To think if men had to have mammograms...

[YourSpleenIsDamp]

... somebody would have invented a better way to do it? Still bruised three days later - chest and boobs - and holding poses while they get the right angle has set my arthritic shoulder off. I feel bad complaining about it, because obviously I'm grateful for the screening, but my god the soreness. It's brutal. Currently on yearly screening, looking forward to only needing it every three years when I turn 50. Maybe it's less awful without F cups? But my mum is an A cup and she finds it horrendous too! Any advice for making it more bearable?

They really shouldn’t be causing you to bruise. I’d raise this with them if you go back for another.

I had one once where they gripped so hard it tore the delicate skin under my boob. It bled like hell.

I did then have a more extensive scan at a breast clinic with a different machine, which moved itself, rather than them moving you. So, better machines do exist, they are presumably more expensive though.

I've been on yearly mammograms since having breast cancer. Very tiny breasts. I actually asked the mammographer last week if it was more difficult with small or large breasts and she said neither, it's all down to the person.
It's painful but reassuring.
My 5 years is up now so I have to wait 3 years, I'd much prefer the annual pain for peace of mind.

I'm a double G cup. I find mammograms a bit uncomfortable but I've never had bruising from them. It might be worth contacting the breast screening matron, to see what they say about it, and to see if there is an alternative way of having mammograms another time.

Some of them do. My DH found a lump and ended up having a mastectomy of his "moob" and then had to have regular mammograms, up until he died. He would complain as to how much it hurt and I'd say "welcome to my world". I do agree though that with all today's advances, it's surprising they haven't come up with something better. I'm sure a lot of men who have to undergo a prostrate exam probably say the same thing.

Totally agree OP. I wish there was the option to pay for an ultrasound scan instead.

I’ve had the machine that moves around you. It’s better, but still hurts. My next one is going to be an ultrasound with a wand, apparently they are better at seeing through dense tissue. I don’t know why all mammograms aren’t ultrasounds?

Honestly and I’m not remotely decrying anyone else’s experience here, they don’t hurt me at all. In fact I barely feel a thing, just a slight squeezing. It’s always puzzled me why people say they hurt. I’ve been to several different places for them too, so it’s not like we have particularly gentle staff here.

I’m annual. And big chested. Mine have always varied in comfort depending on who has done them, but I’ve never found them painful, just uncomfortable at most. The easiest one was done by a woman who mentioned that she trained others in how to do them; that one was a breeze. I think it’s different for everyone. My mum was very small chested and found them really, really painful.

I think Boob sensitivity varies a lot. The thought of them being squeezed makes me want to cry. It would really hurt.

YANBU. I haven't been called yet but I'm frightened as I've heard awful things and have a very low pain threshold. My mum now goes regularly but she has friends who've had their lives saved by mammograms which is what has convinced her - and me. She gets very anxious before hand still and I think her nerves have affected me tbh. It's obviously a terrific, needed service but given the attention given to womens health issues and pain management vs mens, I'm not surprised no one had cared enough to put a kinder method on general roll out tbh.

My aunt never bothered getting mammograms as she reckoned the machines were so bad for your boobs.

I saw a new machine one... will see if I can find it

Totally with you on this. Am a D cup and find mammograms more uncomfortable than smear tests.

Here. Detects more cancers and more specifically

www.mlive.com/public-interest/2022/10/new-michigan-technology-better-detects-cancer-in-women-with-dense-breast-tissue.html

eu.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/09/20/mammogram-alternative/72544716/

One of the reasons it’s not is to do with the density of breast tissue changing (usually as we age) and managing to get a good image.

Men might actually ask more questions re the risks of screening, and whether it is worth doing..... just a thought.

@spikeandbuffy the first link states that the machine is used 'in conjunction with' a mammogram, so you would have to have a mammogram as well? Not sure how that solves the issue of not liking mammograms, really.

I would say I find it uncomfortable rather than painful, but I do find the whole process very challenging, both physically and mentally. I'm really bad with verbal instructions for some reason. They seem perfectly reasonable when they are being explained but then they get mangled by my brain and I get all uncoordinated and flustered😬 And the women who have done the mammograms have been a bit lacking in understanding or patience. I guess they're under pressure to get me out and the next one in.

Agree with the discomfort but a huge shout out for mammograms. It’s caught my cancer before it went to my nodes - currently recovering from surgery before chemo.

I had the “it’s optional you don’t have to come but are encouraged “‘invite. So glad I went. If I hadn’t , things would have been a lot worse as there was no lump to feel so I wouldn’t have been picked up for longer.

also a suggestion to you lovely people to lift arms up and look with a sight from the side - if there’s a dimple or a dent get it checked asap.

That's absolutely brilliant that your cancer was caught by a routine mammogram. I agree that, discomfort and pain aside, they are a fantastic resource and we are lucky to have that choice. I hope all is going well for you

Mine was agony last time - the machine seemed too high for me. The nurse was very grumpy about my reaction but did say afterwards 'maybe it's so sore because you still get periods'. I'd pay for something less painful.

They would 100% have found a better, less stressful/painful way if men had to have them.

What's it got to do with men, sorry? You think that women should just rely on men to make all of our medical instruments for us, then complain if we don't like what they come up with? I suppose the answer is for us to make them ourselves then...

That is a fair point.

Some men do have to have mammograms though don’t they. I suspect if women had to have trans-rectal prostate biopsies done there’d be a lot more noise about it but the men just seem to get on with it and the average MN’er remains oblivious to some of the pretty crappy procedures they go through. Women don’t have an absolute monopoly on miserable medical interventions! There also really isn’t anything stopping women coming up with new technologies rather than just complaining about the ones we have.