Mammogram - Virginia Beach,VA

Piece of cake:) If you can get a pap smear done and give birth, a mammogram is easy. Just breathe, relax and let the technician guide you.

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please try thermography. it's not painful and much safer. it can also have far better detection. best of luck!
http://www.breastthermography.com/

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Hi,

I'm an A cup too, and really there is nothing terrible about a mammogram in terms of real pain -- worst part for me is having to contort a while for them to get a good angle.
I've had some scares and a biopsy (benign) so all I can say is it's a good thing to do, even if it's scary -- the waiting for results part my least favorite! Good luck!

M.

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Awww it's not so bad! I am an almost-B cup and I, too, worried that they wouldn't be able to squeeze enough to get a picture! But they can and do. It is a bit uncomfortable, but it only lasts for a bit while they take the x-ray. Where I go they have dimmed lights in the room, the rooms are kept very warm and there is music playing. Hopefully your place will be like that. My one word of advice is to make sure it isn't close to that time of the month where your breasts get tender. You want to avoid having a mammogram then.

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It really, truly, is not that bad! If you are concerned, take a couple of ibuprofen beforehand. Use your deep breathing techniques during the procedure and you will be fine. It is over quite quickly. I am an a cup, too, and you would be amazed at how much breast tissue they can find to put in that machine! I am so glad that you are not putting it off any longer. Early detection is SO important! Good luck and you will be surprised at how "nothing" it really is!

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I am an A cup also and have had many mammograms. Remember that the people who do the mammograms have seen every size and shpae of breast and know exactly what to do to get a good reading. The most important thing is that you go for regular mammograms - you'll be fine.

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Question: are you going to a place that does real xrays or do they do it on the computer? Find that out. They don't have to press as hard if they have the newest machinery that does things digitally on the computer. I wouldn't use the old xray method. I'd cancel that appointment if that's what you are having.

I've had both over the years, V.. They newer machines are your best bet.

Good luck,
D.

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Absolutely. First let me say that I hope your Mammogram is just for prevention and it goes well. Especially on this Mothers day remember how much women can withstand. You can go through with it. Its a little uncomfortable but a breeze compared to labor pains! I hope that made you smile and think 'a mammogram, piece of cake!'

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a mamogram, yeah, that was fun.. not
it basically feels like your breast is being pinched.. hard.and the slide is cold and the techs are usually indifferent at best.i once waited half an hour for a mamogram, shirt off, boob hanging in the breeze and everything, the nurses were just standing around in the next room gossiping, waiting for me to get disgusted and leave, because the hospital had decided that because i didnt have insurance, it wasnt medically needed. and this was after my doctor found a lump and had ordered the mamogram.i got the mamogram only after coming out into the hallway, with everything hanging out, and demanding to know what the hold up was.the techs suddenly decided to follow the doctors orders after i started shouting loud enough to be heard out in the waiting room. never be bashful when it comes to your health..or your kids.
K. h.

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You've gotten some good advice here... I would just emphasize the fact that I've never felt "pain." I would describe it as uncomfortable and I'm a fairly modest person, so having someone else manipulate my breasts is uncomfortable, too, but for the really SHORT time that it takes, no problem. They're professionals and they are doing a very important job.

Try this: put one hand under your breast and one above... flat hands... and squeeze them together as hard as you can to *sort-of* simulate the experience. Maybe that will ease your mind.

It's really not so bad. The worst part is peeling off the nipple sticker they use. ;} Good luck. You're doing the right thing.

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I am a c-cup and it is kinda painful for me. Can't imagine that it is as bad as childbirth so relax. If you are REALLY worried about pain, take some Ibuprofen about an hour before your appt. That usually takes care of it.

I always laugh when they have me standing on my toes with my arm out and my breast in a vise and they say' "don't breathe." Like that was ever an option... You'll be fine.

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Dear V.,
It really isn't that bad. In my opinion.You've had babies and nursed, so comparatively speaking, it's nothing really.
I am small chested too and thin. To be honest with you, what bothered me the most was the fact I don't have any padding to speak of along my ribs and you really have to get up close to the machine to get a little booby in there.
The techs are always really nice and gentle and it's over quite quickly.
It's not one of those things that's so awful you'll dread doing it again when the time comes.
The more you can relax, the better.

