I Am Scared!!

I am 44 have had one every year since 40. Before and after a child (late in life child). They are a little uncomfortable but not painful. With all they new gadgets it's really fast and pretty painless. Worth every minute. A small price to pay for peace of mind.

I had it done last week and it was not that bad, a little uncomfortable but nothing compared to having a yearly physical. I would take the mammo before a physical any day. The techs are great, and will help you get through it. Its over very quickly. I would rather have the mammo and know that my breasts are healthy or that I have something that needs to be taken care of than wait until it is too late. I am only 31 and the ultrasound tech is the one that told me that I should have the mammo done because I had had 2 ultrasounds on the same breast looking for the lump that could be felt but not seen on a screen. So I had the mammo and it showed it which proves that they are not just for women over 50. I have a 4 mm cyst in my right breast. Thankfully thats all it is but it could have been something more and the mammo would have shown that too.

Good luck, its not that bad.

S.

Melissa, don't be scared! It's very quick, and I have found that if you relax, it goes much better. When you're tense--that's when it's uncomfortable. :0)

Melissa,

If you have any history of breast cancer in your family and/or your doctor recommends it, do it. The recent recommendations on younger women not doing mammograms is very closely aligned with the Obamacare proposals and associated health care rationing, so are not very credible. As far as the pain is concerned, it hurts for a very short time and then it is over with. And, relative to things that really hurt, it doesn't hurt that bad. So, just go and do and don't stress about it.

I don't know if you'll get this before your appointment, but mine didn't hurt. If the technician is good, you will feel some uncomfortable pressure, but NOT pain!

I think the whole do it "after 50" is ridiculous! It scares me, and I think of how difficult it is for women to get good health care already! We should all keep demanding mammograms at 40 or earlier!!!

I have a ton of breast cancer in my family so I had one done when I was 29(2 years ago) if you go to a place who does a lot of them they should know how to do it without causing you any pain. Mine didn't hurt at all. I was a bit worried about the pain, but way more worried about the chance of cancer. Really is a bit of pain that big a deal if they find something and are able to save your life because you didn't wait? Good luck.

Melissa,

I had a mammogram this past summer while lactating with a HUGE painful lump. It did not hurt as bad as I expected, although it was uncomfortable with the not breathing and the standing on my toes for one pic. HOWEVER, it depends on what picture your doc is really trying to see. A huge lump is easy to spot, a very tiny lump is not and I can imagine a lot more squishing going on. Most likely the person giving you the mammogram will help you with it all. And it is uncomfortable. But for one minute I think you can do anything you set your mind to. YOU are strong, and You can do this, even if it hurts.

Bless you. They aren't the funnest things to do and for whatever reason, they are very serious things to get. I wish you all the best!!

V.

Listen to your Doctor!!! You should definitely get a Mammogram at age 40 (or shortly after)...to get a baseline. Don't worry...it's not that bad. Yes, it can hurt (and probably will). For some, it doesn't hurt at all, though. And, it's quick...maybe less than 5 minutes of pain.

As Arnold would say "you can do it." :) Good Luck!!!

Dear Mellisa,

No need to be scared to have a mammogram. They use a mammo pad now on the mammogram machines now. It does not really hurt but uncomfortable. If you have had children your breast are less dense and it is easier. I have no trouble with the slight discomfort. Go get it done!

Hi Melissa!

DO IT!!! I'm a breast cancer survivor. Mammograms have saved many, many women's lives. I suspect your doctor is wanting you to have a baseline now so that they have something to compare future mammos to.

It is painful if you have it scheduled right before your period when your boobs are swollen and/or sensitive. Otherwise, it's not that big a deal. The techs I've had have been great. It can be a little uncomfortable, but it was not painful.

Please schedule it.

L.

Get it done

I had one done last year at age 40. My doctor wanted to have a baseline one to refer to in later years so that they will know what's "normal" for me. I don't have to get one every year now. I also had heard it would be painful but did not find this to be true. It was mildly uncomfortable. I concentrated on breathing slowly instead of how it felt and it was fine. Having a gynecologist check your ovaries for abnormalities is more uncomfortable. I have B size breasts and I have heard its more painful if you have larger breasts and that's what the person doing the mammogram said, too.

