routine mammogram tomorrow - am a little anxious...

[MargaretMountford]

pathetic of me, but I am feeling a bit nervous -never had one before...

Oh! I just had to write a letter to an anxious person about mammograms as part of my OU course. What are you anxious about? I've never had one, so my knowledge is purely theoretical, but I might have some stuff to reassure you.

just the idea of undressing and being half naked and having my bosoms pressed between plates !! I feel the same about smears and get very nervous in advance...I expect most people do though. And of course the underlying fear of 'what if...' especially as a friend's breast cancer was discovered through a routine mammogram- which is obviously the point of them of course !

yes, I know !! my SIL who has had many says it hurts her,but she has had breast cancer, so I imagine it was tender where her surgery was.

Hope it goes ok for you MM.

hey good Easter name bellavita ! and thank you ...I can't settle today because I'm nervous,so I haven't done anything useful.

Why thank you.. (I would be nervous too)

In fact, I hate been poked and prodded about.

Surely mning is useful?

yes, it is ! but I really should be drawing or thinking of work ideas !!

It probably is a bit sore - depends on how sensitive your breasts are anyway, but the more they squash you, the lower the dose of radiation you get. I expect the nurses will be very good - waiting for these things is almost always much much worse than having them.

And the "what if" is always a bit worrying, but (a) catching breast cancer early is v. good, and leads to much better survival rates and (b) even amongst those called back for a second look, the chances of it being cancer are really small - can't remember the actual stats, but I was surprised at how small a number it was.

Stick to MN-ing today - work can wait. I found taking a book of sudoku puzzles really distracting when waiting for scans - used to keep one in my bag!

thank you - that is good and comforting advice !

I had tiny boobs and I find it quite uncomfortable having what's left crushed. The discomfort is temporary and doesn't leave any bruising. I was told that about 90% of lumps and bumps are nothing to worry about. They can see quite a lot with a mammogram, and sometimes they do a scan.

Please don't worry about anything. As Habbibu said, it's far better to find anything wrong early. It may help to write down any questions you may want to ask.

thanks all - you speak sense !

Thinking of you today MM

Nothing to worry about - all part and parcel of being female. I've had several and they've all been fine, I just think about something else (usually a shopping list), while some stranger rootles about! Not especially painful, and for me, only for the few secondas that they were actually taking the piccy, nothing afterwards.

ah thanks !

well it was ok - the nurse wasn't over friendly or cheery though...it was a bit uncomfortable being squashed between the plates but tolerable...thanks for advice and support

At least you can relax now

yep !