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anonymous
Stage 1 Patient
No. I find them to be more uncomfortable than painful. It also depends on the time of the month. Your breasts are usually more tender right before your period. Try and schedule it after your period and this should help. Of all medical tests, this is the one I dread the least. It's no biggie.
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
I just got one yesterday. I personally don’t find them painful, and not even that uncomfortable. My breasts are very tender and I have no problem. Plus, they are fairly quick. You’re out and about fast. Making the annual visit no big deal.
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
In response to this question I like to refer to a humorous article titled "HOW TO PREPARE FOR A MAMMOGRAM" which I found on HysterSisters.com. Its ironic tone and descriptions pretty much encapsulate my mammogram experience.
It starts...
Many women are afraid of their first mammogram, and even if they have had them before, there is fear. But there is no need to worry. By taking a few minutes each day for a week preceding the exam and doing the following practice exercises, you will be totally prepared for the test, and best of all, you can do these simple practice exercises right in your home.EXERCISE 1: Open your refrigerator door, and insert one breast between the door and the main box. Have one of your strongest friends slam the door shut as hard as possible and lean on the door for good measure. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat (just in case the first time wasn't effective).
EXERCISE 2: Visit your garage at 3 a.m. when the temperature of the cement floor is just perfect. Take off all your clothes and lie comfortably on the floor sideways with one breast wedged under the rear tire of the car. Ask a friend to slowly back the car up until your breast is sufficiently flattened and chilled. Switch sides, and repeat for the other breast.
EXERCISE 3: Freeze two metal bookends overnight. Strip to the waist. Invite a stranger into the room. Have the stranger press the bookends against either side of one of your breasts and smash the bookends together as hard as he/she can. Set an appointment with the stranger to meet next year to do it again. You are now properly prepared!
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
the techs at Kaiser are wonderful, they always dial in the compression slowly, watch you carefully, and let you know that you can yell STOP any time; I always elected to keep the squeezing going until it was actively painful, knowing that the more compressed you are, the easier it is for the doctor to read the mammogram; and if you can get to a facility that has the newer DIGITAL mammograms, they are more sensitive, easier to read, and pick up things that the older machines may miss .. but the fact that I was telling them when it was ENOUGH, let me accept a greater compression than if they were just doing it automatically
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
i had a mammogrm 4 years ago. it was just a slight uncomfortable. not that bad. been trying to get another one but been unable to because of silly guidelines.
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
I just had my second mammogram. I had my baseline mammogram done at age 35. It was a painless experience. So when I skipped my annual mammograms for the past 6 years, I finally figured it was time ti buckle down and just do it. This experIence was a nightmare. I did not go to the same place I had my original mammogram. I was in so much pain that I was actually screaming at the technician. I feel so sore that I plan on never getting another one. What could have caused the difference is an extremely painless experience the first time and the torture experience I just had?
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anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
Elena - its the skill of the operator mainly, but also which time of the month it is for you.
Mammos nearly take the top of my head off and one left me bleeding on to my shoes from the tear under my breast from the technician wrenching my breast...7 months ago • FlagElena - its the skill of the operator mainly, but also which time of the month it is for you.
Mammos nearly take the top of my head off and one left me bleeding on to my shoes from the tear under my breast from the technician wrenching my breast this way and that far too roughly. I was bruised for weeks and felt pain for 6 months afterwards. The next 2 mammos I had after that were both done with plenty of numbing agent [lidocaine cream put on and covered with plastic wrap for an hour before], a local injection of lidocaine, a 5 mg Oxycotin tablet, a 20mg Valium and and gentle, caring and very professional operator who knew my previous history with painful mammos.
I now have mammos once every 2 years and a MRI and ultrasound of my breasts every other year. Once you get the name of a decent mammographer - ensure you try and go to where ever they work! They are like gold. When you get a lousy one, make sure they never touch you again. -
anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
Great information. Tanks so much. I will definitely take your advice.
7 months ago • Flag -
anonymous
Learning About Breast Cancer
I am sorry to hear your second mammogram was such a nightmare. It is true the tech makes a difference. It is common to feel pressure but you should never feel pain. The are factors that can cause an unpleasant exam. Time of the month is one, the...
5 months ago • FlagI am sorry to hear your second mammogram was such a nightmare. It is true the tech makes a difference. It is common to feel pressure but you should never feel pain. The are factors that can cause an unpleasant exam. Time of the month is one, the tech is another, some prefer old school type of exam (before digital mammograms) another would the density of your breasts. If they are dense more compression is needed to ensure a good diagnosis. If you do have dense breast. Ask your doctor to include a breast ultrasound with your screening. Look up Henda's Law or log on to areyoudense.com
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anonymous
Patient
No. And I'm large breasted. It's mildly uncomfortable. But don't put it off. It can save your life. I wish I had gone annually. I can't tell enough women But I will try. Please please get your mammogram !
about 1 month ago • Flag