# Mammograms. I mean, mammodamns. Damnograms! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 30, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605 "2006-03-30T21:31:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![vivalostwages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d07c76/32.png) [@vivalostwages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vivalostwages)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/81 "2006-04-02T19:51:04Z")
> [@LavenderBlue](#): > > I’m having my first mammogram in about two weeks. This thread is scaring me! Sorry, it wasn’t meant to. I merely wanted to gripe a bit about the fact that for me, it was painful. This is not the case with every woman who goes through it. I just wish I were one of those women. ---
**Author:** ![Operation\_Ripper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/34f0e0/32.png) [@Operation\_Ripper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Operation_Ripper)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/82 "2006-04-02T21:02:09Z")
> [@tarragon918](#): > > Then my question became - okay, if an ultrasound will help you diagnose, why do the mammogram in the first place?!?! For real, that was what I was thinking earlier, with all the technology we have today surely they could find out exactly what they need without the crushing. Seems ridiculous to still be putting people through stuff like this. Maybe it is a question of cost? Are mammograms cheap? Ultrasounds or comparable stuff expensive? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/83 "2006-04-02T21:55:19Z")
No expertise whatsoever, but having undergone both, it’s my impression that the ultrasound is better at locating certain types of structures, or at determining more specifically what the structure is composed of. A mammogram is an x-ray, a screening x-ray, and can show that there may be something abnormal; further tests are needed to tell what exactly that something is. In my case, it was a couple of cysts containing fluid, which only showed up on the mammo as “unknown mass,” but in the ultrasound were – at least according to the doctor who did the ultrasound – very clearly only fluid. Also, a big difference is in the personnel time involved. Mammos are usually done by well-trained technicians, but my breast ultrasound was done by an actual MD, and took about 1/2 hour since he was looking at both breasts. I’ve also had pelvic ultrasounds, that were done by a tech who then marked things needing a look by a doctor, but the doctor’s time was minimal compared to the breast ultrasound. There are probably a lot more doctors trained in x-ray interpretation than in breast ultrasound interpretation, so ease of access to the technical skills needed could be a factor as well. So I can easily see that a mammo is a cheaper and more easily accessed screening tool, while things like ultrasounds, biopsies, etc., are left to the more specialized folks. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/84 "2006-04-02T22:02:57Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > Without getting into the “she said/he said” argument, I will say that my husband has had to undergo a lot of colon examinations in the past few years. At least when you have a gyno exam, they don’t have you flush out your insides first. Frankly, I’d rather undergo a weekly gyno exam than one colon exam. Which I realize isn’t exclusive to men vs. women, but in our family at least thus far the colon been strictly his problem. I hope to keep it that way. Are you talking about a colonoscopy? Because that is considered surgery, albeit diagnostic, and you’re only under “conscious sedation”, rather than general anasthesia. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/85 "2006-04-02T22:30:36Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Sure you do, but most adult women have had things in the orifice you are refering to. Usually on a regular basis. And if you want to compare orifice horor stories, try a gonorrhea exam. Cotton swab way up the urethra. Thats worse than a prostate exam but at least you won’t have to worry that you might like it. Oh really? I can but wonder why urethral sounds are sold on certain _ahem_ fetish sites … ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Tiger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/6de8d8/32.png) [@Mama\_Tiger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Tiger)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/86 "2006-04-02T22:49:54Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > Are you talking about a colonoscopy? Because that is considered surgery, albeit diagnostic, and you’re only under “conscious sedation”, rather than general anasthesia. Flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, it doesn’t matter – anything that requires you to flush your insides clean gives me the massive creeps! Give me a gyno exam any day! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2006, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/87 "2006-04-02T23:26:05Z")
