To think that having a mammogram carried out by a man is preferable to a long wait for an appointment.

[JudithOnHolidayAgain]

I know many people who wouldn't be here now without early detection of breast cancer due to the screening programme.
I have had a few myself.
It's not something I look forward to but it's a few minutes of discomfort that could save my life so I put up with it.
Given the choice I would prefer a woman carry it out as it is quite intrusive but as there is a shortage of female staff I would be ok with a male member of staff as long as there was a chaperone and Iwas told in advance.
If they do change the rules I think there should be a choice.

No-one said they shouldn't though

I didn’t say anything about anyone - male or female - doing the job “to feel up ladies boobs”

But this makes no sense! The women who won't allow a man to do their mammogram can wait for a woman. Why should others have to wait longer than necessary? Surely even those who are waiting for women will now wait LESS time as there will be less of a backlog. You might want a woman or nothing and that's fine. But I'd prefer to lower my chances of breast cancer being caught late.

Yes, it was all explained beforehand - by a male physician associate who examined me with a female chaperone present.

I think the running theory is that allowing the choice will erode the women only option.

I’m not sure I agree with that and it just means that there will be longer wait times for everyone.

Maybe. Seems to me it's adding a choice. I can choose to wait for a woman or get seen earlier if I'm happy to accept a man.
The only people who seem to be eroding choice are those saying men shouldn't be allowed to fill the roles

And you can’t see how that is different to finding out that your intimate examination has been secretly filmed, @MelindaMermaid? You knew there was a sound reason for the photos that were taken, it was explained and, I hope, done with as much care for your dignity as possible.

Contrast that with secret videos of intimate examinations of women - no explanation, or consent, and no good reason for him taking the videos. I’d go further and say that the only reason someone would take clandestine videos like that is for their own perverted pleasure - wank fodder, basically.

There is a huge difference between the clinical photos that you had taken, and these nasty videos. I would imagine that the victims of this filming felt deeply violated, and it has damaged their trust in health care professionals.

This thread indicates that there is a significant proportion of women who don’t care. As long as there is choice then more mammograms is best outcome.

Radiography nationally has a 15% vacancy rate. Whether it’s male or female radiographers undertaking the mammograms the vacancy rate is still 15%. This is a non and distracting argument from the society of radiographers (SOR) as it will not change the overall vacancy rate. More important would be improvements to training numbers and pay and retention across the whole radiography profession.

Finally, recent NHS finance constraints are also causing services and staffing numbers across all professions (not just radiographers) to be reduced to cut costs.

The point is, women are NOT having late diagnoses of breast cancer due to a lack of female radiographers.
I would like to see the statistics on how many women are not having mammograms within the NHS timescales because theres a shortage of staff, plus how many women do have their mammograms within the NHS timescales and are diagnosed with cancer.
The whole - “men should be trained up because theres not enough radiographers to carry out screening” is a complete red herring.

Blimey I've had a male nurse do one.
A male gynaecologist.. a male nurse helping me on a camode and wiping my bits.
What's the problem?.

So those of us who are unable to see a man for a mammogram should go to the back of the queue? How very magnanimous of you.

What? How do you get that? You’d see a woman instead, not go to the back of any queue.

I think the point is that there would be 2 queues instead of one.

No. You have not had a male nurse do a mammogram on you.

@Shwish - why does there need to be more choice? I can’t imagine there are many women who would actively prefer to have their mammogram done by a man, so why do we need that choice? I think there is a world of difference between “If it saves my life, I’d be OK with it” - which we have seen on here, and “I want a man, NOT a woman doing my mammogram” - which I don’t think I have ever seen.

@SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius the choice is wait for a woman and wait longer (because there a shortage, that's the whole point) or accept a man if that's available quicker and be seen quicker.
I can't imagine anyone would actively prefer a man, but plenty would be happy enough if it meant the wait was shorter.

