Girls, Getting a Mammogram Soon? Here are Some Tips!

[Anonymous]

Point of view:

You've just celebrated the big 4-0 a few months ago but now you're standing topless in a clinical suite staring at the big machine that's about to press your girls like a panini. For the past ~27 years your boobs have been through a lot but now they are becoming a source of worry like never before. You might be nervous for many reasons; you think it might hurt, the thought of having an intimates part of you being pressed in a machine seems like a bit of disembodying experience or worse yet, they could find something. If this describes you in the near future, I've recently been in this situation and I started studying radiology so I decided to make this take to help you get the most out of your first mammogram by giving you some tips.

1. Research the facility.

Not all mammograms are created equal. Some facilities offer 3D mammograms (also called tomosynthesis). If you can find a facility near you that offers this, schedule your appointment there. Also, some facilities use locator stickers which helps the radiologist read the image.

2. Scheduling is Key

You've probably heard some horror stories about how painful mammogram are and I don't think they're an exaggeration. BUT when I mentioned that to my technologist she said that while quite a few women said it hurt when she performed mammograms on them, +90% of those had the exam done the week before their period. So best way to have the most pleasant experience possible is to schedule the appointment the week after your period. Lastly, if the facility uses locator stickers, try to schedule it at a time of day where you can take a hot shower right afterwards (I'll explain why later).

3. The Day of the Appointment

OK, so the day of your womanly right of passage has come, how to go about starting your day? Well first, skip any deodorant as it can show up on the X-ray as a worrying sign. Second, while you're changing, do a self exam to see if anything seems abnormal to tell your technologist. When it comes to what to wear, you'll have to undress from the waist up so best wear a two piece outfit and tie your hair back so it doesn't get in the way. And the last two tips are optional: ditch the bra for the day and pluck any nipple hairs.

4. Remember Why Compression is Important

So, now you're sitting in the waiting room in the radiology with a bunch of other women and there's an understandably anxious atmosphere. The whole thought of your boob in a machine like that might seem a bit intrusive to say the least or you could be thinking that if men had to get their balls compressed like that they've developed something better by now. But squeezing is very important because it spreads out the breast tissue so it's 3D structure can be better viewed on a 2D image and it holds the breast in place as well. Basically, the flatter they get that breast, the better the image. Also, as for men having to do something similar to check for testicular cancer, more MEN die of breast cancer than testicular cancer and to check men for breast cancer, they also use mammograms. You're situation's already worrying enough without these negative thoughts entering your head so best to keep them out. And after a while you're name will be called and the tech will take you to the mammography suite where the machine awaits.

5. Getting Ready for the Exam

So, you're in the room where the maw of the machine is awaiting your girls. You could be a bit uneasy at this point but the tech will thoroughly explain what she'll do during the procedure and why each step is important. If you did wear deodorant or didn't tie your hair back, the tech will give you wipes or a hair-band. She'll then tell you to undress from the waist up. If you feel embarrassed or self conscious about being topless in front of a stranger because remember this girl squishes boobs for a living; she's not only already seen all shapes and sizes they come in but mashed them into the weirdest shapes imaginable (more on that later). I mentioned that some facilities use "locator stickers" and these are basically little band-aids with a metal BB in the center that she puts on your nipples to show where they are in the center.

6. Forget Any Ideas You Have About Personal Space

I think we can all get that when a stranger is handling your boobs, you can leave your sense of "modesty" at the door. But what took me by surprise was how "close and personal" the whole thing is. Having gotten X-ray's before, I was expecting the tech to get me into position while standing at arms' length, plop my boob on the plate and squish it with the paddle (Nope). During positioning, you will be torso to bear torso with the technologist while she positions you. She'll basically have one hand around your waist and holding your boob with the other (and a few times he had her hand on my butt to make sure my hips were at the correct angle relative to the machine). And you're not just going to have the tech breathing down your neck; you'll also have to get right up against to the machine so that the plate's pressing against your sternum and the top of the machine is pressing against your cheek.

7. Get Ready for Your Girls to Get Manhandled.
You might think that your breast will simply get placed on the plate and squished BUT the tech has two main objectives: 1st is to press your boob as flat as possible and the second is to get as much of it on the X-ray cassette as possible. This means she'll pick it up, raise the bottom plate, grab your breast with both hands and pull it as far forward as is physically possible. Before applying compression, she'll hold it outstretched on the plate with one hand and press your torso against the machine with the other. Then comes the part we all dread: she brings the paddle down. Something you'll learn during your first mammo, squishing boobs is an art form. First the tech will lower the paddle enough to hold your breast outstretched. Next, she'll tap the peddle to incrementally add pressure while pulling bits of side boob in the field of view between each tap and to add the finishing touches, the tech will turn a knob on the side to add that last bit of pressure while poking your breast. Then she’ll go behind a plastic X-ray shield to take the image at which point the paddle automatically releases you.