> [@Mama Tiger](#): > > Flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, it doesn’t matter – anything that requires you to flush your insides clean gives me the massive creeps! Give me a gyno exam any day! Ouch. My sympathies. (I volunteer at the local hospital in the G. I. Lab. Since I see all the instruction sheets and discharge instructions, none of those procedures sound like my idea of a good time). ---
**Author:** ![Janx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Janx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Janx)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/88 "2006-04-03T02:12:20Z")
I’m not a woman, so I can only imagine the pain involved, (Maybe if we put my testicles in a vise?). The OP asked about needing one every year. Well, one year my wife had a clean mamo, the next year she did not. Long story short; if she had skipped that last mamo – she would be dead now. She went through a year and a half of WISHING she was dead, only to cure the cancer that the mamo demonstrated. She is cancer free since last July, thank god. But if she didn’t have that mamo when she did, my son and I, not to mention our families and everyone else who loves her would be “Claudia free” right now. So… mamo/no mamo. Mommy/no mommy. Yeah, it sucks to be sure – but not as much as the alternative. In my opinion any way. I vote you do it every year. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/89 "2006-04-03T12:26:14Z")
> [@fessie](#): > > Okay, I’m not going to belittle your pain, men - surely there’s enough suffering going around, and none of that prostate business sounds the least bit fun. > > But I’ll tell you what’s hilarious, and so typical. > > Woman starts a thread about her experience with mammograms. > Man jumps in - “oh yeah, well mine’s worse.” > > Remember this, single ladies, b/c this is Exactly what they do. Or at least Mine does, and I’ve heard it’s rampant. > You get a headache - they’ve got a migraine. > You get a cold - they’ve got pneumonia. > Cough? Bronchitis!! Since Mrs M is the one in our marriage who routinely answers the “How are you this morning?” question with a detailed breakdown of her half-dozen current most serious ailments, aches and pains - something over 350 days a year, I shit you not - I personally find this fucking hysterical. If marriage was a job, she’d have used up her sick days for the next twenty years already. So by **fessie** ’s logic, all women are inveterate whiners. :rolleyes: > [@Mama Tiger](#): > > The worst pain ever was when I had a metal appliance inserted into the bones in my foot after surgery, and my golden retriever banged into it. I’m trying not to imagine this. And failing. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/90 "2006-04-03T20:22:22Z")
> [@Operation Ripper](#): > > Umm, no, at least not in this thread as **Indygrrl** “started it” by blaming we men for something, no free tampons, whatever. See above. Then she unloaded on us about how terrible it is to be a woman. I don’t think any man posted saying we have it worse. Look, douchebag, that’s not what I was saying. I said that a friend of mine says, “If men had periods, tampons would be free.” It’s a joke and a metaphor and he’s a guy. I’m not blaming anyone, I just don’t care to hear about men’s poor little wee wees in a thread where women are complaining legitimately about medical tests that are painful and embarassing. If you want to cry about your testicles, go start your own thread. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/91 "2006-04-03T20:46:17Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > Mammogram schmamogram, try a prostate exam. Just what I was thinking. No pain but acute (male) embarassment! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Indygrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@Indygrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Indygrrl)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/92 "2006-04-03T22:44:51Z")
I had to come back and recant where I said that was a metaphor. It’s still a joke, but it’s not a metaphor. I thought about that error all the way home. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![askeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eb9ed0/32.png) [@askeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/askeptic)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/93 "2006-04-03T23:25:10Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > Oh really? I can but wonder why urethral sounds are sold on certain _ahem_ fetish sites … The fact that you knew that is just wierd. Now I know it and thats wierd to. Thanks for making me wierd. Some things I really didn’t want to know. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/94 "2006-04-04T02:26:17Z")
> [@askeptic](#): > > The fact that you knew that is just wierd. Now I know it and thats wierd to. Thanks for making me wierd. Some things I really didn’t want to know. No problem, my pleasure 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/95 "2006-04-04T03:31:23Z")
