"Mammogram Experience"

I recently attended a follow-on mammogram appointment at the ARI (Inpatient facility rather than at the Breast Screening Centre). I had re-arranged the appointment directly on the phone. On arrival, I was informed that there was no appointment and that it had been cancelled due to the return of appointment letters as undelivered. This was nothing to do with mine or the hospital’s actions.

A big “Thank You” to the reception staff and the medical staff for being helpful, understanding and flexible enough to fit me in at the time. Follow on appointments can be stressful enough without such extras!

Whereas I am grateful for access to these scans and checks, I am not always enamoured by the manner of delivery. I found the person undertaking the mammogram to be robotic, as if she could not stray into any conversation out with a set procedural script.

 I do realise that it may become repetitive for staff undertaking these procedures. I am not expecting people to engage in lots of conversation during such appointments or even show any empathy to the feelings that these follow on appointments may raise. However, I don’t think it too much to expect a greeting even if it with just “hello” before going into “automatic” mode. I do expect staff not to assume that we can all just move and bend when they say and touch us. I did explain that I just needed a bit of time to adjust due to disc/pain difficulty, which seemed to fall on deaf ears.

I have perhaps had 8 mammograms so far. They are not the most comfortable of procedures. This one was the most uncomfortable and painful ever.