I’m so sorry you had to go through that and don’t want to derail but honestly why tf do we not have proper painkillers for this kind of thing? Holding you in a vice?? Chatting? Fuck off and give us the readily available pain relief / sedation that exists. Probably in that cupboard just over there.

I agree- Least ways a nurse won’t be undertaking a mammogram in the U.K.

it’s disappointing that many people do not understand what a radiographer is and often seem to believe that they are nurses.

nurses do not and can not carry out X-rays/mamograms etc. The word Radiographer is a protected professional title which requires a degree in radiography and professional HCPC registration. I think nurses ( nmc registered and with a degree in nursing) are great but they are nurses and not radiographers and do not carry out imaging with radiation. . Ensuring people know what and who radiographers are is something I would like to see the society of radiographers, politicians and the media promote and improve. Public knowledge of the profession would encourage training numbers and reduce vacancy rates

What do people mean when they say being seen earlier will reduce their risk of dying?
Why do people willingly submit themselves to routine screening without having the faintest idea about its purpose and limits?

Do posters realise that a mammogram is not a diagnostic test for cancer? It's a routine screening procedure which detects changes in breast tissue which could POTENTIALLY be cancer.

Changes in breast tissue can occur for reasons that are not cancer. It's more effective than breast self examination because it can detect changes before a lump is palpable, early detection means early treatment. In my area you are invited for screening once every 3 years, they are pretty bloody efficient, I had my first mammogram when I was 49 and my second at 52. If changes are detected you will be referred to clinic for further investigation the same as if you found a breast lump at home.

If you detect a lump between mammograms your GP will refer you to a breast lump clinic where you will be examined, have an ultrasound and a fine needle aspiration. The cells from the FNA will be analysed whilst you are in clinic and you will be given results and information about any follow up on the day. This should take place within 2 weeks of your visit to the GP.

Male radiographers have not previously done mammograms so will need training. Why choose to train men instead of women when 70% of radiographers are female?

Don't be ridiculous. You'd be seen quicker because all the people who aren't bothered who they see would be removed from the women only list MAKING IT SHORTER.
Sure we might get seen quicker than you but that's not really any of your business is it? You want to not allow others a shorter wait because you're not willing to take the less preferred choice of practitioner? Even though it doesn't affect you? Talk about selfish.

I would not mind at all.

I haven’t expressed my own preference anywhere in my post. I was pointing out that the PP was being very dismissive of women describing good and clear reasons for finding mammograms more intimate and potentially embarrassing/uncomfortable than smear tests.

I’ve also pointed out that there is no choice for women if male mammographers enter the service. As other PP have pointed out from their own workplaces - you can request a particular sex of HCP but you have no right to it. The nearest women actually get to a choice is “take it or leave it”.

Bearing in mind that male mammographers will also need a chaperone (although the society notably makes no mention of this provision) there will be additional costs as well as reductions in screening update. How about using that to offer female radiographers a hot skills bonus in this area to attract more staff in areas of shortage?

As @Soontobe60 says - lets see the data and the actual evidence on take up, reasons for non attendance, capacity in different areas and if there is a shortage of female radiographers lets look at expanding the female capacity first. Just because a union for a group of workers says “do this” doesn’t make them automatically correct.

The NHS has generally provided a second class service to women, especially minority and disadvantaged women. How about instead of blaming women wanting intimate and intrusive screening done by women you point the ammunition at the organisations charged with delivering the service to find ways to meet screening targets without forcing women to accept men in this area or opt out?

There are more female radiographers than male.

To perform mammos you choose to specialise in this.

I'd question why any male radiographer would choose mammos over MRI, ultrasound, CT, nuclear medicine etc etc

The uptake of breast screening is low. This would not help one jot

So here’s a question would you (global you… or anyone who wants to answer) support rules that would not allow women to apply for or be in non mammogram radiography roles if there are open positions that need to be filled? That would solve the vacancies.

This comes from @BobbleHatsRule question but looking for any responses really.