You'll do just fine!

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I've had three mammograms, and I'm 36 (fibrosystic tissue). It's not so bad. It's a little nerve wracking, of course, and embarrassing, but I tried to tell myself that they do this all day, every day. They have seen breasts in all shapes and sizes. Try to have a sense of humor about it all once they declare your breasts healthy. Call up a friend and have a good laugh. Wishing you well...

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I'm not gonna sugar coat it. It hurts, but it is not unbareable and it's over before you know it and for another year, you have that peace of mind that your breasts are healthy.

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Relax, breathe, it is not that bad.
This is for your health.
Everything will be fine.

God bless.

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As someone who is not real big in the top either, I know how you feel. I dread having mammograms also. I have found that each time it is over, I wonder why I dreaded it so much. It has never been as bad as I imagined/remembered. I put off having one and only have one every 2-3 years. This year when I had mine, I ended up being diagnosed with breast cancer. Luckily it was caught at stage 1. The little bit of discomfort each year is totaly worth the knowledge that everything is ok, or that anything would be caught early. Mammograms are so important!! Do you have any close friends/family who are due to get one? Maybe they could schedule theirs at the same time and then you could go out to lunch or something together afterwards.

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Yes, it can be painful. However, it's nothing compared to pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. The technicians that I've had have all been very friendly and do their best to make you feel comfortable.

Relax, nothing to be scared of.

Good luck.

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Not to worry! I'm small-busted too, so I don't know what it's like for women with large breasts. But for me, it was briefly uncomfortable, but certainly not overtly painful by any means. Once you have it done the first time, you'll probably wonder what you were stressing about! It'll be over before you know it! Good luck.

N.

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I'm an A cup too--I've done my first and it wasn't that bad. At worst, they push and squish you around to an orientation that seems weird and uncomfortable, but I never experienced anything that was outright painful, and each image they take only requires you to stay in a particular orientation for a few seconds. Just remember to keep breathing evenly (sometimes people forget when they're nervous, and end up making themselves feel faint!), that it won't last long, and that you're taking good care of yourself (and therefore your family) by making sure everything looks normal. Think to yourself: it's just routine!

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I'm an "A" cup too, and I definitely wouldn't say it hurts!!! Uncomfortable? YES. But seriously, if you've gone through childbirth then a mammogram is nothing! Don't be scared - you'll be fine :)

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It is uncomfortable, can be a bit painful, especially if you are tense, but when it is over, it is over. No lasting pain or anything. I had my first six months ago and go in for a recheck this month (I was too full of breastmilk for them to get any clear readings last time!). After the first you know what to expect and you realize it is not that big of a deal.

Best wishes.

K.

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Great advice from the other moms. I am not a small cup woman, so I can't comment on that. BUT, FYI, the techs that call to verify your appointment should tell you, (but might not) NOT TO WEAR anti-persperant/deodorant that day. If you you have it on when you go for your mammogram then you run the "risk" of your results not coming out clearly and having to re-do it. I guess the ingredients (aluminum?) can affect the way the results show up. So just wait to apply it until after your appointment.

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Breathe, relax ... it will be ok. As a fellow "a cupper" it really isn't that bad ... and it is relatively quick. Between a mammogram and the other things you have been through: (pap smears with pelvic exam, pelvic exam when baby dropped, birth, bad latch on the breast) ... you can handle this with grace and style.

as incentive ... afterward you should treat yourself to something yummy or cute ... just so you can have something to look forward to afterward!

Good luck!
M.

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I"m age 60 so I've had a lot of mammograms. Don't worry about it, the discomfort is minimal and everything is over in a short time. And it is so important to have these done, that the little discomfort is worth the safety and peace of mind.

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My first time was a breeze (small B cup) and wondered what the big deal was. Second time was a bit more painful but really, it was only for a few minutes and then it's over. Like others, I wondered "what's the big deal." It may be a bit painful but if it can detect something early then I can endure it for a measly 5-10 mins. Good luck.

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If you breastfeed you have less chance of developing cancer. Some doctors are not pushing mammograms till after menopause or never. They involve the use of radiation which causes cancer so you defeat the purpose. I don't do mammograms. AF