What Actually Happens When You Have a Mammogram?

October is breast cancer awareness month and it feels timely to share my recent experience with routine breast screening to help answer some of the questions women may have about it.

I had my second mammogram a couple of weeks ago, and it struck me afterwards that there probably aren't many situations where you are expected to take your top and bra off in front of a complete stranger, have your breasts positioned and squashed between two plates, and then simply carry on with your day as though nothing unusual has happened!

If you've never had a mammogram before, it can sound rather intimidating.

You might have questions you haven't thought to ask anyone. What actually happens when you arrive? Do you have to take everything off? Does it hurt? How long does it take? Are you left sitting around for ages? Can someone come with you?

I thought it might be useful to share my experience, particularly for anyone who has been invited for breast screening and is feeling a little nervous about going.

My appointment

First of all, I have to say a big well done to the NHS on this one. My appointment was at 9.16am and it was bang on time. From arriving to leaving, the whole thing took about 20 minutes. I had made a coffee to take with me because I was expecting the inevitable waiting around. I only just had enough time to finish it before I was called through.

There is something slightly surreal though about casually drinking your morning coffee while waiting to get half naked for a stranger to take pictures of your boobs!

The waiting area was small, with around six seats. Phones had to be switched off because of the medical equipment, so I put mine on airplane mode and sat quietly for a while. There wasn't really enough time to get bored or particularly anxious because the women were being called through quite quickly.

What happens when you're called in?

I had been for a mammogram once before, so I knew roughly what to expect. That definitely made it easier. You are taken into a room with the mammography machine and asked to undress from the waist up. There isn't a gown or curtain to hide behind while you're having the images taken, so yes, it is quite exposing.

The mammographer was friendly and very matter-of-fact, which I found reassuring. She guided me into position, giving me instructions about where to put my feet, arms and body. Then she positioned one breast at a time onto the machine and took the images. It was all very efficient.

There was something about the instructions that reminded me of yoga teaching: “Raise your right arm… turn your hips towards me… gently lean over…” Except that this time someone was simultaneously arranging my breast on a glass plate. I had to try not to giggle at the sheer weirdness of it all!

Does a mammogram hurt?

This is probably one of the things women can worry about most. The breast is compressed between two plates for the images, and yes, it can be uncomfortable. For me, it was more of a strong pressure than actual pain and it only lasted for a few seconds at a time.

Everyone is different, though, and some women find mammograms more uncomfortable than others. The important thing is that it is over very quickly. The whole imaging part was probably only a few minutes.

What if you're nervous?

I think one of the hardest things about any unfamiliar medical procedure is not necessarily the procedure itself. It's not knowing what is going to happen. Your imagination can fill in the gaps. I remember being much more nervous the first time because I had no idea what to expect. The second time was easier simply because I knew what was coming.

If you're feeling anxious, it is completely reasonable to tell the person doing your mammogram. You don't have to pretend you're fine or that you're not embarrassed. You can also take someone with you for support if that would make you feel more comfortable. They may not be able to come into the room itself, but having someone with you on the journey there and back can make the whole experience feel less daunting.

For me, sitting quietly and paying attention to my breathing helped with the anticipatory nerves. I wasn't trying to make myself feel completely calm. I was just noticing that I was a little uncomfortable and letting that be there. Sometimes simply knowing that something feels uncomfortable doesn't mean you need to do anything about it.

How do other women feel about it?

While I was waiting, I found myself noticing the other women in the room. One sat very still, clutching her handbag. Another looked completely relaxed, reclining in her chair and typing on her phone. One woman walked in as though she had a back problem and I wondered whether that would make the mammogram more difficult for her.

Then another woman arrived who was clearly religious, and I found myself wondering how she felt about having to undress with strangers, even though the screening service is run for and by women.

A little later, a man came in and sat down. The religious woman and I caught each other's eye, glanced at the “Women Only Seating Area” sign, then looked at him and gave each other a slightly bemused smile. I was debating whether I should gently point him towards somewhere else to wait when the woman with the back problem came out of the nurses' room and said: “Ah, there you are.” It turned out he had come with her for support. Note to self about making assumptions!

It was a useful reminder that we really have no idea what is going on in someone else's life. The woman who looks completely calm might be terrified. The person who seems distracted might be supporting someone they love. Someone who looks nervous might simply be uncomfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. You just don't know, but all of it is ‘normal’, including how you feel about it.

What if you're worried about the result?

My experience was routine breast screening. I wasn't there because I had found a lump or because my doctor was particularly concerned about something and that makes a difference. I could feel nervous about the procedure itself while knowing that, statistically, I was expecting everything to be fine.

However, if you're worried about what they might find, it's understandable that you might be tempted to put the whole thing off. None of us particularly wants to discover that something might be wrong.

The problem is that avoiding it won't make it go away. If there is something there, finding it early can make it easier to treat and means there are more treatment options available. Breast screening helps to find some breast cancers before you can see or feel any changes, and the NHS says that screening saves lives.

So if you've been invited, please don't let fear of the result stop you going. The whole point of screening is to find anything that is there as early as possible.

So, should you go if you're invited?

If you've been invited for routine breast screening, I would encourage you to go. I know that the idea of a mammogram can be embarrassing, uncomfortable or simply something you would rather not think about. I also know that putting something off because it feels a bit awkward or you’re scared is very human.

For me, the reality was much less of a big deal than I had imagined the first time. The appointment was quick, the staff were kind and professional, and I was in and out in about 20 minutes. You don't need to look forward to it or feel completely relaxed about it, you just need to turn up as you are. If you're nervous, tell the person doing the mammogram. They will have seen plenty of nervous women before you.

If you need support, see if a friend or family member can go with you for the mammogram itself and be there for you if needed while you wait for the results to come back, which usually take 2-3 weeks.

During that time of waiting, which understand can be very anxious for some, try to do daily practises that soothe your nervous system. That could be going for a walk in a local park, doing a yoga class, singing, dancing or taking part in hobbies. Hugs and physical contact can be very regulating whether that’s with loved ones or your pets!

If a friend or family member is going

If someone you care about has a mammogram coming up, you don't need to become an expert in breast screening, you just need to be there. Ask whether they would like you to go with them. Offer to meet them afterwards. Let them talk if they want to talk, or leave it alone if they don't.

Try not to make assumptions about how they're feeling and remember that a routine screening appointment might feel like no big deal to one person and feel enormous to another. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is simply make the unfamiliar feel a little more familiar.

That is one of the main reasons I wanted to write this article. There are lots of things we don't talk about until we have to do them; mammograms are one of them. If you've never had one, I hope knowing a little more about what actually happens makes the prospect feel slightly less mysterious. And if you've been putting off making an appointment because you're nervous, perhaps this is your gentle nudge to go. You might even have time for a coffee afterwards!

A final note

Please remember that I am not a doctor, and this is simply my own experience of having a mammogram. If you'd like official information and guidance about routine breast screening and mammograms, you can find lots of useful detail on the NHS website:

Breast screening (mammogram) - NHS

Lastly if you or any loved ones need support through this process or are affected by breast cancer I can offer both specialist oncology reflexology and yoga for cancer classes. Everyone's situation is different, so if you're not sure what might be right for you, just get in touch. We can have a chat about what you're dealing with and what kind of support might be helpful.