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Thanks again for all your feedback to this thread.
Thanks Mike - all these comments have actually made me think twice about a trip I was about to do at the end of September … I dont want to be humiliated, treated with little respect, undergo the anxiety of being searched or have the worry and risk of xrays and the damage they may do to an already damaged, and disfigured body.
I’m stunned and appalled by the way Woody was treated…but not terribly surprised. I believe most of these people are from outside contractors so they’ve probably had very little, if any, training.
I’ve travelled a lot since having a mastectomy in 2006 and I’ve never had any problems with my prosthesis. I’ve not been asked to go through a body scanner yet but I think I’d be okay with it. I haven’t any hair at the moment and only use bandanas to protect my scalp outside so I won’t be bothered if they ask me to take it off - although if I’m in a bad mood I may cause a ‘religion’ argument…in fact, I may do that just to revenge Artygirl
I flew from Manchester a couple of weeks ago, I always seem to set of the alarms and surprise surprise it happened again, only this time there was no frisk, I joined the queue for the body scanner (not really much choice as this was the only door that opened to let me out). They seemed to be scanning indiscriminately there were children and men in front of me. The security official was extremely pleasant and put you at ease. From a privacy point of view as a number of people were in front of me I made a point of watching and you certainly can’t see anything as another passenger, and my friend said she couldn’t see anything from her view whilst waiting a good 5 minutes for my turn to pass through.
I hope this puts peoples minds at ease, and yes I set off the alarms on the way home and had a very firm Greek frisk before I carried on my way.
Even though my comments on the dangers of X-rays to our over-radiated bodies seem to have been ‘airbrushed out’ I hope MikeBCC has taken them on board.
I fly frequently from Manchester and have two prothsesis and have never yet been taken to one side after going through the body scanner. I have had my handbag searched and tested and have had various liquids in my hand luggage tested but not once has anything been said about my false boobs! The only thing I don’t like is that the scanner is quite claustrophobic and I hate being in enclosed spaces, I too have wondered about the bombardment of extra Xrays on our already vulnerable bodies.
Hi everyone,
Having just read Artygirls experience, I think I preferred mine!
When I was bald, I would have been mortified if Id been told to take my hat off, Im really sorry, it must have been awful for you.
As another girl tentatively mentioned, has anyone ever seen Muslim ladies being asked to remove their headwear? I was aware that the image of my body scan was being scrutinised in another room,that wasnt the part that upset me so much, it was the attitude of the woman who put her hands in my bra and squeezed my falsie, then appeared surprised when I started crying. To any Northern Lassies who might be worried about flying through Manchester, Ive just had another trip and used Liverpool airport, cheaper flight, less rigmarole and to date, they don`t have a body scanner.
Love to you all, Mags xx
I think I asked this on another thread - it’s quite confusing having multiple threads with the same title. However like others have said I am concerned about the effects of extra radiation (no matter how small - it is still more radiation that we don’t need on top of everything else we have had). I would like to know if anyone has the right or the option to ask for an alternative. Googling (always dangerous I know!) has brought up some stories of people not being allowed to fly when they have said they don’t want to be scanned. BCC do you know the answer to this?
I am absolutely appalled by Woody’s experience at Manchester airport!! How intrusive, discriminatory and frankly, this Borders on indecent assault! That security worker should be utterly ashamed! As has been mentioned, would someone wearing a burkha or hijab be examined like this?? It seems that a BC survivor can be discriminated against whereas other categories of people can’t be. Disgusting!!
surely though when you are patted down they dont touch your breasts. My daughter has gone through before on more than one occasion the bleeps always go off becuase of her hair extension which are metal clips. bit confused why it would be intrusive. i will have a falsy next week?
“surely though when you are patted down they dont touch your breasts”
So that makes it a good place to hide a knife then?
;o)
I recently flew with a temporary prosthesis and I set off the alarm, despite having taken off my belt etc.
A woman took me to one side.
“Please note before you touch me that I had a mastectomy 3 weeks ago and I am still sore. I am also wearing a prosthesis and that may have triggered something.”
“Where is it sore?”
I demonstrated the line of my scar from the sternum to round under my shoulder blade. She saw my post-chemo hair.
I took off my shoes and showed her the orthoses inside and speculated with her if they had been perceived as a “mass”.
She took them from me and sent them through the scanner belt. She checked for belt buckles, examined my watch thoroughly, then started to pat me down very gingerly. She avoided the Mx area. She then used the hand-scanner all over for ages. Finally she let me go on.
BTW; I wore a Buff on my scalp all through customs and no-one asked me to take it off. You wouldn’t normally expect to get through with (say) a trilby on, but they could see what the situation was and let me keep it on.
Justbeen reading everyones experiences and I had not really thought about it until a couple of weeks ago. I was travelling from Manchester to Paris with my family. Unfortunately both myself and my Husband set the alarms off through security !
