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Mammogram on a bus!

(107 Posts)
Marilla Fri 04-Jul-25 19:45:44

Call me ridiculous but is it dignified to go to a supermarket car park to have a mammogram? So everyone knows why you are going on the bus. Apparently some people are having chemotherapy on a bus parked in a Tesco car park in Suffolk!

Visgir1 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:47:57

That's been going on for years... It's a mobile unit I think it's a brilliant idea always have.

Galaxy Fri 04-Jul-25 19:50:19

I had mine in an Iceland car park in a mobile unit. Didn't bother me at all. All that bothered me was the quality of 'care'. The nurses were brilliant, i couldn't praise them enough.

Magenta8 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:51:29

I used to go to a Morrisons car park at one time. I can't say it ever worried me. Mind you I lost my last shred of dignity many years ago.

As I am over 71 I am no longer called and have to arrange my own mammograms which is a bit of a bummer.

Casdon Fri 04-Jul-25 19:52:05

I think it’s fine, it’s a routine screening only service offered to all women in a certain age group, so it doesn’t reveal anything about you - other than that you’re sensible enough to want screening. Our service has always been provided in a mobile unit here, it travels to different areas every week so it is easiest for local women to access.
It wouldn’t bother me personally if I needed chemotherapy in a mobile unit either, because I think if I was feeling really unwell I’d rather be as short a distance from home as possible, and that would override any embarrassment.

Allira Fri 04-Jul-25 19:52:26

Thank goodness I did!

charley68 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:53:03

Yes, the mobile units are very helpful for many women having mammograms. My local cottage hospital has a mobile unit, and I have attended.

petra Fri 04-Jul-25 19:54:21

Why do you assume people are interested in anyone going into those units.
Isn’t the most important aspect the fact that they are there.
I’ve had all mine done in one but didn’t notice one person nudge her friend and say eh, look at her
Ridiculous comment and attitude.

Elowen33 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:55:18

I have had mine done that way for many years, much more convenient for me than travelling to hospital.

Ilovedogs22 Fri 04-Jul-25 19:59:15

I've visited these van -scans on numerous occasions, they are brilliant & do the job just the same as others within a hospital unit. A clever innovation which saves lives. It's quite snug inside but it seems less intimidating than trudging through the hospital.🤔

Grannynannywanny Fri 04-Jul-25 20:01:40

Phew! When I read the thread title I was picturing the number 20 bus driving through town and a woman with her breast squashed into the X-ray machine while all the other passengers pretended not to notice 🚍

ViceVersa Fri 04-Jul-25 20:03:08

We've always had those mobile units here n Scotland. I don't see anything embarrassing or undignified about them whatsoever.

charley68 Fri 04-Jul-25 20:05:23

These are mobile units; I do not think there is any writing on them stating, for example, "mammograms". They may have some NHS signage on there, but nothing specific.
A brilliant innovation for ease of access to a service.

Septimia Fri 04-Jul-25 20:07:14

All my mammograms were done on the mobile unit situated in car parks, sometimes near a medical centre, sometimes in a supermarket car park. As others have said, usually much more convenient than having to travel to a hospital. The unit is usually tucked away at one side and you can park close enough to get to it without having to march across the car park. No-one takes any notice and there are normally only one or two other people being seen at the same time (and sometimes none).

Retroladywriting Fri 04-Jul-25 20:10:24

Even if people do notice and realise what the purpose is, why would that matter? It's not like it's one of 'those' clinics, is it? It may even remind others to check their boobs and/or go for a mammogram.

Smileless2012 Fri 04-Jul-25 20:13:28

Grannynannywanny grin.

Had mine at a mobile unit in Tesco's car park several times.

growstuff Fri 04-Jul-25 20:18:38

I really don't understand the issue. Women have breasts and breasts get cancer. Surely nobody sniggers because women have the sense to go and get them checked out. There's a mammogram bus in my local Tesco every few months and I've seen women go in and leave. I've never thought anything about it.

Vito Fri 04-Jul-25 20:26:18

Yep ridiculous 🙄

Bobblesack Fri 04-Jul-25 20:32:50

At least you can get parked in the supermarket car park, unlike a hospital. I find the staff friendlier, gentler and less officious too. I've also had an MRI at the local rugby club, which was a bit bizarre but nobody took the slightest bit of notice.

Pantglas2 Fri 04-Jul-25 20:36:14

Grannynannywanny

Phew! When I read the thread title I was picturing the number 20 bus driving through town and a woman with her breast squashed into the X-ray machine while all the other passengers pretended not to notice 🚍

U haven’t lost your sense of humour and I so identified with it from our Maffs Klass many years ago😂.

I’ve never had a problem trotting off with my “puppies” to a bus or a clinic which in our area is more usual - does anyone care after a certain age?

Harris27 Fri 04-Jul-25 20:39:15

Never had a problem with this just grateful for my regular mammogram,

Grannynannywanny Fri 04-Jul-25 20:47:19

Miss Marydoll’s Maffs Klasses were such good fun Pantglas2! I looked forward to it every morning during that lonely lockdown . I remember one morning my daughter video called and she thought I was crying when I answered the phone. I was actually drying my tears of laughter during a particularly norty lesson!

CanadianGran Fri 04-Jul-25 21:01:27

We have a mobile unit here in BC, which can set up in more remote communities, or supplement existing communities if they are high demand, to reduce wait times. I think it is a brilliant idea.

There should be no stigma at all attached to a medical screening which can save lives.

vintage1950 Fri 04-Jul-25 21:03:50

I used to get mine done at the mobile unit in the Tesco's car park. All very discreet.

Tenko Fri 04-Jul-25 21:06:58

I don’t understand the issue . I have mine in a Sainsbury’s car park . The staff are lovely and the parking is free . I’m just grateful for the testing .