Mammogram Support

[Handbag Lady]

So, let's say my friend has to have her very first mammygrammy soon. She is scared to death about the two obvious things: the pain and what they might find.

Please tell me your experiences so she'll know what to expect so we can alleviate her fears.

Thank you.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Bump. Please help.

 

[breezy1077]

Wasn't that bad. I had it done younger than recommended because of issues I was having, but it didn't hurt that bad. And for finding out something, I'd rather know than go through the constant worry of not knowing. Hope your friend does well.

BTW, it's pretty quick too so hopefully that helps.

 

[drag n' fly]

You can tell your friend that you stand their shirtless, stick your girl into a press and they screw it down tight until they see pools of water forming in the corner of your eyes then they say no matter what STAND STILL! They snap a pic and do it again on the other side. Sometimes they take more than one at different angles too if they have not brought you to your knees yet.

Part deux: Well after they think they found something they take you into an ultrasound room and U/S it to double check. They they all stand around talking and looking at each other like they are studying a shoe sale flyer and then throw their arms in the air and say meh! it's probably just a cyst!!! If it is more your doctor is called and they go from there. As the ladies say on the CB. "Dont' bleed until your shot!"

Oh tell your friend that she will be fine and so will her girls and labour and delivery is worse Millions of us have survived it and your friend will too!

 

[imabrat]

I've got no advice for the pain part as I've never had a mammogram.
If they're afraid of what they'll find during the scan as a matter of cancer/tumors, then I can help.

Just try to stay positive. If a tumor is found, a tumor is found. There's nothing you can do about it, and you can't go back in time to reverse it. And most of the times, there's nothing you can do to prevent it.
Stay positive and don't think about the worst case scenario. That's what helps me when I go in for my check-up scans for tumors.

 

[jbmom]

For me the anticipation was worse than the actual mammogram. Its not pleasant and I am scared of what they will find, but my mom died of breast cancer so I do it every year. Usually twice a year since they seem to call me back. As far as them finding something, I would rather they find it before I do! The ultrasound is not painful, but like someone else said I think they invite everyone except the UPS man in to take a look.

 

[CraftyMouse]

So, let's say my friend has to have her very first mammygrammy soon. She is scared to death about the two obvious things: the pain and what they might find.

Please tell me your experiences so she'll know what to expect so we can alleviate her fears.

Thank you.

How timely...I just got home from my annual mammogram! It was a breeze and was not at all painful. There is some pressure/pinching when they compress the breast, but it isn't that bad.

As for what they might find...wouldn't you rather know up front, while the "something" is small and treatable, than wait until it is so large you can find it without a mammogram and it is much more dangerous? I know that I'd rather catch that "something" early. Not having the mammogram doesn't mean the "something" isn't there...just that you haven't been told/found out it is there.

I've been having mammograms for 8 years now. Do I enjoy them? Umm...no. But I go every year because I want to be around for a long time and want to make sure I have the best shot at treating any "something"s that come along.

Go get one. You'll be much less stressed about everything once you do.

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

I don't think they are painful. I've had 2, plus an ultrasound.

If they find something it is better to KNOW and have it treated!

My mom has had some sort of abnormality for quite some time (several YEARS, she says). She claims she thought it was a pulled muscle from starting the lawnmower? Right.

She had her first mammo (at age 60) in March, and that abnormality is cancer. She is on medication to shrink the tumor before they do surgery. She is having to go through all sorts of other tests and biopsies because she doesn't really KNOW how long that abnormality has been there, there is no baseline mammo to compare it to, and the Dr's don't know where else the cancer has spread.

It is NOT GOOD to put off your mammo!!!

 

[crashbb]

Two suggestions -

1) Try not to be in mid-squish when there is a huge power failure (I was having mammogram just as the black out of August 2003 hit).

2) Stand still - I moved my foot and fell over while still stuck in the machine. It was not good.

Since most people are not as prone to 'adventures' as I am, tell her that she'll be fine. It really isn't that painful (I find them MUCH less painful than Pap smears). Relax and let the tech position you - if you can manage to relax your muscles, it will go much faster, easier, and less painfully.

If she gets a call-back, tell her not to panic - especially after the first one. Since there is nothing to compare against, weird areas of thickness, fibroids, benign lumps, etc. are more worrisome with this visit then subsequent ones - where they can check against previous mammograms for changes.

Also (and this is just a personal thing), if there is a young person in the waiting room, for the love of all things holy, tell her not to make a comment about how young they are! I started mammos at 25 (and looked much younger), and I hated the comments and/or looks.

 

[Buckalew11]

I think having a mammogram is the least thing to worry about actually having done to your body. For me, it is pressure, no pain whatsoever. They have improved tremendously since the first one I had done.

What is there, is there. You can't change it. It it is breast cancer, it is breast cancer and you move on to the next step of what to and what will be best for you.

My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and has done great (at age 70).

Tell your friend to say a little prayer for courage and go in and have the test done. Hopefully, it will show nothing. If it detects cancer, then better now that 12 months from now.

She'll be fine with the mammogram. It really isn't that bad for most women.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Thank you. My friends turns 40 this year so this is my , uhm, her baseline.

She's taken the rest of the day off work as an attagirl for taking care of herself. Her mother isn't as diligent in her health, so she's trying to do right for herself but she has no one to talk to about it who has been there.

How do I say this...she's a plush-sized girl...even with those she's just going to feel pressure and no pain?

