Morrisons breast screening

[AnotherWeasel]

Is is unreasonable of me to feel so offended by the idea of breast screening in Morrisons car park?

I'm 52 and just received an appointment that I wasn't consulted about. I just hate the idea of it. This is my local Morrisons, where I shop, where I frequently run into my awful ex-boyfriend, my estranged mother, the work colleague who sexually harrassed me 10 years ago, friends, neighbours, my postie etc, etc. And there I am, waiting beside the enormous van, emblazoned with bright breast screening decals, clearly about to strip off and have my breasts squished and examined. It all seems so undignified and makes me feel vulnerable and powerless.

Obviously, as a mum I've had to have all my bits on display and poked about with, and again I do think we are generally treated like objects or at least like we are supposed to be mature and sensible and absolutely fine with any sort of indignity that is imposed on us in the name of good sense. But at least that was in a hospital.

Yes, I am a grown woman and absolutely can put on my big girl pants and just do it for my own good. But I really feel quite oppositional to doing that. I feel like women are expected to just be ok about decisions others make about our bodies and that our dignity and privacy isn't important. It seems so disprespectful to us. I can't imagine men being invited to a prostate exam in a van in a supermarket carpark. I feel that, out of principal I don't want to do it, because the more women say 'that's ok, I can put up with a little indignity' the more other women feel pressured into a situation they really aren't happy about. Already, I feel that if I refuse this and ask for a more private screening, I would be seen as being difficult, silly even, and asking for special treatment. And I don't want special treatment, I want all women to be treated with due respect and consideration when accessing intimate medical care.

To be fair, I am a very private and anxious person, and I do have a problematic sexual history. So, I guess I may be influenced by this. Certainly, I am quite surprised there doesn't seem to be any women complaining about it. And I wonder, is it because most of us don't give a hoot, or are there many, many women just quietly missing out on screening services rather than make a fuss.

@AnotherWeasel I do not think you are being unreasonable. My mothers breast cancer was missed using a screening unit.
Also having a mammogram isn't a nice experience, you have the right to feel however you do and don't let anyone say otherwise. If you don't feel comfortable having it somewhere like that you have the right to say.
Don't ever feel your being difficult x

Sorry about how you're feeling, but for me it's so convenient.....local, so avoiding a two hour round trip to the nearest large hospital, plentiful and free parking too.

They are normally parked on the far side of the car park for obvious reasons such as you can park there as it’s not near the store entrance. No one is going to see you in the 8 seconds it takes you to walk into the waiting room.

Yes, sorry, that’s what I meant by it being good when it comes to access. But it seems to have become very normal even outside these out of the way contexts. Fine for those who aren’t bothered, but I don’t think the op is unusual in her feelings. There is a sense I get - including on this and other women’s health threads - that women shouldn’t feel anything other than pure gratitude for testing, etc., and questioning or expressing negativity towards any aspect is ridiculed. Makes me uncomfortable.

Not that your comment was along those lines, I hasten to add!

I’ve not even finished my breast cancer treatment and I know going to the hospital for my next mammogram is going to make me feel ill. I’d be really happy to have one in a different place .

You don't have to whip your bra off at the checkout. The unit is a completely separate structure and you wait inside it, not the shop or car park. In my experience you're in and out quickly.

I think they are an awesome idea. Free parking, easy to find, can do my supermarket shopping afterwards.

Couldn't give a shit about who does my screening or where it is, as long as I get it.

But I'm the kind of person to go for gynae appts and I'm not worried and my last mammogram I didn't bother with the 'modesty blanket'. I mean they were going to look at my tits whatever happened!!

@AnotherWeasel Grow up and be thankful that the service is available to you!

@56Chandeliers I am in agreement with you regarding we should be ‘grateful’. I am furiously angry regarding some aspects of my breast cancer treatment, and have to hold that alongside…. what? Maybe being thankful.

The one I get called to is in Waitrose car park. I don't often go to Waitrose so it's a little bit of excitement to
I don't have any problem with going though.

This has been happening for years. Maybe even decades. I'm sure my mum had screenings in supermarket satiates at least 15 years ago.

Talking from the point of view of someone who currently has suspected breast cancer, that trip to the Morrison's car park could literally save your life. Stop whining and be grateful you live in a country with free access to such sophisticated technology.

As the youngsters would say, check your privilege!

I could understand you might be embarrassed being seen by friends/family if it was an STI clinic but not a breast screening one.

Smears and mammograms are no fun

Cervical and breast cancer are less fun

DH had an MRI scan in a van in a carpark. Better than going to the local hospital which is always busy and crowded and noisy.

Except its not actually free, is it? I've paid tens of thousand of pounds into the NHS in my lifetime and, fortunately, used very little. I appreciate the service is also available to anyone who hasn't been able to pay in so much, and that I would certainly get more than my monies worth if I got a serious illness or injury. But, to date I have paid far, far more than I've used and that cannot be described as free.

It is a shame all our rural hospitals have gone.

You're not being unreasonable because this is how you feel, based on your experiences.

It's your body and you should feel comfortable in the choices you are making about who touches it and when/where.

There's a very unpleasant "put up with it the NHS is doing you a favour" approach to a lot of healthcare, particularly women's, and it's not progressive at all.

It's not like you have to undress outdoors. Our local breast screening unit happens to be at the hospital but is still a mobile unit in the car park. They don't let men in.even in the waiting area.

It seems strange to be offended by a mobile mammogram unit that goes to where it is needed instead of forcing women to spend extra money and time going all the way to a large hospital.

I had breast surgery for breast cancer last week. It was all started off by being invited to the routine screen at a mobile unit in a car park. I still had to walk 3 miles each way to get to it. Very glad I made the journey.

I feel having these mobile units that can come close to home is more respectful than requiring I journey so far to a big hospital. We have a local hospital but it doesn’t have any cancer treatment or screening in it.

Your sense of “respect” seems to require it be hidden away and kept taboo.

I really wouldn't mind a van in a hospital carpark. Especially if it wasn't emblazoned with 'breast screening'.

I was just like you until after my breast cancer was diagnosed. The costs of treating just this will likely exceed what I’ve paid in compared to the costs of it under a private healthcare system like they have in the States.

I had my babies at home with a private midwife. If you had babies in hospital, you probably have only paid in slightly more than you have cost…

Then how would you find the right van if it isn’t labelled?

Most of those rural hospitals were.closed when you were in primary school, @AnotherWeasel

That is a good point in Morrisons carpark. At a hospital it is not needed as you have a designated waiting area and staff lead you to the van.