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?

Do men have to be blamed for everything? They get prostate checks that don't sound the most pleasant experience in the 'I am so hard done by olympics'

You're being unreasonable just because you seem to think that a woman couldn't possibly be an engineer, a scientist or a research fellow and it's just down to men to invent these things as they're the only ones capable of doing such jobs.

They're free and recommended every two years once you turn 40 in Australia. I'm a G/double G cup and find it uncomfortable but never any bruising. Maybe because there is so much of my boobs the machine doesn't rest on my chest? I find standing in an odd position the worst of it. I get lower back pain (mostly because of the size of my boobs I think). My mum has much smaller boobs and finds it more uncomfortable/painful. Maybe it depends on the size? I had a scare earlier this year in February and was called back for further testing in March then again last year (just a swollen milk duct), been given the all clear til February 2026 when I'm due again for it.

Why not?

Hi, I'd give a mammogram a go if you can, try taking pain relief before and explain your anxiety to the mammographer. Maybe ring first and see if they can give extra time at the hospital, we do have techniques to minimise the compression if patients are really struggling. MRI isn't really a screening tool but I guess you could discuss best options with a breast surgeon privately if you wanted. Self examination is ok but we can find things years earlier! Good luck.

Presumably because they haven’t actually thought it through. A few minutes discomfort to rule out cancer, or to find one early enough to be treated and possibly cured is preferable to the consequences of a cancer which goes undiagnosed. If the test is there why not have it ?