Had my first last year, and the worst thing (the second worst was that if somebody had lifted the venetian blinds _right next to the machine_ I would have flashed half of Columbia University) was the plexiglass shield in front that forced me to have my chin pointing up and my shoulder held back like I was tossing a curveball. Basically, it was like somebody was grabbing the gals and pulling them into the machine. :eek: I had been very brave until then, honest. And then I have “dense breast tissue” (glares at the gals) so I have to have it again soon to establish a baseline. Baseline this, you jerks. ---
**Author:** ![WhyNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c77e96/32.png) [@WhyNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WhyNot)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/96 "2006-04-04T03:53:52Z")
Man, oh man. Or, uh…woman, oh woman! I’m finishing up breastfeeding (well, pumping) in a month and need to get my baseline done. I’m only 31, but both my paternal aunt and grandmother had breast cancer before menopause, and I have their exact body shape and type. My mom’s freaking out at me that I get a mammogram at least once a year. I have huge tracts of land. FF real estate. I am so not looking forward to the torture. ---
**Author:** ![Mehitabel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8797f3/32.png) [@Mehitabel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mehitabel)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/97 "2006-04-04T04:15:54Z")
Poor dear! It may not be too bad, though, unless you walk in and see a machine like the one [on the bottom](http://www.xtronics.net/) (totally safe for work!) with the lousy plexiglass shield. It is designed to separate the rest of you from the gals. Ouchie. But the tech was very very nice and understanding; if you tell them the circumstances they’ll make it short. ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/98 "2006-04-04T05:17:47Z")
Oh. :eek: 40yrs old, only recently moved back to the US, first visit to gyno in a year. My gyno said it was time for a mammogram, as I’ve never had one (perhaps the UK doesn’t push quite so hard for them?). It’s this Thursday. After having pap smear, colposcopy and cryotherapy, thought I’d done it all. Frozen cervix anyone? And damn, I didn’t think about the fact my period was starting the next day … woulda been nice if someone had asked about when I was due, and it had been suggested I wait for the cryo til the period was done. Freezing, its aftermath, then bleeding. Urk. Anyhow… Wasn’t looking forward to a mammogram. KNEW that I shouldn’t have opened this, but the lil devil made me do it. The lil angel on the other shoulder was hoping for lots of “doesn’t hurt, no big deal, walk in the park stories”. Lil angel is now swimming the backstroke in a glass of red wine, weeping piteously. I don’t wanna go!! Look, I’ve been thru enough with all the gyno stuff, got on Wellbutrin to help me quit smoking (and damn, it perked me up a bit. lovely gear), I’ve quit smoking, had to quit Wellbutrin cause of hives, been on massive doses of steroids due to hives, have had my boyfriend move out along with our year old pup, got a new pup, seen the eye doc cause looks like my Lasik is failing me again and have to see eye surgeon on Thursday as well (with terms like ‘hazy cornea’ being bandied about - and you do not want to google THAT! Cornea transplants, anyone?). That’s all in the past month. Now someone is going to apply 20LBS of pressure to the boobs? Several times? Golly. I’m so freaking glad I’m a girl. Now someone please shoot me. ---
**Author:** ![BethCro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/cdc98d/32.png) [@BethCro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BethCro)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/99 "2006-04-04T05:25:57Z")
Mehitabel’s link finally opened for me. Oh. I didn’t want to see that anyways. I’m so glad I kept trying. :smack: I want my mommy (sadly, she has passed away, from complications due to COPD - hence quitting smoking, and she had a mastectomy - hence mammogram). I understand the need for all these lovely tests, but am torn between whether the OUCH or ICK factor is greater. _whimper_ ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605/100 "2006-04-04T18:18:00Z")
> [@BethCro](#): > > I want my mommy (sadly, she has passed away, from complications due to COPD - hence quitting smoking, and she had a mastectomy - hence mammogram). I understand the need for all these lovely tests, but am torn between whether the OUCH or ICK factor is greater. Trust me. I am a wimp and a freak. I think gyno tests are a form of pure hell. And I didn’t mind the mammogram. Seriously, for most women it is not that bad. I’d have it done every day if I could avoid a pap test. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mammograms-i-mean-mammodamns-damnograms/350605.md?page=6)