I went through the body scanner but was not searched which I am glad about as it was a male who was supervising this.There were no further problems. How terrible for the ladies who have had the bad experiences. It certainly will make me think about it carefully next time I travel out of the country!
On a different note…my 3 year old son has an ileostomy (Stoma) and we had no probs at Manchester however, on our return from Paris he was stopped and security staff swabbed his bag which was a bit awkward for my son and embarassing as there were other passengers. I had to keep on explaining what it was.
I understand that it is a big responsibility passenger safety but they need to be sensitive with people who have medical conditions.
I’ve been reading this thread with interest as I’m flying form manchester in August,
I was horrified to read Woodys experience, what a terrible ordeal. I know they have a job to do and I totally understand the importance of security, but I agree with the lady who said that was assault!
The body scanner issue is something which I have been concerned about, and I think now that i would voice my concerns, but I would be nervous about refusing one. Can they ask you to take prothesis out? If its in a pockted bra its not so simple, is it just the fact that its a solid mass which raises concerns? I know most people don’t get scanned, but i’ll probably look shifty now because i’ll be hoping they don’t pick me.
The radiation subject hadn’t really crossed my mind I was more worried about the prothesis, but it’s definately not something that i’d be too happy being exposed to.
I’ve only just read this thread, very interesting.
I had a mastectomy in 2001 and wear a contact prosthesis.
In May 2011 hubby and I went to Las Vegas for 2 weeks from Gatwick airport, no problems there.
However it was a different story when we came home. Las Vegas airport has full body scanners which everyone has to go through which we weren’t aware of. My hubby was teasing me because I’m always stopped wherever we are so why should it be any different there ?
Anyway, of course their alarm went off and the security lady asked me to step forward as she needed to pat me down. I said ‘I’ve had a mastectomy and am wearing a prosthesis’ to which she asked which side and did the pat down. She then swabbed the palms of both my hands and I had to stand on the correct footsteps on the floor until she’d passed the swabs through her computer.
This was all done in the departure lounge in front of all and sundry. I was busting for the loo and our flight was being called so once she said I could go it was a bit of a panic. We did notice that other passengers gave us a wide berth so we got on the plane quickly and sat down.
It hasn’t put me off flying, security has to be there so next year we’re off to do Route 66 (holiday was booked for this year, next weekend in fact but I’ve had more surgery so it was cancelled)
Sue
HI
I went through the isle of man airport set the alarms of an explained that i had recently had a mx and had a false boob they were brilliant we then went through manchester airport and i told the chap that sends you to the correct scanner again first class service my husband was given my tray and ordered to take it with him !!! girl power lol and i was escorted through without having to go in the full body scanner the agent was first class and wished me all the best
lizzy c
Unlike most of you I’m much more concerned about exposure to radiation than I am about anything to do with the prosthesis.
So can anyone tell me if any other UK airports have the sort of full body scanner they have at Manchester? I flew through Liverpool last time to avoid it.
Body Scanners! Well let me tell you my lovely experience at HEATHROW in AUGUST 2012.
I have a mobility Scooter & I was approached at Heathrow when I was awaiting a conecting flight to JFK.
They were so happy to see a disabled person(Paralymic games & althlets were arriving) they jumped potof nowhere and asked meif I was ok and could they help me! Get this and game me a chocolate bar?
Freaked me out a bit but laughed it off- Trying too hard eh?
Went around Heathrow no problem,was allowed to take my scooter up to the doors of the Jumbo Jet.
Glasgow had booked it properly to be taken off at Heathrow for my use-slight delay in locating my scooter.
The Mirror was broke but thought well at least I have my scooter.
Got to JFK they kept looking for a wheelchair - took 2 hours to find it.
I was not delighted - 17 hour round trip with conections & Lympheodema in both arms & 2 sleeves on.
Hot,sore,puffy & very tired.
Got Scooter & eventually got to Hotel - My Point is the airports have no idea or plan or enough experience to deal with a disabled traveller.
Oh that is not the worst,I wish it was!
The return trip was from Newark Airport in New York-What an airport that is nothing in it.
They took my Mobility Scooter off of me & put me into a horrible old wheelchair & got a woman to take me to the gate.
I was taken to the security area in a wheelchair,I was asked if I could stand to go into the Body scanner-I was so confused & afraid.I wanted to but they said it was ok. I knew I could not stand with my feet apart and my arms in that scanner but I was afraid of what the alternative was-I thought they would have a part that I would be wheeled through.
The woman that was pushing my wheelchair came to me and took my shoes off-she never told me why and I was a little upset as I have never been asked to remove my shoes before.BUT SHE TOOK THEM OFF -she did not ask me!
I was taken through the area to be examined by a female security officer-SHE ASKED me was I sore anywhere/
Yes my chest,arms,stomache -WELL I SHOULD NOT have bothered -SHE PATTED ME DOWN and ROUGHLY.
BUT WHAT COULD I SAY OR DO-IF I refused I would not have been able to go home!
