Sorry you are sore. Hopefully, all her fussing drew in more tissue and your mammogram has a very extensive view with a good result.

So sorry.

I have learned that not all techs are equal. There was one that I had twice in a row. Pictures had to be repeated. When it happened again I took note of who she was.

I’m so sorry. We moved last summer so my last mammogram was at a new place with different equipment. There was actually a gauge on the machine in plain view of me, the squishee, that showed how much pressure was being applied. I mean. Seriously? What’s the big idea?!?

Mine showed the pressure, too. Frankly, I'd rather not know. I may go elsewhere the next time although I have had good experiences there in the past with a different tech.

Poor Darlin, they can be uncomfortable! BUT, perhaps think about it like this instead. To preface, my first degree was as a radiologic technologist (X-ray tech). So, I’ve taken many of those mammograms and know what I’m talking about. Yes, they can be uncomfortable, BUT ONLY FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, MAX! It is so, so important . . . NO, it’s required, and no radiologist will accept and read a mammogram without both breasts entirely visualized perfectly. The ribs need to also be visualized to rule out any breast cancer mestastisization to them. And, that’s where the breast compression comes in. Just think of it this way: without mamms, breast cancer could manifest itself and metastasize before you were even aware that there was a problem. Mammograms can be uncomfortable or even painful, but for just a minute or so. That infinitesimal small amount of time, in the whole grand scheme of things! Without them, though, the resulting cancer, mastectomy, chemo and radiation treatments can be so, so much more so. Many, many times more so!

I was found to have a small but very scary malignant melanoma recently. To be frank, ignored or not found in time, it would have killed me. The surgery to cut it out, let’s face it, hurt! The recovery time hurt! But, I’m not dying of metastatic cancer now. A little pain or discomfort was worth my now cancer-free life. My advice? Think about mammograms like that. In the whole grand scheme of things, the discomfort is . . . what?

I had the 3D digital this year for the first time and it was way less pressure than the standard mammo.

Got to find one of those!

You have my sympathy—I had a similar experience in September. It was extremely painful and I told the tech and when she came over to release the machine and readjust me she put her hand on my back and said ‘oh, you are all sweaty.’ Yeah, I broke out in a sweat because I was in a world of hurt! I will probably delay my next mammogram and go back in 18-24 months instead of 12 months.

I had the same experience the last time I had a mammo. I have fibromyalgia which seems to intensify pain even more. I’m past due and dreading it.

Ow, it makes me hurt just to think about it. Sorry for your pain.

It’s almost time for mine. I always kind of dread it, but the 3D ones don’t seem as bad. And the techs are good at the place I go. It’s quick and all over with in a few minutes.

One of my patients takes ibuprofen or naproxen prior to the procedure, and reports significantly decreased discomfort.

My last mammo was Hell as well. It's never been intolerable, but this time she really put me thru the wringer. I usually take tylenol (can't take NSAIDS) about an hour before so it's not so bad. I had had a couple of years where I had to go in for a mammo and an ultrasound every 6 months and finally after nearly 3 years they determined that the cyst in question had not grown in size so I was back on an annual schedule again. Luckily each of the techs I had during that phase was very good. But on a more positive note-I'm glad that you're all being proactive and getting the mammo's regularly. My mother, who is 78, had one once when she was 40 and refuses to get them.

I am sorry it was so so bad. I go yearly, and I hate it. I always think to myself that it is amazing that it is how many years since we got a man on the moon and this test is still so torturous. It just boggles the mind.

My girlfriend and I make the annual mammogram trek together. We've been going to Jefferson in Philly now for 30 years. We make a 10 o'clock appointment to avoid rush hour traffic and then spend a few hours shopping and have lunch at a nice restaurant.

I'm fortunate that I can honestly say I've never had a painful one, sure they squeeze but it's not bad. My girlfriend has small, dense breasts and she usually reports that it was painful. Maybe it's easier for the tech because I have plenty of material to get on the plate.

Jefferson has had 3 D for a several years and I don't think they have to compress the tissue as much as they do for a 2D study. My girlfriend has made the same comment and definitely prefers the new machines.

I feel so justified in my own reaction when I read some of these remarks. It makes no sense to me that mammograms are still so painful.

Ask your doctor if the 3D is recommended for you. He/she can then make the referral. Insurance should cover it if it is prescribed. In the past my insurance had an extra $50 copay for 3D, but I did not have to pay anything extra when I went this year.

Gscience, I do the 3D and it still is the same squeezing. I think I am lucky in that although uncomfortable, mine are never outright painful.

I’ve had the 3D for several years, including the most recent painful procedure.

