For many years I heard horror stories about the TORTURE of mammograms so I was braced for the worst when I had my first one. I worry that some people don't go at all because of that fear. When I actually went for the first time I was like "WTF? That was no problem at all."
Same. My mother put the fear of God into me about them, but I didn't find it that bad. Key is to relax and accept that it's going to be uncomfortable, but not for long.
Them trying to squeeze to death what little flesh there is beside my nipple while forcing in my ribs was definitely a horrific experience that I hope to never repeat again, I'm glad so many other people don't have to experience that
This is just MY experience. I'm sharing my personal anecdote. I'm sure it's different for everyone. But if you're avoiding it solely because of scary stories and jokes you've heard, please just go and find out for yourself. I was shocked by how easy and fast it was and you might be, too.
I can´t get downtown to the radiologist, agoraphobia here, the taxi wouldn´t be paid for by the mandatory health insurance, bus is impossible for me. So I had to throw away the 4th invitation for a mammogram lately (I´m 54, you get one invitation every year from the age of 50 on in Germany).
New style technology. The first one I had (20 years ago) was horrible and did squash and hurt. The new machines are just brilliant.
I’m 46 so haven’t had a lot but I’ve also had really great experiences with the tech each time. Very understanding that you might be nervous and explained everything and made it as comfortable with another human being as possible!
The newer machines are a lot more comfortable than the older ones, so comfort will vary based on what machines that facility uses. I found a very big difference when I switched health systems for work.
on the flip side, Im one of ~40% of afab US women who have heterogeneously dense breast tissue, which makes mammograms largely uninformative. I find them very painful, and am invariably called back for ultrasound when the images can’t be interpreted. I hate that it’s considered a gold standard test
They are not the funnest, but they are really not bad; get checked Izzy has family history and inherited mutation that increases risk 3×, so get checked often ⚕️
I had my mammogram about a month ago. It was FINE. No problems, no pain either. Super fast and the tech was a really nice older woman.
Thank you for talking so openly about this. My mammos have also always been painless and kind
Depends on the tech doing it. First ones I had were torture. They aren’t now as not the same tech.
It’s gotten easier over the years. Last time I had one it was so quick.
I thought the exact same thing with colonoscopies
They hurt less than they used to. I suspect the equipment has evolved over the years.
It has. Digital tomography machines are far superior to the analog machines. Less adjusting and standing in a painful position. A difference of even 3-4 years can mean vast improvements in the patient experience.
While I find the boob smashing uncomfortable, I’m always impressed by the warm comforting but very professional manner of the technicians. They have all been wonderful.
I can confirm - they’re really not bad at all! I got my first one at 38 because of family history. It’s uncomfortable but mostly awkward
Even if it is painful, it is worth it to detect breast cancer early. Ask me how I know.
Obviously not my area of expertise but I can say that Mom got her's, they found something, they dealt with it, and she's been cancer free for decades. She's coming to visit in December. More stories like that I hope. For those it doesn't apply to, colonoscopy was not as bad as I expected either.
I had my second ever mammogram in March. That’s how I found out I had breast cancer. Please, please, please…everyone get mammograms.
I'm so sorry. I hope you're doing okay. ❤️
Double mastectomy in July, and now completely cancer free. I am extraordinarily lucky to have caught it this early before it could spread. I will now be annoying every single friend, loved one, and random internet stranger with the need to get mammograms.
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Good news! Congrats!
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congrats on being cancer free!!
Same here !!
Hardest part for me is two scans per boob because no one has YET invented that panoramic lens for the mammomachine!
I was told by a tech that breast density can make a difference in how uncomfortable it is, denser = more discomfort. That said, as a person with dense tissue, the actual amount of time the tissue is compressed is maybe 3 minutes? So, yeah, uncomfortable, but it's over quick.
it's painful for me but it's SO WORTH IT. those few minutes once a year could save your life.
IMO if anyone’s done a Pap smear, a mammogram is a breeze
in my experience, I’d rather have a pap smear while getting my teeth drilled then get a mammogram
Highly subjective opinion
Agreed!
My most recent pap was actually nothing at all, where my previous ones had been quite painful. I had my first mammogram last year and it was suuuper uncomfortable lol but it6s all worth it for your health!!
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The "fast" part is key. Is it pleasant? No. But at least it's fast, and it's so important to have it done! I always boight myself a little treat afterwards, like a fancy hot chocolate or a really good pastry. I have a friend who buys herself a pretty bra as a reward.
It’s much easier right after your period when your breasts are less sensitive and tender.
The last two I've had to wait over a year because of appointment availability, so that timing is going to be challenging to arrange.
Also it might save your life.
I find mammograms unpleasant, and I still go. My grandma was saved by one. It gave her 20 more years of life!
It's a little twisty, but all in all, nothing to worry about.
Lmao once at a restaurant, i overheard a lady talking to her friend about how she had just had a mammogram and the plates got stuck so she was just trapped tits first in the squisher. She said it didn't hurt at all, and it was funny to see the technicians panic a bit, only stuck for maybe 90 seconds
I would get a hundred mammograms if it meant not having to go to the dentist.
Going to add to this so that people can see more anecdotal experiences. For me it was no worse than leaning against something with your weight on your breasts. A bit squishy and uncomfortable, but certainly nothing to get scared about. Go out and get your recommended mammograms people.
I’m glad you got your mammogram. It saved my life. I didn’t have a lump on my breast but the mammogram caught the cancer.
Tip: w/US health insurance it's free. BUT there's a loophole. A screening mammogram is free. A diagnostic mammogram is not. If they add an ultrasound or have you repeat the mammogram in 6 months everything's diagnostic for the that time PLUS the following year - even if they don't find anything.
