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 the same experience OP, I felt the rather grumpy technician manhandled me and shoved me into the machine without asking any kind of permission.
I felt like I was a cow in a milking parlour.
I don't have SEN and found it incredibly awful.
I'm a dust myself off and get on with life sort of person so didn't complain but it made me feel quite disgruntled all day.

I have Mammograms every 6 months, I complete and sign a sheet for each one - that is my consent for the radiographer to handle my breasts, I wouldn’t expect the radiographer to then ask for my consent each and every time she has to handle my breasts.

Mammograms are very intrusive, and leave you very vulnerable during the procedure along side being very uncomfortable.
It sounds like OP was not made aware of how the procedure was going to be performed and what to expect, so I can fully understand the OPs upset and it also sounds like the radiographer lacked ‘ bedside manner’ which is a pity as a bad experience can put women off having further screening.

And of course consent can be withdrawn, but up to the point the patient says ‘ no stop’ then consent to continue to manipulate the breast tissue into the machine is a given.

They are busy and overworked, information is freely available on line, many people you know will have had this procedure and could have talked you through it. It's not a luxury beauty treatment but a necessity to help you. I don't like it, I don't know anyone who does, but I am beyond grateful that I have this screening organised for me.

Tiny room, intimidating machine taking up most of it. that's just the way it goes. Why would they have a massive room if they didn't need it.

They shouldn't have touched you without asking though

I found my first mammogram quite unpleasant. Being told to strip to the waist, having to walk into a room like that, no small talk, boob grabbed and positioned, plus it's uncomfortable having them squeezed so hard by the machine. So I understand.

But I've had several now and it's always the same (at different places, with different people though all same NHS Trust I suppose). And I've rationalised it - they are just doing the job as efficiently as they can and have a long list of women coming after you. Once you know what to expect, it gets easier.

I agree, it is a way for the arseholes to talk down to someone and if they are called out on it they are all faux innocence that they were just giving advice. They most definitely mean to be rude when they do it.

i thought everyone knew they are uncomfortable - bit like saying you were shocked a smear test is an uncomfortable experience and you disliked being touched.

My god…I forgot on mn you need to put a ‘lighthearted’ disclaimer before you post anything. 🙄

I had my first one recently at a private hospital. I don’t remember her asking permission to move my breasts into place but I agreed to the mammogram so obviously i knew roughly what was going to happen even though id never had one before. I think it’s a silly thing to be offended by, the lady was doing her job, the outcome could save poteinally save your life, that’s why you agreed to the procedure?

If your needs mean that next time you would like a chaperone to clearly explain each step and ask for permission every time they touch you then use that knowledge going forward and ask for one.

At the end of the day the mammogram is for your benefit and yours alone.

Absolutely: but just turning up doesn’t mean consent: and it’s fair to say that manhandling someone’s naked boobs would anticipate a higher level of consent.

YANBU We should be asked for explicit consent. It doesn't take 20 seconds to say "to get the best imaging I may need to place my hands on your breasts to place them on to the plates. You can at any time ask me to stop and I'll make sure the door is closed so no one can burst in, I do understand it can be uncomfortable but shouldn't be painful. Are you happy to begin?"

I teach student nurses and always try to get them to steer away from "I'm just going to....(eg.check your blood pressure)" as it implies that the patient has to comply with you and has no choice in the matter. It's a big problem in healthcare.

The reason I am so strong on it is because I once had a suppository inserted without discussion or consent in a healthcare setting abroad and I would never want to make anyone feel the way I did in that moment.

You are signing to consent to the procedure. You are not signing to consent to the radiographer manhandling your breasts multiple times with little to no communication or forewarning. And YES, the radiographer should be keeping up a dialogue that includes asking if it’s okay to do x, y and z throughout.

I don't think people with SEN are inadequate.

For what it's worth I come under under SEN with a hidden disability and I've a clutch of academic degrees including a PhD. I do have special educational needs under this definition.

I do find I need to constantly raise my disability when in medical appointments - people forget when dealing with me.

It's always a bit brusque, and a bit of a production line. I don't mind, I like to be in and out as quickly as possible and asking every time they have to touch somebody or trying to get them into the right position without moving their arms or stepping them forward would take forever. In, out, job done forget about it till next time.