8. It's Going to be Unpleasant
Now I’m sure you are wondering how does it feel/ does it hurt? Sensation wise you will feel a firm pressure on your breast when it gets squeezed by the paddle. While they definitely squeeze hard enough to make it pretty uncomfortable, it didn't hurt (not even a pinch). Apart from the compression, the plates pushing against the sternum and the tugging sensation on the skin on your chest add to the discomfort (not to mention that it's cold). Although I will mention three things that they don't warn you about. First, having your breast pulled away from your chest and out onto the plate by the tech was a really strange feeling because my boobs have never been moved like that and when you're standing there waiting for the image to be taken you're literally being held up against the machine by your breast; it goes without saying that it feels pretty weird. Now one part really hurt and that was taking those nipple markers off at the end (which is why I recommended tweezing any nipple hairs and scheduling it a time you can take a shower right afterwards) but the most traumatizing thing about the whole thing is seeing what your boobs look like when pressed in that machine. I don't know if you have an idea of how flat your boobs can get but trust me, they'll get them flatter so if you're squeamish maybe don't look down. But don't worry about sagging later, somehow, they manage to pop right back into shape after the paddle releases. Apart from that the best way to minimize discomfort is try to relax because if you tense up, it will add additional tension to your boobs which will turn the discomfort into pain.

9. They Squeeze From Two Sides

So after the tech takes the image of the first breast, she'll do the other. And after that she'll rotate the machine 45 degrees. You'll have to lean up against the machine but this time your torso will be at an odd angle. And you'll rest your arm over the side of the plate so the edge of the plate is in your armpit. The tech will then pull your breast as far forward as possible and hold it outstretched against the plate. Squishing pretty much works the same way as it does from the top down view but instead of pulling side-boob into the field of view, the tech pulls bits of under boob in. Sometimes they might need to retake some views and if they do, try not to worry. They could just want a better view of a part of the breast (or you might have moved a bit when an image was taken making it blurry).

10. Treat yourself afterwards

Once you're done, you'll have a weight lifted off your chest (pun totally intended) but even though you don't have to worry about how unpleasant the procedure will be, you still have to wait for the results. This can be even more disconcerting so it's important to put your mind at ease. Just look at the big picture: even if you have breast cancer, you've done something to catch it early and if they find nothing then it'll be a huge relief. So have some coffee or do some shopping and get that cute dress with a deep V neckline you've always wanted. That way if you get an all clear, you can get some of your friends together and celebrate health with a girls night out with the girls out ;)

11. Remember, it can save your life

Okay, a common fear women have about getting a mammogram is that it exposes their breasts to ionizing radiation which can cause cancer but are these fears justified? Well a mammogram uses .4 millisieverts of radiation and 1000 millisieverts of radiation exposure will increase your risk of cancer by 5.5%. So each mammogram will increase your risk of getting breast cancer by .0022% or to put it another way, after 450 mammograms, your risk of getting breast cancer will increase by 1%. Since women between the ages of 40 and 75 should get screened once a year, most women will get 1/10th that number throughout their lives. Meanwhile, mammography screening will reduce your risk of dying of breast cancer by 50%. So basically the benefits of mammography outweigh the risks 500:1; I'll take that trade any day. Remember, when the tech is holding your breast, she's also holding your life in her hands as well.

[Rosexøxø]

Wow this was well done! This needs to in magazines at the doctors and shared like everywhere. This is phenomenal and very helpful. This post is coming from someone who has actually avoided them for a while, now. I think I also had googled what they would be like, but it wasn’t very helpful. This is extremely helpful.

Excellent share! 💯

[Rosexøxø]

So professionally written/typed; so detailed and informative. I don’t think anyone could do it better than this, in all honesty.

[myTake Owner]

Avoid them? Usually you won't need them until you turn 40.

[Rosexøxø]

Yeah cause it was hereditary in my family- long running. Anyways, I may be fine since I’m only 20. Sucks for the 40 year olds right?

Anyways I’ll be avoiding your comments and account from now on. by the way my reply was 2 months ago. Strange reply from account owner. 👍

:]

[SweetJoyGirl]

Thank you for sharing this! 💜