Mammograms and male radiographers

I also meant to add that’s it’s up to men to request a man if they would feel more comfortable with a male doctor examining prostate testicles etc. But I think there is a different dynamic there due to so many factors not lease because women are far more likely to have experienced sexual assault or even inappropriate touching by a man and have trust issues. Back in the day it wasn’t unusual for a man to smack your arse if you were working as a waistress etc I’ve had this done in the office in the 90s and had my boobs grabbed by random guys at parties pubs etc. Whereas my husband who mid fifties hasn't had any of this in his experience with women. I’m sure I’m not alone in this and at the time you were expected to laugh it off.

Wow this is a lot more of a civilised discussion on this subject than on Mumsnet I have to say! I definitely wouldn’t want a male doing this, it feels far more intimate than gynae examination due to the handling and repositioning required and proximity of the radiographer. It’s also painful and slightly humiliating having your boobs squashed flat and as others have said if the thought that you might get a man doing it is going to put women off then this is surely not good. In an ideal world there would be a choice but I can’t see how that’s going to work on a practical basis people go sick etc. and as Oreo(I think) said those of us who don’t want a male will be made to feel we are making a fuss or are sexist! Those who have said they haven’t had much hands on repositioning needed it all depends on the breast shape as well as size if your breast tissue visibly extends under the armpit there is a lot of fiddling to make sure it’s all in. I also think that men who are doing this job would obviously be more open to accusations of misconduct when an action etc is misconstrued when it wouldn’t be if it was a female handling the breasts. It’s also the weird sitting there stripped to the waist initially while they get the machine ready etc that would be even more awkward with a man. More so than at a breast clinic situation where you are wearing a gown( I have been several times) until you’re examined.

It's a wind up isn't it? The whole women saying no to men is the same as racism.
Or could be your straightforward racism.

Leopard79

For me it would entirely depend on the ethnicity of the male radiographer.

I was recently in hospital for major spinal surgery - I refused to have African men washing and dressing me.

Are you serious?
What has ethnicity got to do with it?

For me it would entirely depend on the ethnicity of the male radiographer.

I was recently in hospital for major spinal surgery - I refused to have African men washing and dressing me.

All of the mammogram appointments I've ever had have been done in the mobile unit at our local hospital. The unit is staffed by women. My boobs always need to be lifted, adjusted and pushed around, usually by the lady standing very close behind me. There's usually a lot of humour involved, which creates a relaxed atmosphere. I can't imagine it being the same if it was a male radiographer. Some women may not be bothered, but we should have a choice.

Sorry, Mt61, I was just trying to edit my comment when I pressed the wrong button. I just wanted to say, I am not being judgemental about you not reporting; I didn't report by rapist who was a family member for fear of upsetting my family.

Mt61

No definitely do not want a male nurse doing my mammogram. I am quite large bust wise, the last lady slapped them on the machine like a side of beef. If this happened again with a male, I would be absolutely mortified.
I had a terrible experience once, with a young, male SA Doctor who examined me down below, no glove. In & out with his finger, but it’s what he said, “I had to do that to make you relax” (because I was shaking). I was too shocked to report him. So now I make sure it’s a female Gp/ specialist that I see.

That is absolutely against the rules, Mt61. What a shame you couldn't find it in you to report him because if he's done it to you, you can guarantee other ladies will have suffered. I wholeheartedly support any lady having been through what you have or any form of abuse from a man being given carte blanche to choose to have a woman.

Interesting about different machinery for mammograms in different settings.
Does it say on your reports the make and model used? Mine says a Sectra MicroDose Mammogram. I'm no scientist, but from what I can read up on this, it is low radiation and the images can be viewed in both 2d and 3d.

As an aside, I brought back films from a Mammogram I had done in rural France and the UK consultant said the the image was "very poor, obviously an antiquated machine".

My post was to growstuff

My scans are in the hospital, the scanner has been the same one (or at least the same design) for at least the last 10 years. It is different to the ones in the caravan units where they had to change the plates if you were very large breasted. (that was at least 20 years ago)

No definitely do not want a male nurse doing my mammogram. I am quite large bust wise, the last lady slapped them on the machine like a side of beef. If this happened again with a male, I would be absolutely mortified.
I had a terrible experience once, with a young, male SA Doctor who examined me down below, no glove. In & out with his finger, but it’s what he said, “I had to do that to make you relax” (because I was shaking). I was too shocked to report him. So now I make sure it’s a female Gp/ specialist that I see.

I've had my last few mammograms in a hospital. I'm wondering if they have more sophisticated equipment than in the caravan places.

Daddima

Like growstuff, I just faced forward with the boobies on the plate, then the radiographer went into her wee corner, pushed a button, and the plate came down. Next one, I stood sideways, arm bent holding on to the scanner, and she did the same. I didn’t even find it painful or particularly uncomfortable. She hardly touched me at all.

Maybe some areas have better types of scanners. I have always been wrestled into them but at my last scan, the only thing the radiographer touched was my arm. It was also the most comfortable scan I have ever had too.
As time goes on I expect they will develop better ways of doing things too. So far prostate cancer has been detected with a blood test (which can give variable results), a physical examination and a scan. A new test has been developed which can be done at home and is far more accurate so fewer people will need to be referred. .

