Everyone Is Talking About Mammograms, But Many Women Don't Get Them

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One of my friends has said when they do the same thing to testicles looking for cancer, she'll turn up for a mammogram.
You wonder whether these things would get off the ground with men, women can be too trusting. It's flawed technology in my opinion and more likely to harm you.

Deborah 1:01AM July 04, 2011

I haven't slipped through the cracks, I've made an informed decision not to have breast screening. Sadly, we don't get honest information from doctors or the screening authorities, so we have to do our own research.
Over-diagnosis is a serious and hidden concern in breast screening - after decades of research the benefit of mammograms remains controversial. It's just that most women are unaware of the fierce debate that continues in medical circles.
Prof Michael Baum, UK breast cancer surgeon helped set up the first breast screening clinic, but now has major concerns about the test. Listen to his 35 minute lecture given at UCL recently, "Breast cancer screening: the inconvenient truths". It might save you from a lot of grief. It's at the Medphyzz site.
The Nordic Cochrane Institute was so concerned at the misleading information being given to women that they produced, "The risks and benefits of mammograms" - it's at their website. I wish every woman had a copy of that paper; most will never see it and instead will screen in complete ignorance or on the basis of the "information" provided by screening authority or their doctor. You will be the one left with the fall-out from screening, so make sure "you" make an informed decision to screen or not to screen...or screen on your own terms.
Informed consent is not respected in cervical or breast cancer screening, even though it is a legal and ethical requirement - that must change.

Elizabeth (Aust) 12:55AM July 04, 2011

I too have large dense breasts and concur that it is painful. About 15 yrs ago after having my mammogram the tech informed me she forgot to put the film in and I had to go through the process again. TWO doses of radiation for the price of one. It may be foolish but I have not had one since.

DianeRN of VA 5:33PM May 13, 2010

I've had several mammograms, and every single one of them was nothing but PAIN, pure pain. I have "dense" breasts, and they squeeze them until I want to scream with pain. My last one (several years ago) my doctor gave me some Valium to take before. It helped with the anxiety, but not with the pain. I'm sorry, they have to figure out some OTHER way to test women's dense breasts besides mammograms before I go back AGAIN!

K.B. of CA 1:32PM April 28, 2010

I dispute the doctor's interpretation that, "We are still not doing a very good job even where there is evidence" -- heck, they've brainwashed over 70% of women into getting these things every year. I'm 56 and I can count my mammograms on one hand. Nobody in my family has had breast cancer. The few times I've had them, they make me come back for a re-take because I'm "asymmetrical" -- isn't everybody? I think they're just trying to increase the revenue stream.
The passionate personal stories aside, I have to go with the science to this extent: The slowest-growing cancers get seen on mammos and they want to start cutting on you; the fastest-growing cancers likely go too fast to be caught "in time."
Pay heed when doctors "joke" that the well person just hasn't been screened for enough things. And we wonder why health insurance costs so much.

Susan Fitzgerald of OR 12:48PM April 27, 2010

I had one, where the whole thing started out with an argumentative technician with PMS. After 5 minutes of her whinging about everything I said, then this tough-looking, insensitive clod did the test, and tightened every bloody knob until my poor, small breasts where about 1mm thick. It was beyond pain. I saw stars.
I walked out of there later, and reported that nasty woman to the head nurse of the women's center of that hospital, and told them I would never be returning while she was employed there.
Then, I found a little lab nearby with the sweetest gentle soul running the test. I'm not a frequent visitor there, but she gets my vote of approval!

Ellen of RI 11:15AM April 17, 2010

I had my first mammogram this year (2010). I wasn't prepared for the procedure, but i had a little knowledge of it beforehand. It was very painful, i will not lie. But after a couple of hours i didn't feel the pain anymore. My technician told me the bigger your breast the less pain you feel. Starting out i felt she was telling the truth. I could hardly feel the compression, but when the machine was tilted for another view; it didn't matter big or small it was painful. She had never had one and this was my first. i will never forget this experience and i will be prepared the next time around.

Sherrell of MS 8:05PM April 07, 2010

I agree that mammography is a form of sexual abuse. So they detect a cancer. Then what? They give you chemotherapy then cut off your tits. No money goes into prevention. Maybe they would ban pesticides, phthalates and certain plastics if they were sincere about wanting to eradicate cancer.
Hooray for Corinne!

Isabelle of IL 9:21PM March 26, 2010

Hi,
I'd like to say a few words about my experience with mammogram this year - 2010. I was receiving every year a note from my PCP to get a mammogram, but I just didn't feel going. This year I was seeing a GYN doctor, who asked me to take the mammogram as well. In spite of being reluctant, I finally had it. It was the first time for me to go through the process and I didn't expect the procedure would take so much time and be so painful that the whole day my breasts felt being "massaged" badly by hands and by pressure of the machine. Perhaps the technician wasn't trained enough, or it was the way she worked, but it shouldn't be so painful for patients in any ways. Moreover, the first time patients should have been prepared about the steps and duration of the procedure to prevent any kind of thoughts.
Now I understand why there are many women who don't want to take mammogram.

Ema of MA 2:03PM March 24, 2010

I found the weapons of mass destruction. It's right here in the good old U.S.A. it's called the MAMMOGRAM MACHINE!
Come one, come all. Slap your tits up here and watch them fall.
Everyone behind these MAMMOGRAM MACHINES should be jailed. shame on them all.
I would put the MAMMOGRAMS in the same catergory as sexual assualt against women.

corinne Ouellette of ME 5:52PM December 12, 2009