Getting a Mammogram

I went four years ago for a mammogram when I was still living in Buckinghamshire right next to Stoke Mandeville Hospital when I was still in a manual wheelchair. This was when I first experienced the difficulty receiving treatment being a female in a wheelchair, my limited movements in my upper body and hardly any core stability caused a real issue.  When I had to place my breast in between the plates I was unable to lean far enough forward for a complete mammogram X-ray to be taken. The report that went back to my GP showed it was not conclusive as only a partial mammogram was conducted. At the time I was refused any assistance.

Move on to the back end of 2021 and lots of organisation by my Doctor and I went to the Breast Screening Clinic at Portsmouth hospital and saw a Consultant who went and spoke to the Radiographers who confirmed that due to me now being in an electric wheelchair I would be too tall for the machine. I asked the consultant if I could have an ultrasound as I knew that is what is used for men, I was then told they were only used once the cancer had been detected and I would be better off if she did it manually with her own hands and that is exactly what she did.

It is now June 2022 and my eldest sister who also lives on Hayling Island has experienced the whole issue of not being able to have a mammogram at Portsmouth hospital herself. Well enough is enough I am fed up of being treated so differently because I am disabled and in an electric wheelchair. 

With my PA’s help we have sent out emails to Alan Mak my local MP

Chloe Smith the MP for Disabled, Health and Work.

Caroline Waters OBE, Deputy Chair of UK’s Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Dame Leslie Regan, Womens Health Ambassador 

PALS - The Patient Advice and Liaison Service.

PALS took the enquiry on and then directed it to the Breast Superintendent Radiographer who would reply to my email. 

So although I’ve received replies from the majority of these only one actually helped me. Some of you may or may not be surprised that when the email went to any department relating to the government all they managed to do was to pass it over to someone they thought might help. Alan Mak my local MP said he could not get involved with anything that came under the jurisdiction of the NHS and my best bet was to contact PALS at the Portsmouth Trust. As it turned out this is where I have received the most help as they contacted the Breast Superintendent Radiographer at Portsmouth Hospital. They sent her a copy of my email and told her to respond immediately. The lady concerned did phone me straight away and backed it up with an email. The long and short of it is that she is fully aware that receiving a mammogram whilst being in an electric wheelchair with specialist seating is not possible, due to the design of the X-ray machine. However she was able to explore the possibility of me being in a manual chair just for the period of me being bought into hospital and having the mammogram done, she also said that because I cannot move myself if on this occasion I could bring hubby in with me to help hold me in place.

 They will provide him with a protection vest and as long as he accepts responsibility that his legs will not be covered for the period, then together with extra time for the appointment they were more than happy to give it a go. I have decided to trial it and if it’s successful then my sister will be able to undergo the same process.

It is only because I have the help of my PA and because those that know me well know that I won’t let things drop, hubby refers to me as a Jack Russell!

 I wouldn’t stop until I found someone who could help me. This resolution is not ideal but the important thing is they have suggested an alternative, I am only able to do this because when Wheelchair Services gave me my electric chair they asked if I wanted to keep hold of my manual wheelchair in case of emergencies, well I guess this is one of these occasions. What really needs to happen is that I start to lobby the manufacturer’s of these machines there must be an adaption that could be made, after all the technology is there, a 3D X-ray can now be done. 

One day all disabled people will have the same access as their able bodied counterparts, not only to mammogram’s but to everything in daily living.