Oh my poor boobs :/ !

BTW GNHQ I am not requesting people vote here, just for info.

I'm having one in a few days! Not looking forward to it. How long before the results are back?

I am always surprised when people say they find a mammogram painful or uncomfortable. I have had one every three years since I was 50 (I am 67 now) and have never felt any pain or, apart from the obvious squashing, any discomfort. I must have been lucky I think!

The first 2 mammograms I had were done in a mobile unit in a supermarket car-park. They were uncomfortable rather than painful but the next was in a hospital and was dreadful. No consideration that it was part of my body that was being pushed about, in fact no consideration for me at all. The one I had this year at a well-known hospital was a totally different experience in that I was treated with care and respect, and the machine operator was able to position my breasts with ease. I'm definitely of the view it's individual skill and expertise that defines the pain level inflicted.

I have had many mammograms since having breast cancer ten years ago and I can honestly say except for very slight discomfort When having the mammogram I have had no problems.always been treated with the utmost respect by the radiographer.

I find they vary (radiographers) from really unfriendly and a bit rough, to really smiley and sweet.So, sometimes it's very painful, and others times just very uncomfortable!

I was asked the last time I had a mammogram if I would act as a guinea pig for student radiographers and I agreed to do it about 3 times. It was mildly uncomfortable but I did not mind, they were very gentle.

Apparently I am now too old.

Daphne that made me laugh out loud!

I really do think it is down to the operator just how uncomfortable or painful it is. I also think that if the men had to undergo such a thing whether it was a 'one-off' or regularly that there would be a great deal of money thrown at research to find a much better and kinder way to test!

Charleygirl did you know you can request a mammogram even when over the age limit? I will do so even though I am now 70.

Synonymous see my link for an alternative posted on Fri 11th.

Well, my boobs both have a line of black and blue bruising both on the top and underneath so clearly it wasn't my overreacting ?. It's never been that bad before.
Very reluctant to go through that again though obviously I will.........

Hopefully you'll all be fine!

I have had many mammograms and am a wimp, but have never found them that painful. Yes, they are uncomfortable etc. but it seems to only take a few seconds.
However, I think it would be another story if I ended up with some of the bruises that many of you seem to have endured.

loopylou that is horrendous! Obviously someone lacking in empathy. I wonder would it be useful to get your GP to look at these bruises and feed back to the place you got the mammogram. You may not be the only one to have suffered and this person sounds as if she is in need of retraining!!

As a wee aside - I also have a huge, black and blue bruise on my left boob. Not caused by the mammogram torture machine but by a very large Bramley Apple which fell from on-high and found a soft place to land. The apple was not bruised and was delicious when baked with raisins and honey.

I should have listened to Sir Issac Newton when he told us why.......

It's like putting your boob in the fridge door and slamming it shut! ?