I can't imagine thinking it hurts! The technician just positions your breasts and the panels come together, but not really hard. There's nothing painful, just uncomfortable.
Much better to get screened than to find out too late about cancer.

I'm 41 and have had a couple of mammograms -- one at 33 for pain in my breast, and another as a baseline when I was 36 or so. I'll be having another soon, as I have finished breast-feeding my son.

The mammogram wasn't painful for me -- more just a little uncomfortable. However, I'm fairly large-breasted. For smaller-breasted women, I'm told it can be more painful because more muscle is compressed during the mammogram.

Either way, the whole procedure is over in about 5 minutes. And it's a lot less painful than the alternatives that can happen if a breast cancer goes undetected.

One thing that my doctor warned me about is that many forms of breast cancer are much more aggressive in younger women than older women. Therefore, if your doctor thinks there is any cause for concern, it's better to err on the side of caution and get the mammogram. And it's helpful for women to get a baseline mammogram that can be used for comparison with later mammograms.

Ditto what everyone else said about it just being mildly uncomfortable, but not painful. The hardest part for me was holding my breath while they take the picture.

If your doctor recommends it, then you should do it. Don't worry about what other people say you should and shouldn't do based on what they've heard on the news lately. If someone says that, then I would just say, "My doctor recommended it and I'm following his/her advice, but thanks for your concern."

Melissa,

I know exactly what you are going through and I have a few suggestions.

First of all, take a deep breath - this will be OK.

If you haven't asked your doctor why this recommendation is being made, please do so. You should always know why tests or proceedures are being done.

I believe that we can control most things in our lives. If the doctor has a good reason for you to have a mamogram, then you probably should.

A mamogram is a little uncomfortable for some and much more so for others. You can get ready for it by relaxing and telling yourslef that it will be over quickly. The discompfort does not last longer than the mamogram.

Also ask yourself if it is more scary to anticiapte a mamogram or the possibility of facing an undiagnosed disease.

If you need help getting through this, there are many support groups available.

I wish you all the best.

E.

Don't be scared Melissa, it is no big deal at all. I know women say it is but really it is only a little uncomfortable to me. It is over quickly, I promise. K. K.

This is my take on it, Melissa: mammograms are not my idea of a good time, and they can be painful. But they're not nearly as painful as cancer would be.

A mammogram revealed my cancer a number of years ago. (If it were more recently, it would have discovered the cancer more easily because the technology has so improved. But I'm still glad it's long ago.) I had no family history of breast cancer or any previous problems. I went in for one of those nasty, pesky mammograms, and a very sharp radiologist looked at the pictures and thought, "That one doesn't look like cancer, really, but it doesn't look quite right." So I had to go back and get some more pictures (ouch), and then a needle biopsy - still inconclusive - and finally a surgical biopsy, which discovered a very small amount of very early cancer. We took care of that thing, and then I had even more frequent pictures taken for a number of years.

Since then, I don't mind how often I go in or how uncomfortable it is, as long as they do a good, thorough job.

A mammogram can detect a cancer the size of a pinhead or smaller. It can see cancers you can't possibly notice when you check yourself. This is a very, very good thing.

There's some controversy right now over the age when women should begin to have regular mammograms. But if your doctor thinks you should have one, go ahead. Expect to hurt, but not for long. I always have an excellent, friendly technician! I let her maneuver me into the right "pose," stand very still, close my eyes, and start counting (in my head). Before I get to ten it's done. The soreness is annoying but it doesn't last long. Frankly, the "squashing" isn't nearly as bad as the fear about it!

Dear Melissa,
I'm so sorry that you are scared about your mammogram. I think that it is important that you go in and have it done especially since your doctor recommended it. I have had one and it is a bit uncomfortable, but it is bearable. You can do this and just remember to breathe and try to relax. You will be fine. It's better to go in and experience a little discomfort rather than not going and maybe missing something that could harm you. I'll say a prayer for you my dear Melissa. Hang in there!

