Male breast cancer screeners

Public Archive
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Hi, i am a male and about to be screened at my local hopital for breast cancer. I was just wondering if anyone knows if the breast screeners will be radiogaphers? and if so are they all female? I was just wondering if there were any males who could screen me, and if there actually is any male screeners. I was just too embarassed to ask this question to anyone at the hospital so thought i would place it on here. Many thanks

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Hi coffeetime,

Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, you’ve come to the right place for good support.

Could I suggest that you give our helpline a ring and have a chat with the staff here about what may happen at your appointment? Calls to the helpline are free, 0808 800 6000, lines open at 9.00am this morning until 5pm (Mon-Fri) and Sat 9-2pm.

Below I have put the link to BCC’s publication regarding men with breast cancer that you may find helpful to read.

breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/79/

Hope this helps. Kind regards
Jo, Facilitator

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hi coffeetime - I can’t help you with that query - I would imagine that if you asked you could be seen by a male radiographer - I haven’t seen any male staff apart from my surgeon and a few radiotherapists.
I do hope that everything goes well for you and that you get clear results in the your tests xxchipper

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Hi coffeetime

Sorry to hear you’re going through this.

If female patients have the right to be treated by female staff, then surely you must be entitled to be dealt with by male staff?

Just a thought.

Best wishes

X

S

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Hi Coffeetime

I’ve had a mix of male and female staff at the NHS hospital I have been treated at. I’ve had ultrasounds done by both male and female staff, and my radiotherapy treatment carried out by a mix of male and female staff. Both times I’ve had biopsies done, they were done by male staff, as it happens. That could be because I’ve never expressed a preference for dealing only with female staff (gender is immaterial - I just want good people who are focused on my health and wellbeing).

I would urge you to express your wishes, if you would feel more comfortable with male staff. Going for breast cancer screening is quite an unnerving experience if you haven’t been screened before, so I do hope you can overcome your embarrassment and ask for what makes you more comfortable.

Given the overwhelming number of female patients, there is likely to be a smaller number of male staff in breast screening, but there probably will be some, and if you express a wish to be seen by male staff, I’m sure your local unit would try to meet your needs, even if it’s not possible at every visit.

I get too confused with all the different roles with similar sounding names to be able to say if you see a radiographer.

Good luck, and I hope the experience isn’t too awful for you.

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I was treated at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth and had male and female radiograhers…no embarrassment, I was treated “as a person without gender”…no complaints.