I was yelling in pain

Mine are always painful I have to grit my teeth. I am a 38g and did wonder if it’s because of the size.

nipsmum - sorry to hear this about your DD. I hope they can get on top of it quickly.

I have had mammograms for about thirty years, and never had any pain or discomfort, the only thing I dont like is being "trapped" in the machine for the few minutes it takes, also I asked the girl doing it once what happens of there is a power cut when in the vice, she laughed and said we can open up by hand, wow that was a consolation.

I have had about 10 mammograms over the last 20 years as part of the routine BreastScreen program where I live. I also have big boobs but found the staff have always been very gentle and careful to minimise any discomfort. The boobs do get a bit squished but only for a few moments.

A lot depends on the skill and care taken by the staff when positioning the breasts and no one should be screaming in pain. Tell the staff before they walk away to take the image if you are in pain and provide feedback to the clinic or program management if you feel that staff have ignored your pain or been careless or inconsiderate. And remind yourself that a little bit of discomfort and regular screens might save your life.

Because it felt to me as though I was going through a mangle I just used to grit my teeth when having mammograms. I was relieved when at 69 the radiographer told me that I wouldn't be sent any more requests as I'd have turned 70. However a PET scan hadn't shown up anything 4 years ago so up to now I'm very lucky and certainly know so judging by the many cases of breast cancer. No females on mum's side including herself had any cancers it was heart attacks and strokes.

I did get that, Gilly, but there are other factors involved in getting sepsis than having a mammogram that revealed the problem that led to the surgery that preceded the sepsis . . . A small matter of sterile equipment and procedures perhaps, for one thing?

I'm not sure but I think the point Leggs was making Elegran is that if she hadn't had the mammogram then she wouldn't have had the surgery, if she hadn't had the surgery then.......

I had one yesterday at Addenbrooks. The radiologist was amazing. She knew exactly how to position my breasts...not small ones either...and took care in positioning me as well. It was painless and I complimented her on her skill. I have had ones in the past that have been uncomfortable but never seriously painful. It is all down to the skill of the radiologist. Please don't let this put you off having another one...they are so important.

No, Legs55, it was the sepsis that nearly killed you, it wasn't the mammogram, and I am surprised that your GP said that it was. If an Xray were to reveal that you had a growth and you subsequently died of heart failure on the operating table, would the same GP have said that your cause of death was due to an Xray?

^If someone is hurting you step away from the machine.
These people are not Gods or police officers that have to be obeyed.
Please get a perspective that you should not be screaming in pain.
Ever^

I agree with you gmelon but I always tend to feel guilty for daring to speak against a medical professional (although I have come across a few bad ones in my time).

Also by the time you are "screaming in pain" you are jammed in a machine between 2 heavy metal plates so you can't exactly move away can you?

If someone is hurting you step away from the machine.
These people are not Gods or police officers that have to be obeyed.
Please get a perspective that you should not be screaming in pain.
Ever.
If they are rude to you walk away.
Demand a different team either that day or arrange another date.
It is possible to leave and sort out another visit after you've recovered from the original visit.

Breathe in deeply, as the plate comes down exhale slowly always helps me,if you can remember from one who has had a lumpectome ,so small breast one side and a B on the other

I twice had mammograms, one in my late 40's & another in my early 50's, I had a small lump which had grown so off for further investigation, lump was benign but a decision was made to remove. I had surgery then had to be rushed back in for emergency surgery, I had developed Sepsis, my GP commented that the mammogram damn near killed me. Both my mammograms were painful & I now refuse to go. I believe it's an individual choice whether to go or not.

The last time I went it was being done by a very young girl. It was so painful I stopped her halfway through and declined to have her finish it.
She went and told the senior nurse (whom I have had before, and although a little painful which is what I expect), who simply said "Oh well, we won't be able to give you full results then". I said it was more painful because there had been some backplates put in for one position and hadn't been taken out for the next one (where they weren't necessary), and the flat plates had been put down on my breasts with such force that I could have screamed.
They weren't even the slightest bit interested.

Medical science moves on all the time. Hopefully one day they will come up with a much easier method and we will look back on mammograms as one of those barbaric practices they used to do in the olden days! Very best wishes to your daughter nipsmum, I'm not being disrespectful.

my sister had to go for her MG last week and was dreading it, she said how painful the last one was and she also has a prob with her shoulder and was unable to keep her arm up over her head, however, she said this one last week was different, the 'machine moved round' yes she was squashed but nowhere near as much as before, and she didn't have to be repositioned as the machine did the moving.

My daughter has just been diagnosed with breast cancer found on her very first mammogram. What's a little pain for a short time???

Which is the very reason I was shamed into going nipsmum my own mum had breast cancer too. I do hope your DD makes a full recovery very soon.

I have never felt any pain whatsoever but I have a friend who said she screams with pain every time. I'm not sure about the smaller the breasts, the more discomfort. My friend's are enormous.

My daughter has just been diagnosed with breast cancer found on her very first mammogram. What's a little pain for a short time??? It didn't do any harm. The way I feel just now I want to say" Just man up and bear it".

I am sure it depends on the radiographer. Thankfully I don't have the same one operating the machine every time in the place my Doctor suggested I go to, if I did I would go elsewhere.

I used to dread mammograms, they were always so painful! I could still feel it the day after and worried that they had done more harm than good

I feel the same Willow the one before last was so painful I cried. I then vowed I wouldn't go through it again but I was talked around......I knew it made sense really. I don't think squashing sensitive breast tissue until it is almost flat can really do you any good but I know for now its the only way. have always wondered if a man had to have his "meat and 2 veg" squashed flat they might have come up with something less painful by now.

I found mammograms became increasingly painful as I got into my 50s and 60s. I discussed this with the nurse and she was very helpful and my mammogram was much less painful, and has continued to be so.

Luckygirl
Nope, my DF always said I was an unstoppable force, hence J'naut!
However, it strikes me as funny when folk shorten it to 'Jugs', for obvious reasons

I have done the same willow. My last mammogram was carried out in what I can only describe as a brutal fashion. There was no care for dignity. The mammographer just smiled when I said the pain was unbearable. I’m not a wimp, have had all sorts of procedures over the years. and live with a chronic pain condition. I did send feedback along the lines of ‘it would be better if’. My last invitation came just before my 70th birthday, I read the information, discussed it with Mr C and phoned to decline the appointment.

I used to dread mammograms, they were always so painful! I could still feel it the day after and worried that they had done more harm than good. The last time I was called there was an envelope full of information which I had never had before, pointing out the pros and cons of mammograms and it did give me a lot to think about. I declined to have it done and the relief was immense. I'm not advocating that it was the right thing and still check myself regularly. But I don't think the pain is taken seriously enough - even when you are in agony they just carry on.