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[Nas]

I'm also breast-free so mammograms are no longer cllinically indicated.   However, dealing with male healthcare professionals has never bothered me in the slightest. Good thing really, the amount of medical stuff I've had going on.

For me it makes no difference whatsoever what gender the member of staff is, I just want someone competent, communicative and compassionate.

I guess I'm just a lot more relaxed about this than some other respondents on this thread.  Everyone's different 

How do the respondents who are so against male radiographers doing mammograms feel about then being referred on to a male breast surgeon or a male oncologist?  Believe me, they touch, feel, manipulate one's breasts way more than a radiographer carrying out a mammogram.

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I hear what you are saying, but by the time the lump is biopsied, the breast scanned and diagnosis confirmed, most wouldn’t care whether the next medic is male or female, I’m sure.

But, prior to all of that,  essentially it’s just patient, radiographer and scanner in the room. No other person present and that could be an issue for both patient and male radiographer.

[jaypo]

It's not that those of us who don't want a male radiographer are prudes or anti male,as said before most gynae appointments for me have been male,I don't particularly like it but have got used to it.
But I draw the line at a man doing what radiologists do whilst having a mammogram . Also been examined by a man at the breast clinic but with a nurse present and when examined by him,it is nowhere near what happens with a mammogram

[CLKD]

Agreed jaypo. 

[MummyClanger]

Absolutely would not want a male doing this. Somehow it’s different to gynae examinations but given the choice with this i would always prefer a female. I think there is something very intimate about someone handling your breasts like this and I found it almost humiliating and I know that sounds silly because it’s just a health check it’s far too near to a man fondling your breasts, albeit they don’t usually clamp them in between two plates and squash them flat! I think also that lots of women have been sexually assaulted or even had grabbed boobs in pubs etc or on tube. I would have trust issues with a male doing this. I have had males examine me for gynaecological matters many times but felt less exposed than I have when having a mammogram. They also don’t seem to have gowns now at the Mobile vans so you’re sitting there talking to the radiographer stripped to the waist while they go through your details that felt odd enough even with a woman. It concerns me that women won’t be given a choice or you’ll be put to the bottom of the pile. If you express a preference for a female radiographer will be labelled sexist. To me they need to attract more women to do this. I found having a mammogram more stressful than having a smear test and at least when it was a woman doing it you can joke to get over the embarrassment and I just think many women are just not going to turn up for this if they know they might get a male

[MummyClanger]

I also meant to say that I think this will be like mixed sex wards in hospital. It will seem like a good idea but there will be problems not least for the men as well that are doing it because things can so easily be misinterpreted with a job like this.

[jaypo]

Oh that's right mummyclanger, I didn't get a gown either but put my top back on,then took it off once in the room but again I'd feel very uncomfortable taking my top of in front of of a man 

[Mary G]

All the radiographers for mammograms have been female in Spain but some of the breast specialists who perform the ultrasound scan immediately after the mammogram have been blokes.  They don't use sonographers in Spain, the breast specialists and gynecologists do the scans themselves to see it firsthand so that is probably the difference.

I don't usually have a chaperone either when the gynaecologist/breast specialist is a man.  I've never felt uncomfortable with any of them.

[CLKD]

Evening Mary G - that procedure of the specialists doing the scans would lessen the waiting and diagnosis times too.

[MummyClanger]

Oh that's right mummyclanger, I didn't get a gown either but put my top back on,then took it off once in the room but again I'd feel very uncomfortable taking my top of in front of of a man 

The last time I went to the mobile unit I was told to take everything off above the waist in the very small changing room and then walk into the room with the radiographer, which I found very uncomfortable as there is then a small delay while she checks your details etc and gets the machine ready. The mammogram I had previous to this in the same unit I was told to take my top off and leave my bra on until I got into the room. This was better as I didn’t feel so exposed for so long if you see what I mean and obviously feeling a bit self conscious is better than not being checked but I would be mortified if I had to sit there like that with a man. I think one of the other things is that you’re made to feel a bit shit about ageing generally as a woman and it’s no wonder lots of women would feel embarrassed having their boobs handled by a young guy.

[Aprilflower]

This is from one Trust but I expect most are the same.

https://apps.worcsacute.nhs.uk/KeyDocumentPortal/Home/DownloadFile/2850

[Mary G]

Evening Mary G - that procedure of the specialists doing the scans would lessen the waiting and diagnosis times too.

Absolutely CLKD, it means that if something has come up on a mammogram of you have found a lump and booked a scan, you know straightaway if it's something sinister. They do biopsies on the spot too. I think it's a better system with far less waiting and worry involved.

[Aprilflower]

Evening Mary G - that procedure of the specialists doing the scans would lessen the waiting and diagnosis times too.

Absolutely CLKD, it means that if something has come up on a mammogram of you have found a lump and booked a scan, you know straightaway if it's something sinister. They do biopsies on the spot too. I think it's a better system with far less waiting and worry involved.

One week after my recall I had a magnifying mammogram, ultrasound scan and biopsy, all at the same appointment.  Biopsy results a week later.

Don't think it could have been quicker.

[Mary G]

I should have been clearer.  You skip the waiting for mammogram results and (possible) recall part because immediately (usually within an hour) after the mammogram, the images are sent to the breast specialist in another room who has the x-rays on a screen in front of them and scans the breasts.  So it's a slightly different procedure.

[CLKD]

Continuity of care Mary G.  Which could be possible in the NHS if appt arrangements were different so that they coincided when the surgeon wasn't operating. 

[Aprilflower]

Too expensive.

Our trusts dedicated breast clinic has a two week turnaround from referral by GP, or routine mammogram.

From my first clinic appointment to surgery was 7 weeks.  I'm very grateful.

I would add that it would have been even quicker, but it was decided to do a second biopsy on the lobe attached to the duct.  They found a second area there which was also removed.