I haven't had a mmammogram in 8 years because thelast one I had theysmashed mybreast so hard I was screaming?

Question:

I can't go through that agina. I have fibrocystic breats that are very dense. I can't take the pain of it. What can I do, just die of breast cancer?

Answers:
You wanna know about painful? Try dying of an advanced breast cancer. If you think about it, you are only in compression for about 30 seconds TOTAL. There are four images taken, two on each breast. Thirty seconds of even EXTREME pain (which mammograms do not cause) once a year, to save your life? You choose. That is kind of like saying you aren't going to get your kids their immunizations because shots can hurt..

So we know mammograms are important. I would be leary of going to a facility that uses those pads or cushions on the compression paddles. At almost all of the conferences I have gone to, the experts don't recommend using them. You are trading a small amount of comfort for quality of your mammogram. Not a trade off I want to make. Unfortunately with the physics of x-ray and the natural conical shape of the breast, there is no way around compression. In fact, the more the compression, the better resolution on your films, meaning the smaller calcifications or mass you can find. If you have painful breasts, schedule your mammogram for after you start your period. Most breasts are more tender when you are premenstrual. Experts have found a link between tender breasts and caffeine, so reduce your caffeine intake for at least 3 days before the exam and maybe even take an Ibuprofin before the exam. When your mammographer introduces herself to you, before your exam starts, be honest with her. Tell her that you haven't had a mammogram for 8 years because the last one was very painful. That open communication will make the exam easier on both of you. Also, if you are going to a different facility for this mammogram, make sure your prior mammos are available for comparison. This can mean less extra views for you. If the radiologist seems something suspicious on your new mammo, he/she can look at the one from 8 years ago. If that area is unchanged in those 8 years, then we know it is not a cancer. Cancer would have grown in 8 years. Good luck, and you can do it!

PS: After reading your additional comments, I have the following additional comments. It seems to me that maybe you should consider going to another facility for your mammogram. Mammographers are not in the field of mammography to cause you pain. We are there to help save your life. The technologist you had (if you are accurate in describing your experience) obviously was a bad one. As for smashing me in the mouth, I am sorry you feel that way. I think I gave you a whole bunch of HELPFUL tips to try to make your experience less tramatic. But I think it is very likely that you are one of these women that NOBODY can please. You are also doing a great disserve to your fellow women. For 99% of women, mammography is not the horrible examination in which you describe. Have you ever considered that you may be scaring of women who have never had a mammogram? I had a patient a couple of months who had never had a mammogram because one of her friends told her how awful the exam was, and that scared the holy crap out of her. So, she had never had a mammo. By the time she came in, with a palpable mass, she had metastatic breast cancer. She has already died..whatta friend!

Other Answers:
they won't smash them now! go ahead

Come on knowsistall,

Why would you die? Go to another diagnostic center for this test. Just get informed first from your friends if the persons doing this test are experienced enough, so they will not cause pain to you.
Have a discourse with them first, so they will know.
Be kind and don't "accuse" the previous center ; you never know. This is from my personal professional experience. I hear everything but this does not mean that I like everything.

Katerina

P.S. A small tip that could be useful to you: don't drink coffee for a couple of days, before going to have the test.
If a mammogram causes EXTREME pain, as you refer, then maybe something else happens. Please,don't refuse to have this test, try to find a solution to the problem.

(Well, I am not the person that you refer, I am a woman and I have had personal experience of mammograms - yes, it causes pain but I can still stand this pain and I am not a "lion" to pain - and since I am here on YA, means that I am interested on giving an answer to people's questions. My answer therefore, is pure interest on another's human being's problem).

I repeat what I have told you; my opinion is that you have to go to another diagnostic center; Please, relax and try to discuss this with your doctor.

Just because you don't have a mammogram doesnt mean you are going to get breast cancer let alone die from it. So I say speak with your gynecologist/doctor and maybe they can suggest a better treatment for you. Also, some mammogram machines are being better built with more cushion so try to find a place that has a newer model as they should be more comfortable. The machines they have now are better than the ones you had 8 years ago.So give it another try.Your doctor can help you decide what is right for you and maybe can give you some tips to make it hurt less. MAybe take some tylenol or advil before having one.Good luck!

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I haven't had a mmammogram in 8 years because thelast one I had theysmashed mybreast so hard I was screaming?

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