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?

Whilst I agree we are quite fortunate to have these screening programmes. I don't think that the people who are doing this screening should be exempt. from complaints, if they ride roughshod over women. and treat them like a slab of meat in an abattoir. We still have the right to complain if we wish, These people are being paid a decent wage to do this, and should be taking into account the feelings of the human being they are prodding and poking at.

I get sick of this 'we should be soooo grateful for all this.' And 'we've are sooo lucky to live in this country' type of thing. There's a lot of people living on the bones of their arse, who haven't got a pot to piss in, and whilst there are far worse countries to live in, the UK has its problems and flaws. We have a right to complain about things if we are not happy!

This 'we should be grateful for everything we've got' attitude really does my head in. As has been said, we do PAY for it! I've been offered breast screening twice and I've turned it down both times - and I have my own reasons for this, and I'm not explaining to anybody why I won't have it done. (Despite all these men working soooo hard to create these machines to help us wimmin, blah blah blah.')

I also decided to stopped having cervical smears several years ago, and have opted out. I'm not having anymore now. Cervical smears are so horribly intrusive and grim. Whilst (in during all the smears I ever had,) I had a couple of pleasant nurses, I had quite a number that were really rough. Actually fucking hurt me, pinched me, rammed the thing in like whacking a nail into a wall, and barely spoke.

Also, I have a massive problem with the fact that I was BULLIED into them by the doctors in the 1990s, and spoken to like I was a naughty child, with threats of not giving me the contraceptive pill if I refused it. But also, I do NOT want it anymore. (I'm currently in my early to mid 50s, and I have never had any issue with any cervical smears.)

That is my right and I won't be explaining why to anybody. I've got my own personal valid reasons to not have breast screening (ever,) and cervical smears (anymore.) Why should I have it just because it's available? And why should I be soooo grateful to have it? It's a free country and a democracy, and I've got the right to say I don't want it.

And don't anyone waste my time saying 'but I bet you will want the medical care if you get breast cancer or cervical cancer' because you don't know me. (And I will ignore any posts saying this.)

To clarify OP, I wasn’t asking you to explain because I didn’t believe you, it just struck me as “off” that you were expected to walk around topless. Where I am, I’m always given a gown/top so it struck me as strange that you weren’t.

I’d be interested to know from others if the provision of a hospital type gown is usual or not. It’s never occurred to me one wouldn’t be provided and given it’s your first, you wouldn’t know it was routine to get one.

BUT I’m very surprised that no one else has pointed out you didn’t get a modesty gown, so now I’m wondering whether a gown is usual or unusual for this procedure within the NHS.

If it is usual, and you weren’t provided one, then this should be added to your complaint (if you decide to complain). It demonstrates a particular lack of care or interest in preserving your dignity.

Never given a gown.

Agree jumpingthruhoops. And being told that you have cancer (if you do) is usually two weeks after the biopsy, not at the biopsy as far as I am aware. Also, lumps and bumps can be one of many things, and only 20% of biopsies show cancer. So the chances are you will be fine.

1 in 7 women are likely to develop breast cancer though, so that means we must take care of ourselves.

https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/why-we-do-it/breast-cancer-facts-and-statistics/

@Unleashthehordes in most places it’s not normal to give gowns. Gowns get in the way, can cause artefact on the image if not removed out of the imaging area properly so it takes longer and is more hassle for the mammographer and client. The exception I’ve seen is where women have to wait in a public area after undressing-obviously they are given gowns while they wait. But whew I’ve worked, either they’ve come straight into the room after changing in a cubicle or they undress in the room.

We don’t have gowns for the mobile unit.

There is a small changing cubicle with a door leading to the radiographer.

All very private so no real need for the gown.

Hospital is different - it usually involves different scans/ seeing others/waiting so gowns are provided. Most of us just sat about in the waiting area in gowns.

Absolutely agree about encouraging all women to look after their health and also to be honest and open about our own experiences.

In truth, I only commented on this thread because I too had an experience that was not too dissimilar to the OP.
I am by no means a drama queen, I just felt looking back after reading these posts that it wasn't the best experience (I'm old enough and wise enough to know it's not going to be a pleasant BTW)
I also think as child bearers we are expected at times to just 'get on with it' (but that's a whole new thread, and one that's probably been covered here already!)
I have taught my Autistic daughter that it's a positive thing to try and speak out when we're feeling uncomfortable (in any situation) and as a female to not just be expected to 'get on with it' we all need to know (and help others understand) that when we are feeling vulnerable, our feelings are absolutely valid.

I can't help but say as some people need reminding that a little kindness goes a long way..

Boohoo.

Anti-vaxer?

Your parents must be so proud.

Very empathetic and supportive!

You went for a mammogram as it said on the appointment letter and so you had a mammogram - kindly, what else did you expect? The letter didn’t hide anything. If you felt the need to research things further in order to see exactly what was going to happen at the appointment then you should’ve done so beforehand

Is that your only takeaway from that entire post?

I absolutely hate this term! It's just become a stick with which to beat people daring to exercise bodily autonomy.

So what if she is one?
So what if she doesn't want her breasts clamped between two metal plates?
So what if she doesn't want a plastic speculum inserted into her vagina?
So what if she doesn't want something injected into her?
What the hell has what she does - or not -with her own body got to do with you or anybody else!?

@MeTooOverHere

as I said further up the thread my comment bout the machine being designed by a man was a joke -

I see now I should have written ‘lighthearted’ next to it for those with a sense of humour failure

If OP didn’t want her breasts clamped between two metal plates then why on earth would she go for a mammogram? The radiographers don’t have X-ray vision for goodness sake, anyone could take a good guess at what the procedure requires

What I find odd is people not understanding that OP knew she was going to be touched. She simply objected to HOW she was being touched. You know there's a difference, right?

Other scans don't involve the relevant body part being flattened between plates. I didn't realise the full extent of it until this thread. I mean, for a chest X-ray you just stand there like nothing's happening, rather than getting squeezed in some kind of iron maiden.

I really don't think that the panini press element of breast screening is common knowledge: it certainly came as a surprise to me the first time I had it done.

X-rays, MRI scans, CAT Scans, ultrasounds: none of these are painful
or involve having your body squished.

Oh come on it’s common knowledge amongst women. You talk with friends, sisters, family members about these things . If not wouldn’t you read the leaflet or Google?

You cannot run a health service on "they should have googled it". That is just not how informed consent works.

OP knew she was going to have her tits flattened... she was not prepared for the person doing it failing to do their job properly.

Informed consent isn’t specifically required for mammograms. Leaflets explaining the procedures in detail are sent with appointments. Why would you turn up for an appointment for an examination of a specific part of your body and then be surprised when that examination involves handling the part of the body involved ?

I havent had my first one yet but these are the things putting me off.
a. foot pedal
b. squashed like a car at a scrapyard.
c. some of the attitudes from some of the health workers on here.

OP said she just got basic appointment details... no leaflet.
It should not be up to patients to "just Google". Some, for many reasons, wont be able to. And they should not be expected to. How can you trust the HCP treating you when they can't even reassure you about the very procedure they are carrying out?

There are plenty of diagnostic scans which involve unpleasant positions and pain, including certain types of all of the above.