All women should have a mammogram once a year from 35 years of age on. I have not idea who told you not to do it before 50 but I would trust a doctor that spent years studying why you should. As far as painful and such, it is really uncomfortable and maybe even painful for some women, however there is no reason to be scared. This is for your health, it is a short amount of time for you to be uncomfortable and you will have peace of mind that you are healthy.

Just go do it, don't sweat it, it will be over before you know it!

Good luck!

The American Cancer Society DOES NOT AGREE WITH, STRONGLY AGAINST, this new idea of telling women to wait until 50 for mammagrams. The bigest reason being that a base mammagram done when there are no problems is one of the best tools for spotting any problems early should they arise.
My mother, retired oncology nurse for 20+ years, just had an abnormality detected ONLY because they noticed in comparison to the base picture taken 28 years ago a slight change in one spot that is actually too small to biopsy.
Feel good about having it done, it is just one of those preventatives that is worth it!

Hello Melissa,
I have had 3 already and I just turned 40 last week. GO for sure!!! It is uncomfortable. Awkward, cold, not a fun experience. But it really doesn't hurt and is over quickly. It is just one of those things we have to do. It is way better than going to the Gynegologist.
Hang in there. You will be fine.
Take care, B.

Hi Melissa: I also am 41 years old, and had my 1st mammogram this past June. I was seriously FREAKING OUT! I am pretty small chested, and heard the smaller your cup size, the most painful it is. I can honestly tell you getting a mammogram is NOT a big deal!! There is a little discomfort, but I wouldn't say it is painful. I think getting a pap smear is more "uncomfortable" than getting a mammogram!!
I do not agree with the new advise floating around out there to wait until you are 50 years old. There are too many people (men and women) diagnosed with breast cancer that have not reached 50 years old. They save lives! Well worth it! Good Luck!!

Hi,

I know this is a little too late for you since you had your Mammo yesterday, but I am 32 and had one a few months back. As you probably know now, it's not very painful, just uncomfortable for the most part. If there is a scare that you may have something going on, I absolutely see no reason not to have a Mammogram. It's piece of mind in many ways. You do what YOU need to do in order to feel better and keep your health in check. Take people's advice with a grain of salt when it comes to your health.

M.

They really aren't very bad, a little uncomfortable is all. It could be more uncomfortable if you are having pre-period breast tenderness. I'd take a mammogram over an ob/gyn visit or a trip to the dentist any day! Good luck!

Hi Melissa - definitely go in for a mammogram, especially if your doctor recommended it.

My sister had breast cancer (and survived!) at age 40 so I've been getting mammograms since I was 30. They really dont hurt that badly - just uncomfortable for about 8 seconds. Now many of the mammogram machines have padding between the plates which makes it so much better than before. My last mammogram was a breeze.

Don't hold off because of fear because there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of.

take care!

C.

If you're worried about the discomfort try taking some advil/tylenol on your way there. The early diagnostic is waaaay more important than being worried about it.

I'm nearly 33 and had one last year because I have a history of breastcancer in my family..a LONG history. I was scared out of my mind because I had heard the same thing. It wasn't really painful at all, just uncomfortable the way you have to be positioned for them to get the right angle, and a bit of pressure on the breast, but painful...not really. If your doctor is asking you to get one, then I'd say do it. You'll feel better knowing there's nothing wrong, and they'll have something to compare if you ever think you feel a lump or whatever.

I was freaked out when my doc sent me for one this pat year too. (I'm only 32) I'd heard painful, I'd heard uncomfortable--I didn't know what to think. After having a baby I have to say that having someone place my boob on a machine while awkward did not feel as invasive as it would have prior to birth--lol. My biggest thing was I was shorter than how low the machine came down so I had to kind of stand on my tippie toes--but other than that I have to agree with the other women, it was more an uncomfortable pressure than painful. I think that mammograms have come a long way since the stories started circulating but it's like a fishing story you know? they get bigger and worse each time they are told. I still felt it was invasive since a stranger was touching my breast--and I was just in a robe--never exactly wohoo comfortable--BUT I'm so glad I went and really it wouldn't bother me to go again. I have to say I would MUCH rather have a mammo than my annual pap...take a deep breath and then treat yourself to something nice after for taking care of your health and your body.