Mammograms - how painful are they really?

I know that in my area, they generally will not do Pap smears on a woman over the age of 70 if she has had no evidence of abnormal smears for at least the last 3 years or so. (My understanding of the rationale is that cervical cancer in women this age is relatively uncommon and it is thought that the risks and costs of overscreening outweigh the benefits for women in this age group.) I do not know if the same applies to breast cancer screening.

Those of you over 70 are you still requesting the mammograms? I think the jury is out on whether there is still a benefit of being screened once you are over 70. Next year it will be my last time but I will still request them.

I am going to request them because I've already had breast cancer twice.

Hetty58 Would you think it a waste of time if, like me, you were recalled and a repeat scan and ultrasound revealed a small tumour, about the size and shape of a coffee bean ? Two weks later, it was removed and a week after that I received the report on it. By then it was a third as big again. It had not had time to break through the wall of the milk duct, metastase and reach any other organs, I did not need chemotherapy or radiotherapy and in fourteen years I have not had any recurrence.

Without the mammogram, I would not have known it was there until it grew big enough to be felt as a lump. By then it would have penetrated the duct wall and probably cells would have broken off it and travelled to my liver or lungs to form secondaries.

I would prefer a few minutes of discomfort every two years to repeated surgery, chemo, radiotherapy - and the likelihood of pain and death.

I have had a fair number of mammograms, some routine, some not.
I'm a DD (not boasting ) and I have found it depends on the radiographer, not the size.
Some have been uncomfortable and only one painful.

I was involved in a project a couple of years ago to test out just that but I never heard the result.

Those of you over 70 are you still requesting the mammograms? I think the jury is out on whether there is still a benefit of being screened once you are over 70. Next year it will be my last time but I will still request them.

Firm but not painful.

Can I ask a very personal question? What counts as small? I’m a D or a DD (I wish my younger self could see me writing that!) depending on the make of bra - does that make it more is less likely that it will be painful as opposed to uncomfortable?

I have had several mammograms, absolutely no discomfort whatsoever. Think though, this is due to the fact that I (unfortunately) have quite large boobs, so it is easy to place them between the plates, whereas I presume if you have small boobs there is a certain amount of 'pinching' trying to get the plates in place.

I’ve never found it at all painful.

I think I might have to stand on a stool if I had one now.

I was terrified when I had my first mammogram. I can remember my teenage daughter having to practically frogmarch me there.

It wasn't painful though.

My sister-in-law, who is considerably less well endowed than me, finds it very painful.

I find it unpleasant and strenuous. Somehow I feel I should be on my tiptoes and contorting myself into a strange position. I also hold my breath, but, to give you an idea of how long it lasts, I have found that you can't hold your breath the whole time.

However, I am blessed with healthy breasts and it is a joy to look at the x rays afterwards. Here in Germany the gynaecologist does it, at least mine does. I go for a regular check up once a year. Normally it would be every 6 months, but I have had a hysterectomy so I reckon once a year is enough. The health insurance covers a mammogram every 2 years. I'll ask next time up to what age they do it.

I have just sat in a hospital waiting room with two ladies, one retired and the other who works as a banker. They were waiting for bone scans to see if their breast cancers had returned and spread. I think a few minutes of being uncomfortable during a mammogram is worth it to prevent being in their situation.

What's a few seconds' discomfort if it's going to potentially save your life? It's no worse than going to the dentist...but then again, there are those that kick up a fuss about dental treatment!

If your experience is similar to mine, SirChenjin, I'd rather have a mammogram than stub my toe or have toothache.

Wouldn’t say it was my favourite thing to do but am not at all bothered by the procedure.

Uncomfortable but worth it.
I always say that if you've given birth then you can survive other pain!

Gelisajams, I'm of the opinion that screening is a waste of time anyway - but go ahead and have your boobs crushed if it gives you peace of mind!:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-44016206

Smallish bosoms here. I find it very uncomfortable, almost painful but that lasts only a matter of seconds. Worth putting up with it, nothing to worry about and no after effects.

Uncomfortable but it’s over very quickly .

Howjado
In our area it is 70 years old, however you can request every two years after that age. that is what I do.

Information below for anyone interest.

www.cancerresearchuk.org/health-professional/cancer-statistics/statistics-by-cancer-type/breast-cancer/risk-factors

70 is the top age though you can request one after that.

Balance a bit of pain during the scan, with the possibility that if you do have a problem and it is not picked up early, you could be facing an early death.

I do not seem to have had a mammogram for ages. At what age do they stop doing them?