurse as well as location to location, sadly.

I must say though that on finding the lump, the process was swift, kindly and so helpful.

I thought you said she was patronising. She’s likely not being ableist she has a different point of view if she has a cancer diagnosis - namely that the mammogram is a means to an end. But no, name calling isn’t nice, I agree.

I had a similar experience during my first/last mammogram. I did feel incredibly vulnerable at the time and because I'm not a naturally slender person my boobs are quite hefty, there was no dialogue between us and as the radiographer grabbed my boobs to try and force them into the machine, she split the skin under one of my breasts and it bled a little, she then became very apologetic and friendly, looking back it was a bizarre experience.

Of course, it won't put me off going again (although it did at the time!) but I totally understand how you feel, surely a bit of kindness when we feel at our most vulnerable is all that's needed, that's surely not too much to ask?