Do mammograms hurt?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone know where I can get one without a primary care doctor? I happen not have be right now and places will not let me schedule (even though I do not need a referral insurance wise).

Yes I should find a PCP but so many are charging annual fees and I usually go once. It's easier to use Urgent Care

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, for a minute or two. Less than a pap smear in my opinion. And certainly less than breast cancer treatment, so definitely worth it.

LOL. It does not prevent breast cancer. It just finds it early enough (if getting it regularly) in most cases for it to be treatable.

- BC patient who got mammos every six months because of dense breast tissues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol what is up with the not as much as chemo comments? Getting a mammogram doesn't prevent cancer . . ..

I’m not the person who posted that, but if you catch BC early enough, you might be able to avoid chemo.

Incorrect. It all depends on the type of BC, treatment options for the disease and you, risks and spread.

My aggressive cancer tumor popped out 2 months after an "all-clear" through a biopsy for a calcified duct. I get mammograms every 6 months because of dense breast tissues. No risk factors, low exposure to lifetime estrogen , and very healthy lifestyle.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Lol what is up with the not as much as chemo comments? Getting a mammogram doesn't prevent cancer . . ..

I’m not the person who posted that, but if you catch BC early enough, you might be able to avoid chemo.

Incorrect. It all depends on the type of BC, treatment options for the disease and you, risks and spread.

My aggressive cancer tumor popped out 2 months after an "all-clear" through a biopsy for a calcified duct. I get mammograms every 6 months because of dense breast tissues. No risk factors, low exposure to lifetime estrogen , and very healthy lifestyle.

No, not incorrect. I said you *might* be able to avoid chemo, and I stand by what I said. DCIS for example, doesn’t require chemo, and some stage 1 hormone positive cases sometimes don’t need chemo either. Obviously early detection doesn’t guarantee no chemo but there’s a possibility.

Sorry about your diagnosis and I wish you healing. I myself am sitting here waiting on my surgical pathology from a lumpectomy for early stage BC.

[Anonymous]

To me it felt like when your fat ass cat or small dog steps on your boob with all the weight in their body on their tiny little paw. So it kind of hurt but not too bad. The worst part is having to hold your breath the whole time.

From the whole process of taking off your top/bra to checking out at the front desk, and the whole appointment in between, was about 20 minutes. So not nearly as long and involved as like, a full dental cleaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To me it felt like when your fat ass cat or small dog steps on your boob with all the weight in their body on their tiny little paw. So it kind of hurt but not too bad. The worst part is having to hold your breath the whole time.

From the whole process of taking off your top/bra to checking out at the front desk, and the whole appointment in between, was about 20 minutes. So not nearly as long and involved as like, a full dental cleaning.

Thanks for the chuckle. Yes this is exactly how it feels.

[Anonymous]

Schedule it for the week after your period ends (the first part of your cycle), as opposed to two weeks before (luteal phase), when many women feel more breast tenderness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why hasn't techology done better at women's healthcare? Why are so many routine checks painful?

Women are less likely to complain about pain/discomfort during tests than men are (and less likely to avoid a test because of pain/discomfort). But also, even if women do complain, their complaints are more easily dismissed as exaggeration or someone being oversensitive.

Our culture is set up to discount women's pain. Even women do it to each other. Women might even be worse about it, TBH.

Mammograms are painful, awkward, and uncomfortable. Basically, some stranger manipulates and folds over your boob to fit on a plate that not really designed for boobs, or the various shapes. And then presses down. The first time I went for one, I absolutely knew a man designed the test. And then women are not expected to complain. Even other women say that -- look at the comments here. Just because something is worse doesn't mean mammograms can't improve, by a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why hasn't techology done better at women's healthcare? Why are so many routine checks painful?

Women are less likely to complain about pain/discomfort during tests than men are (and less likely to avoid a test because of pain/discomfort). But also, even if women do complain, their complaints are more easily dismissed as exaggeration or someone being oversensitive.

Our culture is set up to discount women's pain. Even women do it to each other. Women might even be worse about it, TBH.

Mammograms are painful, awkward, and uncomfortable. Basically, some stranger manipulates and folds over your boob to fit on a plate that not really designed for boobs, or the various shapes. And then presses down. The first time I went for one, I absolutely knew a man designed the test. And then women are not expected to complain. Even other women say that -- look at the comments here. Just because something is worse doesn't mean mammograms can't improve, by a lot!

