Mammograms and male radiographers

Just looked up a bit about this...

Only a third of radiologists are women apparently.

Outdated myths about radiology—that it’s an isolated, physics-heavy specialty with little patient interaction—persist and may deter medical students from the field.

This is an interesting article - albeit American, about why.

www.rsna.org/news/2023/april/increasing-number-of-female-radiologists?hl=en-GB

I had a mammogram a few months ago and although I have a large bust she gave me instructions - things like "please lean forward a little - hold onto the handle - left shoulder down - can you press your chest harder to the right slightly" and so on.

I wonder if they are being trained like this now? I thought it was odd at the time... I wasn't confident that I was doing it right but it did mean she could just stay behind her computer.

I've usually had smear tests by male doctors - you're pretty vulnerable when on your back with your knees bent up. I'd prefer a woman to give me a mammogram, but wouldn't lose any sleep over having a man do it.

I wouldn't like it at all. There is only ever one radiographer in our mammogram trailer, and the thought of being in such a close environment with a man pushing and squeezing my boobs about is very off putting.

eddiecat78

*grow stuff* I think you are very unusual in not having been touched by the mammographer. I'm small busted and get my boobs repositioned several times, then my arms adjusted, sometimes even my hips moved - all by the mammographer standing right behind me with her arms surrounding my torso.

Maybe I am. I've had about 10 mammograms and MRI scans of my breasts over the last three years and not once have I felt "manipulated".

I now have only half a breast left on one side, having had two cancerous lumps removed, although the (male) oncoplastic surgeon did a wonderful job of preserving my nipple and something of the original shape. Radiotherapy (about half the radiotherapists were male) means that I can't really feel it. My other breast has now been reduced to match, so I have scars on both sides.

Quite honestly, after all that I really couldn't care less who does a mammogram. Apparently, just over 50% of women couldn't care either, so surely the answer is to reserve the women mammographers for those whom it bothers and the rest of us will have whoever is available.

My last mammogram was a few days ago. I've had more mammograms, CT, MRI, Ultrasound and nuclear imaging than I can count (very long history of various cancers) and the vast majority have been administered by men, with only the mammograms being solely carried out by women.
NotSpaghetti you must be on very different equipment to what I was examined on as the radiographer had to manually adjust the height of the plates, the angle of the machine for the horizontal and vertical images, all from right beside me, not from behind a computer. It was only when she actually captured the images she was behind the screen. Despite having had a larger than normal number of mammograms they still like to manoeuvre me physically, hands on, into position. I wonder if it is the amount of intimate physical contact that affects whether individuals would prefer a same sex radiographer?
As previously said I've had numerous vaginal examinations by male doctors, no problem, but I prefer a female radiographer for my mammogram. You do have to wonder why the NHS has always emphasised that mammograms alone out of all procedures are carried out in an entirely female environment. It's almost like they know there's something unique about the whole process.

NotSpaghetti

I had a mammogram a few months ago and although I have a large bust she gave me instructions - things like "please lean forward a little - hold onto the handle - left shoulder down - can you press your chest harder to the right slightly" and so on.

I wonder if they are being trained like this now? I thought it was odd at the time... I wasn't confident that I was doing it right but it did mean she could just stay behind her computer.

Thinking about it, this was how mine was carried out just before Christmas. There was minimal physical interaction. I was relieved as the mammogram prior to this one had me in tears, the woman doing it was rough, off hand and it hurt.

Having had a few (intimate) examinations/procedures over the years i don't mind whether the medical professional is male or female. Their attitude, demeanor, approach and giving me confidence in them, is more important to me.

Rosie51 I think she did come over to adjust the height of the machine but she didn't "handle" me.

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!

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.

Rosie51
Hoping you are all clear and get a "handling break".
🤞

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.

Just thinking here, do we know whether our mammograms are 2d or 3d? If they're the latter, with more sophisticated machinery, then maybe less handling (by a man) would be required? If you get my meaning.

I wondered that escaped and also looked up the various machine images to see what I could find - I'd erroneously assumed the 3D were less squashy - but no. Just fewer recalls.

Rosie 51 wishing the best for you.

So, I guess the best solution would be:
Better quality images
Lower radiation dose, certainly no intravenous dyes
Less squashing
A friendly mammographer.
In that order.

🤞 Rosie51 and everyone.

growstuff

M0nica

I am not'shocked' by the idea of male mammographer, but the handling of the breasts and the intimate closeness of the mammographer when undertaking the tests, makes me feel that this is just not suitable role for a man.

I have had, for health reasons, quite a number of vaginal and anal examinations by doctors, as far as I can remember, all male, but for such examinations to be equated with the problems that are presented by men doing mammograms, the doctor would have to be lying a longside me on the examination couch while carrying out these examinations, and of course they never are. They are standing alongside the couch and only their hands go anywhere near your body.

I don't know what kind of mammograms you've had, but no mammographer has ever touched any part of my body apart from my breasts - and certainly not been that close to me. I had a mammogram a couple of weeks ago and the mammographer didn't touch me at all. Maybe I've had so many mammograms over the last couple of years that I know exactly where to place my breast. I don't find having a mammogram remotely sexual - if any male ever wanted to squash my breasts between two plates, he'd end up with a punched nose (or worse).

I think that Monica is correct on this matter.
growstuff I certainly don’t ‘like having a go at you’ as you mistakenly put it, but I do have my own opinions which don’t happen to agree with your own on various things.As most women on this thread say, there is quite a lot of handling and realigning by the mammographer, while they are stnading so close to you that you can feel their bodies behind you.They often even press against you if they’re overweight, and can’t help doing so as they adjust your breast, arms and hips.
Just because you haven’t experienced this doesn’t mean that many of us haven’t.

escaped

So, I guess the best solution would be:
Better quality images
Lower radiation dose, certainly no intravenous dyes
Less squashing
A friendly mammographer.
In that order.

A friendly female mammographer too!😃

I don't really care Oreo. They can have the female mammographers. Those women who don't care can have a male or a female. Simple!

As I say many don't trust them with choice for women, it will be endless drip drip of blame, disbelief, etc. You can see some of it on here.

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.

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.

escaped

Just thinking here, do we know whether our mammograms are 2d or 3d? If they're the latter, with more sophisticated machinery, then maybe less handling (by a man) would be required? If you get my meaning.

Most mammograms are 2d.

Because we won't be. It will become more and more difficult to be allowed to make that choice.