Good to share. Honestly, I had no clue before I went. I think my second one was worse than my first one bc I was surprised by the discomfort. I think it probably depends on a bunch of things like breast size, machine, operator, fluid retention, pain tolerance, etc.
I’d like to also share: don’t be freaked out if they make you come back in for additional imaging on account of “dense breast tissue”. I was freaked out when I got the call but apparently it’s common.
I get called back every. single. time. And then they have to send me for ultrasound anyway. 40% of afab women have dense breast tissue. My obgyn says breast MRIs would be ideal for cases like mine, but insurance companies will not cover them
Sorry to hear that but good to know. I didn’t even know MRI was used for breasts but I guess that makes sense - why wouldn’t it be?? I only recently learned that sometimes, US is used (my mom had to get one done by US while in hospital bc of physical limitations). This thread has been instructive!
Same here, especially common if you are younger.
That’s interesting. I didn’t know that. I had my first one around 40, I think.
Yeah, it's ever so lovely when your automated test results come back immediately with a big fat "ABNORMAL" label before anyone calls to tell you what's going on, and then you have to wait for days or weeks for the second test. Ask me how I know.
(The second scan was fine, and if I interpreted the doctorese correctly on that report, what the problem amounted to the first time was "boob was squished funny.")
Gotta get the right squish. 🤣
Exactly. Only precision, fine-tuned squishing will do.
That would freak me out! I got a phone call & they used ambiguous terminology - I was still freaked out. But I think I’m less sensitive now. My mom recently passed away from a surprise brain cancer diagnosis - after a 7 week rollercoaster in hospital, I think I’d be less paranoid now by findings.
Oh, I’m sorry about your mom — what a doozy of a thing to hit so suddenly!
Thanks. It really was. Cancer was not on the radar bc her family didn’t have any history. It’s a long story (she had Parkinson’s disease, still lived independently and didn’t suffer from headaches) but the experience has helped me better understand when I should step back and assess vs. panicking.
Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️ My Mom never has anything good to say about hers, and her boobs are much smaller and less dense than mine. I'm not looking forward to when I have to start my mammograms... But hopefully they are as easy as yours!
Was going to say this too. The bigger the boob, the less painful because there isn’t as much pull on the skin surrounding it. (Is what my tech said.) I’m hypermobile, so maybe the extra-stretchy collagen helped me too. Honestly, I found the arm/shoulder position more uncomfortable than the squish.
I'm a DD cup, even after lumpectomies, my mom was an AA, except when she was nursing us. (Err, yes, I do favor my paternal grandmother.) Mom found mammograms quite uncomfortable, me, I never had much of a problem. Understandably, it's a lot easier when there's more to squish, you see.
This is nice to know, thank you! I already know I have dense breasts so that's the one thing I suspect might make it a challenge really. I guess I'll find out when I find out :)
Much easier when there’s more there to squish. More difficult with smaller breasts.
I'm old enough to have had one of the painful ones the first time, but the technology changed fast and it's got much better, more accurate, and really not bad at all. In the olden days it did suck! Also, likely much fewer women in the field back then, so men were giving them, so...
I think in the 80s it was much worse. Today the worst part is the way you have to stretch and hold. The machine isn't as rough
The place I go to has always been great - in and out in like 20 minutes if I didn't also need an ultrasound.
Also make sure if you have dense tissue (half of women!) to advocate for an ultrasound or even an MRI. Also had my first this week and it too was a breeze. www.thecut.com/article/brea...
For my insurance to cover a whole breast ultrasound, I had to have the mammograms first, and then have results that required followup. That led to two more sets of mammograms with negative findings. Ultrasounds are often ordered after positive findings with the second set of mammograms.
This was my experience as well.
Insurance won't pay if you don't start with a screening.
I mean, I didn't know I had dense tissue until I got my first screening. 🤷♀️
I'm one of them! Was told in the letter the doc sent me with my results. But I actually never heard about doing ultrasound/MRI. Thx for the tip! I'll have to remember that come January, see what the doc thinks. ❤️
I haven't had one yet, but I like being squished so maybe I'll enjoy it
I've heard that the machines used to be way worse about it but yeah nowadays it's just whatever lol.
I find it helps to have DD saggy old lady boobs. That’s my story.
Thing is, men get these. How bad could it really be.
Do they? I thought people with minimal chest volume had to be screened by echography
Some do, yes.
Mine was excruciating but I'm still gonna do them at the frequency dictated by the doctor as it's important. (I wonder if density plays a factor in the pain levels. I actually learned about diff density levels after it. XD)
Agreed-you awkwardly snuggle the machine, but it has built-in handles, your breast gets mildly squished a bit, and you hold your breath for a few seconds. Repeat a couple times, then do the other side. I understand the squishing can be more annoying for the smaller-chested, but I’ve never had pain.
I wish. I wear either an A or B cup and was told I have dense breasts. They have to use a lot of pressure and because there’s not as much tissue the machine was digging in to my rib cage and my boob was squished and pulled.
I hear they improved patient comfort because people were afraid of them, so they just didn't get them. Kind of like dentistry.
I was so scared. Like, shaking in my boots. It's uncomfortable. The biggest hassle about getting a mammogram was taking out and putting back in my nipple ring.
There have been significant improvements to the machines. They used to make me cry, now a routine mammo is a nothingburger, but because I have dense tissue, of course they also want to go in with firmer paddles (and of course, charge me for a “ diagnostic“ mammo) that hurt again.
I felt the same way about it! A bit of awkward standing and bending, a mild squish for less time than I can hold my breath, and then the other side! I can see how it could be a bit painful for some, but it definitely was not for me.