This! When I went for my first mammo and they clamped me in, my literal first thought was “this is why we need more women engineers.” It is a horrible, horrible way to take a picture and a very primitive device. Seems like low hanging fruit as far as things we could make easier and more pleasant in life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They’re fine. It 4 times a 20 second squish—2 on each side. They’re not comfortable, but it’s over fast.

Squished and also hold your breath.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know where I can get one without a primary care doctor? I happen not have be right now and places will not let me schedule (even though I do not need a referral insurance wise).

Yes I should find a PCP but so many are charging annual fees and I usually go once. It's easier to use Urgent Care

Not the answer you're looking for, but why not just get a non-concierge PCP who takes your insurance? If you only go once a year, that's free under ACA, so you can just go get bloodwork and get referred out for screenings and then go to Urgent Care for actual problems. I learned it was a good idea to have a PCP on record when I needed outpatient surgery and then had to scramble to find one to get cleared.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My problem is the positioning makes me faint (it’s some kind of reflex, I have no idea why). I finally learned you can ask to sit down and they use a rolly chair/stool that is height adjustable. It makes it so much more comfortable for me. Still an awkward position but I don’t have the stress of worrying I’m going to pass out.

Vasovagal syncope

This.

It’s the machine pressing on your belly.

? The machine never presses on my belly. It's at upper torso level. I do feel pressed against the machine, and my 32B breasts are manipulated to fit into it, but there's no belly involvement. Maybe you had a different machine?

The Vasovagal syncope is not about pressing on your stomach although if it’s pain in your stomach, it could be. This kind of syncope is caused by standing, pain or anxiety.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why hasn't techology done better at women's healthcare? Why are so many routine checks painful?

Women are less likely to complain about pain/discomfort during tests than men are (and less likely to avoid a test because of pain/discomfort). But also, even if women do complain, their complaints are more easily dismissed as exaggeration or someone being oversensitive.

Our culture is set up to discount women's pain. Even women do it to each other. Women might even be worse about it, TBH.

Mammograms are painful, awkward, and uncomfortable. Basically, some stranger manipulates and folds over your boob to fit on a plate that not really designed for boobs, or the various shapes. And then presses down. The first time I went for one, I absolutely knew a man designed the test. And then women are not expected to complain. Even other women say that -- look at the comments here. Just because something is worse doesn't mean mammograms can't improve, by a lot!

This! When I went for my first mammo and they clamped me in, my literal first thought was “this is why we need more women engineers.” It is a horrible, horrible way to take a picture and a very primitive device. Seems like low hanging fruit as far as things we could make easier and more pleasant in life.

100%. Why is there not a table you can lay down on with a cut out for your breasts? Why am I standing here with my boob in a vice and then a SHIELD hits my face and I need to "lean backward" but my effing boob is IN A VICE?!!

I felt like I'd been punched repeatedly in the chest and was sore for days. There has to be a better way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why hasn't techology done better at women's healthcare? Why are so many routine checks painful?

Women are less likely to complain about pain/discomfort during tests than men are (and less likely to avoid a test because of pain/discomfort). But also, even if women do complain, their complaints are more easily dismissed as exaggeration or someone being oversensitive.

Our culture is set up to discount women's pain. Even women do it to each other. Women might even be worse about it, TBH.

Mammograms are painful, awkward, and uncomfortable. Basically, some stranger manipulates and folds over your boob to fit on a plate that not really designed for boobs, or the various shapes. And then presses down. The first time I went for one, I absolutely knew a man designed the test. And then women are not expected to complain. Even other women say that -- look at the comments here. Just because something is worse doesn't mean mammograms can't improve, by a lot!

This! When I went for my first mammo and they clamped me in, my literal first thought was “this is why we need more women engineers.” It is a horrible, horrible way to take a picture and a very primitive device. Seems like low hanging fruit as far as things we could make easier and more pleasant in life.

100%. Why is there not a table you can lay down on with a cut out for your breasts? Why am I standing here with my boob in a vice and then a SHIELD hits my face and I need to "lean backward" but my effing boob is IN A VICE?!!

I felt like I'd been punched repeatedly in the chest and was sore for days. There has to be a better way.

They do have these actually which are a mix of a mammogram and a sonogram. You lie face down on a table with a tray for your breasts. Then they lube them up. They’re just not available everywhere yet. My best friend who has a high cancer risk just had one of these for the first time.

[Anonymous]

For me, it hurts like a MF~er and I cry. I have AA boobs so I think it’s just all glands and stuff they are smashing, not fat tissue. I also have dense breast tissue throughout so I always get the note that says it’s basically worthless. And yet I still do it.