Like growstuff, I just faced forward with the boobies on the plate, then the radiographer went into her wee corner, pushed a button, and the plate came down. Next one, I stood sideways, arm bent holding on to the scanner, and she did the same. I didn’t even find it painful or particularly uncomfortable. She hardly touched me at all.

growstuff

Fair enough! Posters have made their feelings clear, as have I. Male mammographers don't bother me, but I do respect that they do bother many women. What's the problem, as long as women are guaranteed a choice, if the end result is that there are more mammographers and the waiting lists are reduced?

👍

Fair enough! Posters have made their feelings clear, as have I. Male mammographers don't bother me, but I do respect that they do bother many women. What's the problem, as long as women are guaranteed a choice, if the end result is that there are more mammographers and the waiting lists are reduced?

growstuff

escaped

I'm wondering whether it's partly to do with the kindly, understanding chat that female mammographers give that makes us feel a bit more comfortable? I don't mean the hairdresser chit chat about the weather and family stuff, but the more concerned comments like, "Sorry my hands are cold," or, "sorry, I know it's painful" etc. A kind of empathy because they've probably had it done to themselves?
I wouldn't be happy being told to put my own boob on the machine because I would worry it wasn't positioned properly and hadn't included all the edges. The radiographers have always spent a while manoeuvring and swivelling my boob.

The last mammographer I had most certainly wasn't friendly.

I don't understand why you wouldn't be happy to put your own boob in the machine. The mammographer gets the height right and I just step forward. She then presses something and the plate comes down.

For the same reason I wouldn't want to put my broken leg on the couch for Xray. It's not my responsibility to position it correctly to get the best possible image. I assume it takes some skill to get the angle right, or otherwise we would all be asked to just put our boobs on the machine ourselves?

Rosie51

growstuff

Come to Cambridge Rosie51! I was not manoeuvred into position. I was told to lean forward a bit and hold on to a bar - and that was it.

Anyway, I don't see a problem. Those women who want a woman can have one and the rest of us can have whoever's turn it is. With a bit of luck, there will be more mammographers, lists will reduce and more lives will be saved. Sorted!

No thanks, I'll stick with the hospital that has saved my life more than once, but I appreciate the invitation
Yours must be very different to mine as even just the equipment needs manual adjustment by them for height, compression etc while standing very close. That my female radiographer has to handle and manipulate my breasts extensively is just par for the course, no big deal. As long as we're all happy with the service we get hooray.

When you're a bit of a cancer magnet, and they can't explain how you've survived various metastases from different cancers you just say thank you and trust. My lovely male registrar will be giving both breasts a thorough pummelling next year if this latest mammogram is clear, if not it will be sooner.

I've enormous breasts. The extensive manipulation of breast tissue (to prevent "folds" which obscure disease) is time consuming, unpleasant, and the radiographer is too close for my comfort level.

I want a choice.

Oreo

growstuff

But none of this matters. As I keep saying, I don't care whether it's a male or a female - and the biggest survey on attitudes suggests approx 50% don't care either. As long as women are given a choice, I don't see the problem.

That’s the nub of it isn’t it? Will we be given a choice? When would we find out, upon entering the mobile unit?
Many cultures living in the UK won’t accept this, as well as a lot of women in general.It needs careful consideration.

Why would it be so difficult not to give a choice?

I think many women have a self-protecting abhorrence to being pressed up against an unknown male, and that shouldn't be trivialised. To be honest I'm not at ease having a male optician examining my eyes with his face right next to mine. Of course I'm not saying all men are out to cause harm but this is an ingrained reaction for some of us.
Some women already opt out of mammograms for a variety of reasons (eg embarrassment, pain) and they will be even more deterred if they know they might be seen by a man.

I’d prefer a female. I had a horrendous experience with a mammogram resulting in injury so I’ve subsequently had to have the most senior radiographer carry them out. I’ve also received an injury to my breast having been attacked by a male in the past, so am not keen for any bloke touching them.

Oreo Thank you, you are exactly right. I have quite small breasts, so finding anything to squash between the plates, let alone keeping it there, while they squash is quite difficult and requires the operator to be close to me and touching me a lot.

I am wondering if we do get a choice of gender if the mammogram shows we have a problem and we are referred to a consultant for further investigation. I have been referred twice and each time I have had a male consultant who has had to do a hands on breast examination. I don't think I even thought about gender I was so worried about cancer.
The first time was a military Dr who blithely informed me that women of a certain age worried too much and he couldn't find anything to worry about despite the GP being very concerned. He was so dismissive and condescending, I was furious.
The second was a lovely man during Covid who did everything to reassure me and my husband that I just had a cyst and they could drain that immediately. He explained everything he was going to do, sympathised with my worry and sorted me out. I left feeling totally reassured.
For my own part I think it is how I am treated overall that makes the difference.

growstuff

But none of this matters. As I keep saying, I don't care whether it's a male or a female - and the biggest survey on attitudes suggests approx 50% don't care either. As long as women are given a choice, I don't see the problem.

That’s the nub of it isn’t it? Will we be given a choice? When would we find out, upon entering the mobile unit?
Many cultures living in the UK won’t accept this, as well as a lot of women in general.It needs careful consideration.