Mamm Tech looking for suggestions of patients from diagnosis

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Anonymous
Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
edited October 2018 in Comments, Suggestions, Feature Requests
Mamm Tech looking for suggestions of patients from diagnosis
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  • mcichoracki
    mcichoracki Member Posts: 19
    edited October 2018

    My cousin has been in radiology for years and has recently moved to Mammography due to my diagnosis last year.  She is a very caring person and would loves to help people and is finding it heart breaking for women to blame her for their diagnosis.  She is looking for feedback from diagnosed patients that could help her to do her job better.  She can identify if there is a positive area that needs to have additional scanning.  

    1.   What is most important for you during your Mamm?

    2.   Do you blame the technician for the diagnosis?

    3.   How would you like to have been told that you needed additional scanning?

    4.   What can the technologist do to make this a better experience for you?

    5.   Do you have a fear every time your Mamm is scheduled?

    I think these questions will really help her to be a better tech and see how each of you feel on the other side of the process.


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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited October 2018

    I don't blame the technician or radiologist who reviewed my images on my second mammogram and ultrasound for my diagnosis but I do blame the facility and radiologist who read my first mammogram and ultrasound for misdiagnosing my cancer as benign the first time, telling me I did not need a recheck in 6 months, not informing me of my breast density, and the implications of that, as they were required to do by law, and ignoring NIH guidelines for high risk young women by not suggesting an MRI or biopsy.


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  • Dani444
    Dani444 Member Posts: 522
    edited October 2018

    When I went for my diagnostic mammogram, I had a sense something was wrong. The tech was just simply sweet and kind. She asked me if I wanted to see the images and pointed out the suspicious area. She explained what the difference in the images (on ultrasound) was between a fluid filled cyst and what appeared to be a solid area. Of course this was a general description as they are obviously not allowed to diagnose.

    When I went back for my biopsy, I had a different tech but again she took the time to explain everything as it was happening. Sat down and talked with me after the procedure, and even hugged me before I left.

    The fact that she is seeking these answers shows she is caring, I am sure she conveys that in the care she gives her patients.

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  • edwards750
    edwards750 Member Posts: 3,761
    edited October 2018

    I just want the mammo to be done thoroughly. I have a diagnostic one because of my mom’s BC DX.

    I don’t blame the tech but I did have one tell me everything was fine when it wasn’t. That’s when I was DX with BC. So they need to be caring and as gentle as possible but offering “her” DX is unprofessional and not valid. To be fair I’m such a nervous wreck at mammo time(7 years out) I try to read the tech’s expressions to get a read on her findings.

    As for additional scanning no easy way to inform a patient except maybe they just want to be sure of what they see. Not all callbacks lead to bad news.

    The techs I’ve seen have been really good except the one who offered her unprofessional opinion. For me just keep a dialogue going about anything so I don’t focus so much on what you are doing.

    Lastly absolutely nervous when it’s annual mammo time. I don’t think I’ll ever get over that fear.

    Diane

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited October 2018

    I don't understand why anyone would blame a technician or a radiologist for their diagnosis. That just doesn't make sense! That's like blaming your poor PCP when they diagnose your strep and want to put you on antibiotics...it's no one's fault.

    My only advice is to stop pushing all of the pink Breast Cancer Awareness things on people who you know are cancer survivors, when they have the misfortune of getting their annual diagnostic follow-up mammogram during October. Perhaps not every place does that, but the center I went to a few weeks ago was bathed in pink, and I found it annoying. Sorry.

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  • jcia
    jcia Member Posts: 10
    edited October 2018

    My mammo techs were amazing. The most important thing is that they are taking the time to do the images properly. Being a younger woman and never having a mammo before the tech was very patient and reassuring during my diagnostics. I had an US booked for the next week and she was trying to not worry me when they “had an opening” right after my dm. My us tech was awesome too and was trying to be all, don’t worry, they always biopsy hard lumps. I had my first mammo since diagnosis and broke down in the change room before and the tech was so sweet and took the time to validate my fears and let me be upset and cry. I hoped no one really blames the techs for their cancer, they had nothing to do with it! Maybe it’s just because they are angry and take it out on them. I wouldn’t take it personally and hopefully she knows it’s not her that they are mad at, its the situation 🙂
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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited October 2018

    I also don't understand why anyone would blame a tech or radiologist for their diagnosis, makes no sense at all to me.

    I only had two mammograms, both times the tech was fine. Totally nice a professional, didn't offer any opinions at all, which is the way it should be.

    The ultrasound tech who looked at my first lump said something that she really shouldn't have, though. I needed a biopsy and the tech said she couldn't believe how calm I was and that if it were her she would "totally be freaking out". Ridiculous comment that she should have kept to herself!

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