And it is fast, as in, it doesn't take an hour?

I'm not so sure she'd be good if the UPS man came in to take a look as well. She'd probably say something funny at his expense to lighten the mood.

 

[marybet]

If she has tender breasts tell her not to go during her period. Ten seconds of mild discomfort is better than dying of breast cancer. Breast cancer found early is one of the most curable cancers.

I have been getting mammograms for over 20 years. They have greatly improved the equipment. I have only had one that I would say was painful and that was because the girl wasn't doing it right and it was still not that bad.

If all else fails tell her to suck it up and be a big girl. There are many things in life that you just have to do and mammograms are one of them.

 

[CraftyMouse]

How do I say this...she's a plush-sized girl...even with those she's just going to feel pressure and no pain?

And it is fast, as in, it doesn't take an hour?

It is actually less painful for those of us that have a bit...um...more! Those with smaller breasts have a harder time as it is harder to get their breasts compressed properly.

And no, it doesn't take an hour. Mine took 10 minutes, and that included doing one shot twice because it didn't come out that well.

You...um...I mean your friend...yes, your friend will be fine! And good for you for treating yourself to something afterward. DD came to my appointment with me and then we went out to lunch.

I really think that once you experience it you'll see that it's not that big of a deal!

 

[Handbag Lady]

If she has tender breasts tell her not to go during her period. Ten seconds of mild discomfort is better than dying of breast cancer. Breast cancer found early is one of the most curable cancers.

I have been getting mammograms for over 20 years. They have greatly improved the equipment. I have only had one that I would say was painful and that was because the girl wasn't doing it right and it was still not that bad.

If all else fails tell her to suck it up and be a big girl. There are many things in life that you just have to do and mammograms are one of them.

My friend cleverly asked her doctor and we scheduled this for the week after Aunt Flo.

Thank you. I'll make sure she wears her big girl panties. Wait, maybe she needs to wear sexy red ones instead.

 

[Handbag Lady]

It is actually less painful for those of us that have a bit...um...more! Those with smaller breasts have a harder time as it is harder to get their breasts compressed properly.

And no, it doesn't take an hour. Mine took 10 minutes, and that included doing one shot twice because it didn't come out that well.

You...um...I mean your friend...yes, your friend will be fine! And good for you for treating yourself to something afterward. DD came to my appointment with me and then we went out to lunch.

I really think that once you experience it you'll see that it's not that big of a deal!

Thank you. This is exactly what I was hoping to hear, although I loved reading that the UPS man might be there too!

Thank you also to the lady up there in a pp who took it step by step.

 

[Handbag Lady]

Oh, how much do you need to do? Meaning, are we talking hospital gown or totally buck?

 

[minnie56]

It's not so bad and just one of those life-saving tests that us women MUST do! I go every year....EVERY year. Hate it--not the procedure itself as I truly think it's no big deal, I hate aticipating the results! But I tell myself that if there is something wrong..something is wrong whether I know about it or not and FAR better that I know so we can move on it fast! It would be tragic yo hear the words "Had we found it sooner"???? Now--that being said, I go with my friend every year who is a MESS. Right up until they call her in she is pacing and talking about not going in! And guess what....
She's a Psychiatrist! Yep--A physician and her husband is a Radiologist! It's normal for ALL of us to be apprehensive.

 

[crashbb]

At one of my early mammos I asked about size - I'm on the small side. I was told that it is more a matter of being able to relax, especially when you are smaller (I assume because more the breast is near the chest wall muscles).

The procedure itself if very quick - the only time I've been there an hour is when they get backed up and you have to wait around for your slot.

Oh - if you can avoid it, don't use deodorant when you go. It shows up on the films so they always make you wash it off anyway. I generally get an early morning slot (less likely to be running late), so just stick it on after I'm done.

We are told to "strip above the waist" and are given a hospital gown, but in the procedure room, you have nothing above the waist (at least where I go).

 

[Handbag Lady]

It's not so bad and just one of those life-saving tests that us women MUST do! I go every year....EVERY year. Hate it--not the procedure itself as I truly think it's no big deal, I hate aticipating the results! But I tell myself that if there is something wrong..something is wrong whether I know about it or not and FAR better that I know so we can move on it fast! It would be tragic yo hear the words "Had we found it sooner"???? Now--that being said, I go with my friend every year who is a MESS. Right up until they call her in she is pacing and talking about not going in! And guess what....
She's a Psychiatrist! Yep--A physician and her husband is a Radiologist! It's normal for ALL of us to be apprehensive.

Thank you!!! That makes me feel WAY better about being nervous!

At one of my early mammos I asked about size - I'm on the small side. I was told that it is more a matter of being able to relax, especially when you are smaller (I assume because more the breast is near the chest wall muscles).

The procedure itself if very quick - the only time I've been there an hour is when they get backed up and you have to wait around for your slot.

Oh - if you can avoid it, don't use deodorant when you go. It shows up on the films so they always make you wash it off anyway. I generally get an early morning slot (less likely to be running late), so just stick it on after I'm done.

They said no deo and no perfume. Hard for me because I wear both, so I'm bring them in my bag. But I always follow rules, especially of this nature.

 

[kimisabella]

My friend, , also has to go for one soon - my, I mean her gyno gave a script for a mammo for when I turn 35, in June - is that normal? I thought that you start the mammo's at 40?