I have one scheduled in a couple of days. My breasts are not very large but not too small either. They are round, not the pointy kind. Everyone keeps telling me that the examination is very painful especially if you dont have big breasts and they have to sort of pull on them to get them under the x-ray . Is it true?
2007-02-13 21:08:12 · 4 answers · asked by Fellina 5 in Health ➔ Women's Health
Hello there.
Having a mammogram is not nearly as painful as many would have you believe. It is more uncomfortable than actually painful and is over quickly. If you had to maintain that position and amount of pressure for a long time, yes it would be painful. The procedure is over very quickly and the amount of discomfort is a small price to pay for a test that can save your life.
I believe very strongly that we as women owe it to each other to quit focusing so much attention on whether or not we will be subjected to a few moments of discomfort and instead pay attention to the really important fact that this test can detect breast cancer at such an early stage that it makes the difference betwen life and death..
I understand that the experience is different for every woman but the bottom line is that I am sure it is less painful than the alternative. A few moments of discomfort is preferable to breast cancer and will give you peace of mind.
We need to be grateful that this test is available to us, we are lucky. If even one woman is afraid to have a mammogram because she has heard that it is so painful we have done ourselves a great deal of harm over nothing. I am sure that any woman who has had to have a mastectomy would trade that procedure for a simple mammogram.
We all need to do our part to NOT perpetuate the belief that a mammogram is painful and instead spread the word about how important it is!
Take care honey and I am sure that you will be fine. Technicians are really considerate and well aware of our concerns.
When you have your mammogram and realize that it was not nearly as bad as what you had expected, please do women everywhere a favor and talk about it! That is what women need to hear.
Good luck and I am sure that you will be pleasantly surprised!
Blessings
Lady Trinity~
2007-02-14 00:24:22 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Trinity 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Many places have digital mammography machines now and my mom said that it didn't hurt as much but to ensure that it didn't she takes and slides the rest of her body (not the breasts since they are in the machine) down and found that didn't hurt her like it would have if she had stood straight up.
I had to have a mammogram at the age of 26 (I know better now and I'm age 35 now to make sure that they do an ultrasound on my breasts as first step if I have issues in that area again) and I did the same thing she did and it worked.
I hope this helps you out and I hope your mammogram comes out ok.
2007-02-13 22:51:14 · answer #2 · answered by sokokl 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In order to get a good look at as much breast tissue as possible, the breast is squished between two plates for a mammogram. It is uncomfortable, but it shouldn't really be painful.
2007-02-14 02:41:43 · answer #3 · answered by aqx99 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yup you have it correct it hurts like the dickens!
2007-02-13 22:52:46 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