I was asked if I wanted to stay in the coffe area or go to the gate- I opted for coffee area,it was a fast food take away area.She said she would be back to take me to the gate in 2 hrs.I was shocked at this as she asked me to get out of the wheelchair & into a seat.
I was travelling with my Husband,I was desperate for the toilet & hubby went to ask a woman that was one of the disabled team that transported people in wheelchairs.I asked her if she could take me to the toilet.
IF I had been left with my scooter I would have been fine & even if I had been left with the wheelchair,hubby would have stuggled but would have got me to the toilet.
HER answer was -No she could not as she did not transport British Airway Passengers that was her collegue and she would be back for me later to take me to the gate!
I was nearly crying,hubby went to a help desk & complained.The same woman that had said NO came back & took me to a normal ladies toilet & watched me stuggle,while she chatted on her mobile.
I stuggled on swollen feet to the sink & further to the hand dryer.When I got into the wheelchair again she was wheeling me out while on her mobile-I knew she was not looking,I lifted my feet as quickly as I could-SHE crashed me into a wall on the way out of the ladies Toilet.
Then she took me back to coffee area & took the wheelchair away again.
When I had booked in at Newark the woman at the desk booked my scooter right through to Glasgow & not Heathrow & Glasgow.
I was going to be left without a scooter at Heathrow for 4 hours.The crewe were very helpful & did arrange for me to get my scooter-it took 3 hours to find it as they were looking for a wheelchair.
I was in desperation for the toilet & had to get taken by wheelchair-I am embarassed enough & the scooter gives me independance & a bit of dignity.
When I did get my scooter back-the battery was cracked and damaged,the paint work scratched,my lights broken,my wheel cap broken.
I was devestated,I got a claim form etc.
I went out of the airport for some fresh air as I was so annoyed & had managed to get to the toilet again.Going on the flight is not an easy option for me.
On the way outside I was given a sim card to phone home while I am away from my country-THEY assumed I was foreign & was a paralympic athlete as I was disabled and in a scooter-What a mess? Athlete me ha ha.But the assumptions were cruel.
They took my scooter off me again & got a wheelchair for me at the book in desk & I had to go through security with hubby again.
When we came back in,I was asked if I could stand to go into the body scanner.I was terrified to say no but again I was told it was ok & again I told them I was sore & again they were rough with me.
I was searched-roughly and in my bottom and my bottom ladies parts too-not gentle at all.
I was swabbed,my scooter was swabbed,my shoes were swabbed.
I was actually stopped at Heathrow for having a Knuckle duster type evening bag! Incase it was a martials arts deadly weapon I had -I kid you not!
I can’t walk so how can I Kung Foo anyone?
I do believe security is required & I also believe in others saftey.
But my husband was not searched as much as me & we were travelling together.
I do believe I was a easy target & a sitting one at that-they must have thought I was smuggling drugs the rate I was searched.
And they kept taking my scooter away-MY LEGS-MY MOBILITY.
I would not be surprised if all the damage to my scooter was because they were taking it apart looking for drugs or some other dangerous materials.
I have enough prescription drugs in my hand luggage to put any dealer to shame with all my doctor’s letters.
They never asked about them?
I was asked in Heathrow if I wanted privacy for the SEARCH-not pat down.
I said no as I was scared to be alone in a room being searched with no witnesses.I was very distressed and felt violated.
There has to be a change in how a Breast Cancer sufferer,Lympheodema & disabled are search & how they subject us to uncalled for searches.
I know I was searched far too much as my hubby was travelling with me & he was not searched as much as me!
We were well dressed & have always lived in Scotland what risk could be pose?
It is very distressing & embarrassing and we have no control over who puts their hands on us & where they put their hands.
Where are my basic human rights-Begging to be taken to the toilet as the security is more important than my rights?
I did everything right,booked my scooter to travel with me,organised it all over 3 months of emails etc.
And still I was subjected to problems & horrors.
Thanks
Big Hugs
Casper Boo
xxx
I went to Florida for two weeks recently and as it was my first time going abroad since having my mastectomy, I wasn’t sure whether to travel wearing my prosthesis or not. After some debating I decided to wear it. I also took my Aqua Wave swim prosthesis with me and carried that in my hand luggage as well as the empty box for the prosthesis I was wearing.
I went through the scanners with no alarms sounding, in fact with no problems at all on the outgoing and incoming journeys at Gatwick and Orlando Airports. I did say to the woman scanning the hand luggage at Gatwick what was in my bag (as well as a letter from my GP), but she was fine and never got my Aqua Wave or the boxes out off my bag or checked inside them. I asked the man checking the body scanner at Orlando if he could see my false boob on the scan. He said he could and wished me a nice journey home.
I had a Mastectomy in Oct 2012 and have travelled twice since then. I set the alarm off both times. I was of- course frisked.
I quietly said to the female officer, that I was wearing a Prosthesis. She told me not to worry, and treated me with respect and courtesy. This was similiar to my other experience.
What set the alarm off? The replacements in both my knees!!