I also had my first mammogram last week. It was unexpectedly not painful, or uncomfortable and the radiographer was brilliant. Compassionate, clear and gentle. I have however had really unpleasant smears in the past and a deeply unpleasant scan on my shoulders by a male who made me feel dirty. I wish I had complained.

Bloody hell.

It's not a privilege, we pay for it and basic consent is needed for any procedure. No one needs to put up with rude HCPs.

Exactly this: it’s not asking for a big 10 minute consent procedure, but all the op needed was a quick clarification as it’s her first time and checking that she was clear on the level of hands-on boob touching involved. Come on, it’s really not too much to ask!

I do the same teaching paramedics.

you are so fortunate to be in a country where this service is offered, just be grateful it has been done. It isn't fun in any circumstances, but it is a real privilege to get it

I loathe this attitude to healthcare, and I say that as someone who worked on the front-line of the NHS. People have a right to be treated with dignity, and OP having that basic expectation does not in any way suggest she is lacking in gratitude.

One of the founding principles of the NHS is that it is accountable to the individuals and the communities that it serves. If OP has been treated with anything less than kindness and dignity she has a right to express that and I am glad she has given feedback. The idea that people are supposed to keep quiet and be grateful for a substandard service because some countries don't have free at the point of use healthcare is toxic and contributes to poor (and in some cases unsafe) practice being allowed to continue in some NHS trusts or departments.

I love the NHS and am grateful for it, but that doesn't mean that the organisation and everyone working in it should be beyond reproach.

That doesn’t mean that they don’t have to communicate properly. It’s a privilege we pay for via our taxes. I’d complain OP. I’ve had three so far. First was fine, if uncomfortable. Second was really painful and I had bruising for quite along time after. Third time I told them this upfront and they were much gentler. I wish I’d complained at the time.

I don't think people with SEN are inadequate either. What I mean is that it's upsetting to hear that neurotypical people class autistic people as different and needing extra support in the area of education even if we don't. I completely reject that classification. There are many ways in which autism is debilitating that have nothing to do with the social model of disability, but for me, education is not one of them.

As I said in another post, OP would still have been asked before being touched or they should have said “I’m just going to ….. explain they’re about manoeuvre her breast’ is you’d read through the Jin formation for a smear test I’m sure you’d expect them to warm you they were about in insert the speculum! So why is this any different just because it wouldn’t bother you. A dentist asks you to open your mouth, they don’t just yank it open! I can’t for the life of me understand why you’d think this that was ok to grab someone’s breast without asking!

I received letter for breast screening recently,
It had a section to contact if I wished to refuse or change the date & free up the appointment to someone else

On arrival I was checked in

Nurse asked if I had had a screening before. I replied "about 30 years ago, manual, not a machine"

I think nurse asked if I wanted a chaperone & I said no

Undressed in small room

Expected nurse to move me into position for the machine

All done, no issues

I was advised that results would be by X amount of time

No complaints from myself

Therefore, I would suggest that the Op should have asked more questions before & during the scan
Secondly, nobody knows that someone is anxious, worried, SEN or autistic unless you tell them at the beginning of entry into the screening centre

I knew what it would be like. But the woman was a bit more friendly and did say she was about to touch.
Some nhs nurses are not so pleasant. I've had some terrible smears before, despite me explaining beforehand. This is true of everything in life, some are more gentle and warm than others. I'd give feedback though. She should be told, and her appraisal adjusted.

Informed consent is important. Yes, we are lucky to have these screening tools available to us. This does not take away consent.

I am a midwife. I don't just go and shove my fingers in a woman's vagina because she thinks she is in labour. I inform her of what I recommend doing and why and then what I will do. I gain consent prior to her removing her clothes. I then gain consent just before actually touching her. I can do this in less than 5 minutes if needed. It doesn't take long.

You absolutely have the right to complain as I have seen lots of care like this in maternity and I make complaints and urge families to go to PALs as it is unacceptable to not gain consent. If the person providing this care is unaware of the consequences of their actions they will carry on. If they need retraining then they will only get that with feedback.

You can withdraw consent at anytime so it is not assumed just because you turned up you give unconditional consent as I have seen someone say. That is like saying that if you get into bed with someone and then decide you don't want to have sex with them, it doesn't matter. They can go ahead because you got into bed with them.

Sad to see some of these responses and trying to shame you. I hope you are OK and glad you gave feedback.