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 think you'd have had more compassionate responses if you hadn't said you were autistic in your OP, unfortunately.

Of course you shouldn't have been treated like a piece of meat by any health professional, it sounds appalling. You should make a complaint.

Yes, it would have been about 10 years ago that I started getting private smear tests.

I had my breast scan yesterday, in one of those mobile units in the car park of the local Health Centre and here's what I experienced, to show what good looks like:

• for various reasons I won't go into, I was very late for my appointment slot. I apologised when I reported in and the receptionist booking ladies in was very helpful, no fuss/issues, took my details and asked if I would mind waiting for them to clear a few appointment slots which were every 5 mins. No of course I didn't mind, it was entirely my fault, I'll wait thanks.
• after 15 mins they'd already cleared the people before me and asked me to get ready in the cubicle. All good.
• was called in by a lady technician who again checked my details, asked when my last scan was (2 years ago).
• the whole procedure of 4 images (1 image per side, from the front and the sides) took 4 mins.
• she was very efficient, no hanging about, but also very friendly, reassuring (lots of "sorry it's so uncomfortable, won't take a moment" and "well done"s when I breathed in and held still.
• thanks and we'll get the results to you in 4-5 weeks, smile.

this has always been my experience.

i hope the OP (or anyone reading this thread) doesn't think her experience is the norm, it was a one off. It's much more likely to be what I experienced

Not saying it's excusable to be rude, but it doesn't happen like that normally. Don't let it put you off having your breast scan!

Following on from the experience I had last time (I commented about this earlier on in this thread about the radiographer being less than friendly and she split the skin under my breast!)
Today's experience was completely the opposite, the radiographer was so friendly, understanding and patient, the process was certainly uncomfortable but not unbearable.
I thanked her and gave her a hug afterwards and told her that her kindness had made me feel so much more at ease.
Please have your mammograms ladies, if you've have previously difficult experience, just explain this before you go in.
For those few uncomfortable minutes, it could save your life ❤️

I despair!

what are you disagreeing with exactly?

Whilst I am grateful for free mammogram s surely you must agree that getting breasts squashed hard in this procedure can be painful and barbaric.I could not see men having these.It would be akin to a man having his penis and testes squashed between plates !

This thread is typical of many so called debates that happen today.

For some there is no nuance. Just polarised positioning.

Personally…Yes we can be grateful that screening provision exists, but we should still not be afraid to identify its shortcomings and push for a better process.

What a very aggressive and uninformed immature response.It is a valid point to state that men do not have to go through painful procedures like a mammogram.

I don't know what the quote was, but men do have mammograms. My dh had one when he had some lumps on his breast area, thankfully gynecomastica and not breast cancer.