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.

Are the people who say they would refuse a male mammographer saying they would refuse a male breast surgeon if they were to need mastectomy?

No. Totally different scenarios.

Some women would not be allowed to have a man carry out a mammogram or any other intimate procedure/examination due to religious reasons. This doesn't mean no man should ever be allowed to treat women's medical problems it just means there must always be a choice.

What a strange reply.Positive mammogram often leads on to surgery so all part of the patient referral

I didn't say it wasn't part of the referral, I said it was a different scenario.

Patients are anaesthetised for surgery, it is a completely clinical environment.

Mammograms you walk into a room, someone contorts your breasts into plates all very up close and personal. It is very hands on and just would be awful if some bloke was doing it.

Try the BBC

Not a period of time- forever and no private.

It’s really not difficult. We all have a tick box ✅ that says will see a male mammographer. If it’s not ticked, and the female staff goes off sick without any notice and in the unlikely circumstance the only mammographer that can substitute happens to be a male, then the hospital can send out automated texts and notices in my chart that the appointment has been cancelled and will be rescheduled. There doesn’t have to be any showing up and being uncomfortable but too chicken shit to say nah thanks I’ll reschedule because I need a woman to do my mammogram.

You have obviously never gone into theatre to have surgery. You walk in, you strip, you get on the table and lie down on your back, your breasts/torso get swabbed down with antiseptic cleaner in full view of several staff male and female. The heart monitors are stuck to you, your arms are strapped down like you’re being crucified, the mask goes on and then the anaesthesia is put through your cannula via IV. You have time to hold a conversation while mostly naked.

I've had surgery multiple times and never experienced anything like this. I was wheeled in, they slightly lowered my gown to put the heart rate thingies on, while the anaesthetist gave me the sleepy drugs. I wasn't ever awake while exposed. When I came round, I was covered up (my surgeries were all gynae). Just wanted to be clear about that in case anyone is put off surgery.

I think it's the opposite. I'm 40 and have always had the opportunity to be seen by a female HCP, so I always have. My 80 year old grandmother has not always had the privilege so would probably be used to it.

Unfortunately, I'm also one of the people who would refuse treatment over a male HCP performing a breast exam. I don't see why we can't incentivise more women into the job if we can afford female chaperones.

The problem is, they very often manhandle your breast at the machine, if you’ll excuse the pun. It’s about the right position. I would not want a man doing that, at all.

I’m disabled from birth and have had numerous surgeries over the years, including a lumpectomy and subsequent mastectomy late last year. And I can honestly say that this has never, ever been my experience, and I seriously doubt it’s yours to be honest.

On the ward l was gowned and had a cap over my hair and wore paper knickers. I was wheeled into the anaesthetic room where there were several staff assigned to different things. I had heart monitor placed, a cannula inserted into my arm and all the while the staff were doing their very best to chat and put me at ease. There was no strapping down of arms and at every stage l was informed of what was happening, there was no mask and as soon as the anaesthetic was administered l went out like a light.

This is a thread dealing with sensitive issues and l really don’t understand why you would post such utter nonsense designed to put women off having life saving surgery.

If this is genuinely your experience, then you need to make a complaint. I have had plenty of surgeries and not a single one has anything like this happened to me. I highly doubt this happened to you in the way you're describing tbh but if it did then you need to complain.

The BBC?! Are you kidding? The apologists for Jimmy Saville, the home of biased reporting - that BBC?
No, I meant real data.

Female chaperones don’t cost anywhere near what it costs to educate and train a radiologist. And radiology covers a wide range of areas - you can’t force women to specialise. Having had breast cancer l can assure you that the mammogram is only the start. If you need breast cancer treatment are you also going to refuse a male surgeon, or stipulate that no males are present during surgery or other procedures ? Surely the point is swift and effective screening followed by swift and effective treatment for what is a killer disease.

I’ve read and re-read that post several times and the language used sounds like that of a teenage troll.

Oh I've had surgery I've also been in anaesthetic rooms prior to others having surgery. They get hooked up to monitors, anaesthetised then wheeled in where they are prepped for surgery with as much privacy and dignity as possible.

No arms getting strapped down like being crucified .

As a pp said do complain your experience is absolutely appalling and not the norm, was it in the UK?

Doubt it was anywhere to be honest. Who would come onto a thread discussing such sensitive issues and deliberately pot something clearly designed to scare the living daylights out of women potentially facing surgery.

I've had breast exams done by male doctors, and my daughter was delivered by one - no problem. But a mammogram feels different. As a very small breasted woman it takes a lot of squashing and pummelling to get my breast tissue between the plates. I'd hate that to be done by a man, and I think it could also lead to mistaken accusations against male radiographers because it is so very invasive. And definitely traumatising to someone who's experienced assault.

It’s meant to attract people to the profession and make studying for needed professions more accessible not trap them or put people off.

I suspect sadly this is someone being disingenuous and trying to scare women away from surgeries.

You walk in, you strip

you do not

where the hell where you having your surgery 😳

Will just about every newspaper , The Society of Radiographers,Breast Cancer Now , National Breastcancer Org, Tory government reports back in 2020 which they did little about ( to name but a few)…..do you?

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/female-breast-cancer-mammogram-male-health-workers-b2740893.html

https://breastcancernow.org/about-us/media/statements/breast-cancer-now-responds-to-latest-vacancy-rates-among-screening-mammographers

https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/aug/15/radiographer-shortage-in-england-delaying-breast-cancer-treatment-says-society

https://www.sor.org/news/mammography/allow-male-health-workers-to-perform-breast-examin

https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/blog/the-breast-cancer-screening-crisis-explained/

phescreening.blog.gov.uk/2020/01/22/tackling-shortages-breast-imaging/

Nobody should be getting free degrees from the government. NHS staff already get gold plated pensions that we can’t afford, free degrees on top is ludicrous. There are shortages in many many fields of work which we need.