One I remember was esp painful...they say no powders or anything, and my skin was damp so it stuck to the machine and as she was adjusting it, it felt like my skin was getting ripped off. I kept telling her how much pain I was in and she ignored me. I have since learned that before I get in the machine, I take that johnny coat and dry myself off all over ... works much better that way.

I had a mammogram several years ago that was so painful, I made her stop after the first breast and I left the place. The woman was incompetent in my opinion. I was standing on my tiptoes because she was pulling at my breast so hard. And then when she was done and going to take the photo, she said "are you ready?" and I gritted out, "take the picture, " she pressed the machine down even further and I lost it. They really ought to fire techs like that because it undoes every effort to promote breast cancer prevention.

I wrote a letter to the head of the organization, but I don't believe they fired her. When I went back a year later, I told the tech about the experience, and she said something like, yes, the previous tech is known for that.

Sorry for you. My worst one was so bad she cut through my skin, it's been years and I still have the scar.

Yikes, yayagal! That is horrible. No wonder woman don't get them as often as they should.

I often say, half-joking I guess, that there's no way they'd ever come up with the same way to look for testicular cancer in men. :-/

I find mammograms very painful too. I use every trick they suggest and it's still extremely uncomfortable. I also believe - with absolutely no medical training whatsoever, so take it as worth what you paid for it - that all that compression has to be tearing tissue. I swear I notice after each mammogram that my breasts are more and more "floppy" every year. Within a few years I'm going to need a basket to carry them home in. Ha.

Please don't delay mammograms, because of the discomfort you experience during the exam. My next door neighbor is having a double mastectomy tomorrow morning and was told she has an extremely fast growing invasive cancer and if she had delayed her mammogram by just another month or two she probably wouldn't survive. Speak to your doctor about alternate places to get a mammogram, but unfortunately sometimes it does hurt. It should not tear your skin and your comfort should be addressed.

All your commiserations are helpful. I guess mammo’s and pain just go together although I don’t ever remember one as bad as this one. I’ve reached an age where I only have to go every other year. I plan to put it off as long as possible. I have been so poked and prodded the last few weeks! I’ve had an X-ray, a CT scan with and without dye ( that dye is a strange sensation) , blood drawn and a pneumonia shot. Oh and a dexa scan! I have been thoroughly inspected. Enough already.

I have yearly mammograms, which have been 3D for the past few years. with little/no discomfort. As ncbm said, no woman should delay due to discomfort from a screening. One of my best friends is in remission from an aggressive beast cancer, made worse because she delayed her annual mammo by a few months.

I totally agree that someone should invent something to make mammograms easier and more comfortable. I wish they'd done it years ago, but no one has, as yet. I'm just so glad that you went through with it and had yours done, though, Ded.

I was in radiology for 12+ years and I can not count the number of times I did follow-up mamms on women who had put off having them because they pinched or hurt too much. "Follow-ups" because they or their doctor had detected a suspicious lump and they were there finally . . . to rule out cancer. And so many times it was cancer. It broke my heart! Or, I'd be there taking a pre-op chest x-ray on someone before her mastectomy. You can't work in medicine, interacting with people hurting, physically and/or emotionally, and not have it impact you in a huge way. It changes you powerfully! And that's the reason I feel so strongly about not putting off your yearly or every other year mammograms!

So, as we like to say in radiology, "Put on your big girl bra and go get that mammogram!".

Well said, Lynn. I used to work in a hospital and the nurses all said never to ignore symptoms. You have a much better chance of beating whatever you may have if you catch it early.

I don't mind a little discomfort for a few minutes, and I haven't had skin torn, but I've had enough pain to put off going back. Fortunately my last one was not so bad, Maybe I need to see if I can request the same tech next time. I don't want to have any of the experiences I'm reading about here.

Talk to the manager of the center and let them know what happened. I had one last year that actually caused an injury. They said that they use a combination of salaried staff and contract staff and I had one of the contract staff. I now ask for a specific salaried staff member, and she is wonderful.

Running: you are so right!

Diane: there honestly is no difference in how a contract RT vs a salaried RT takes a mammogram. I know that for a fact. BUT, it definitely does make a difference how each individual takes them. A rushed or just plain inconsiderate RT can definitely cause you more pain or discomfort. And, I encourage everyone to mention it to your technologist before she starts the mamm, that you would very much appreciate her taking her time to make this one as pain free as possible. That will get her attention and hopefully make your next mammogram a more pleasant experience.

Lynn, All that I know is that the contract staff person positioned me in a way that resulted in a cut underneath my breast that I did not find until I took off my bra that evening. I’m 61 years old, I know what a good and not good mammogram should feel like. That one was bad. The one that I had with the permanent staff member this year was excellent. And I will ask for her every year. My point is that the management of the center should be notified if anything feels “off”.