It' time for my first mammogram?!


Question: I turned 40 in September 07. I'm scared to death to have this done. Any encouraging words from those who have been through this?


Answers: I turned 40 in September 07. I'm scared to death to have this done. Any encouraging words from those who have been through this?

I have been a registered mammographer for 15 years. When I was in school, I experienced compression, when I put myself in the mammogram machine. I didn't think it would be right to perform mammograms if I didn't know how they felt. I just turned 35 a couple of years ago, so I was due for my baseline. Thank goodness that everything was normal, and unless I discover something myself, I can go to age 40 before doing another mammo.

Mammograms should not be painful. They can be uncomfortable for some women, and other women aren't at all bothered by the exam. If you are tender breasted, you might feel more discomfort. Make your appointment for after you have started your menstrual period, when the breasts are the least tender. Caffeine also makes tender breasts more tender for many women, so consider limiting your intake (coffee, tea, chocolate) for a few days prior to a mammogram. I do not recommend avoiding caffeine if you are prone to headaches when you go without. Also, don't wear powder, perfume or deodorant on your breasts or underarm areas. They can contain substances which can show up on your mammogram. These areas can look suspicious for microcalcifications, and additional images could be required to prove there is not a problem. Wear a two piece outfit, so when you are wearing the gown, you have your bottom half covered up.

Size of the breasts have nothing to do with the level of discomfort. Both small and large breasts can be tender. We don't compress the breasts to a magical number. A large breast might be compressed until the breast measures 6 cm thick. A small breast could be compressed until it measures 3 cm. So, in this case, size does not matter!

Now, lets assume that mammographic exams are VERY painful, for arguments sake. A routine, screening mammogram consists of 4 images....2 views on each breast. The total time of compression for those 4 images is about 45 seconds. I can do anything for 45 seconds, especially if those 45 seconds can greatly impact my future and my quality of life. Breast cancer found in its earliest stages, before you can feel a lump and before the cancer spreads, has a 5 year survival rate of nearly 100%! Sounds like a small price to pay, doesn't it?

I get very upset with women who spread the misconception that mammograms are so extremely painful. They are scaring other women badly enough that some women are not having mammograms. I had a patient a few years ago, who came in for her first mammogram because she had a huge lump in her breast. You could tell, without the mammograms, that she had an advanced breast cancer. Her skin was red and nipple was inverted....her breast looked angry. She had known about this lump for over two years, but never went for a mammogram, because her "friends" had told her how painful they were. A day later, we did a CT scan of her head, chest, abdomen and pelvis, and her breast cancer had spread to her liver and brain. She was dead within a couple of weeks. I guarantee that pain was nothing what is experienced with a mammogram. With friends like that, who needs enemies, right?

I havent been through it but please, please get it done! my meemaw (great grandmother) was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 80 something! why? because she didn't get mammogram and it wasn't caught soon enough. A short period of pain really beats having years of pain and kimo.

I'm only 35, and have had several mammograms done. There's nothing to worry about. The test itself is slightly uncomfortable, but not that bad. As a matter of fact, I have yet to meet someone that had any real pain during the procedure. I don't know if breast size has anything to do with any potential pain that may be caused..... I am a D, but started having them done when I was still a B cup. So no personal experience to lead me to believe that there might be.
It's really not that bad!

sorry, I don't have any encouraging words.
Rather discouraging, in the sense that you might want to rethink your decision for having one.
Read the links to know why:


I did heard from someone they are painful

EDIT: to the first answerer: please quit making these stupid satements that your grandma got breast cancer *because* she didn't have mammograms!! Mammograms do NOT cure nor prevent breast cancer, even your doctor would agree with me here. They are intended to detect it, yet studies show that they are likely to *cause* the disease rather than helping to prevent through detection.

Don't be scared. Your health is worth more than the few seconds of slight pain. You want to be able to know what's going on your body. They can tell a lot about other breast health issues, that are not BC. I was afraid too, but i was more afraid of not getting it done.





The consumer health information on answer-health.com is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions.
The answer content post by the user, if contains the copyright content please contact us, we will immediately remove it.
Copyright © 2007-2011 answer-health.com -   Terms of Use -   Contact us

Health Categories