Breast Screening

Did you find it at all a bit embarrassing or because it was all women there and a woman radiographer, you didn't mind that at all?

No I didn't mind at all, I felt very comfortable because I know what to expect, when you go the first time you don't know what to expect. But when you stick, keep on going every three years, you know well when I go in there I know that lady's gonna be there, or it's gonna be another female radiographer to do it for you, but it's, because it's all in one place, it's all compact, you feel comfortable. There's nobody keep in and out all the time like in a hospital, you know, you find they're doing something then, “Hold on a minute I have to go and do this and then come back.” You just feel that everybody's there, you feel like a family together, because we're all going through the same thing together, you know, not any of us are different, we're all females and we've all got the same problem and we all have to feel comfortable. But you feel like you're a family because you've got the same thing, we're all going to have done to us you know?

And you say you've been going every year, have you been...

No not every

...every three years sorry.

every three years.

Every three years, and have you always been happy with the service, have you always been happy with the staff there?

Yeah I find they're very nice, I've always praised [hospital name] because I've never felt uncomfortable with [hospital name].  You know, [hospital name] nurses and all that are fantastic, that is true, even the doctors there, I've never had any complaint about any of them.

And you're happy with the breast screening service?

Yeah.

And didn't have to wait too long or?

No, no, I find she's very, very good, you know, very good. They talk to you, it's not like you go in on a machine and no-one talks to you but, when you go in there, she'll explain to you what's gonna be done and when you gotta come back next time and things like that. And I felt happy with it and you go away feeling happy, but, if you're gonna go into a place and no-one's gonna explain anything to you, then you think to yourself 'well why did I bother going? There's no-one to tell me, you know, how things are progressing and, have you had any problems there? Did you feel any lumps there? Do you examine yourself?  You feel uncomfortable and you go away and you think 'there must be something wrong', 'there must be something wrong, why isn't she explaining anything to me and she won't tell me anything?'

And every time you have been, over the last few years, you mentioned at one point it was in a Portacabin?

Yes.

Now it is in the '

The building, yes. Yes.

The static unit. Have you noticed a difference at all over the last few years in the way that it is done?

Well I felt there was rather a long wait this time, but for what reason I don't know, whereas in the portacabin you seemed to be in and out very quick. But I think the setting, you know, the ambience of the place, it is nice and calm and it has got a nice feeling about it in there. And of course, well the receptionist and the radiologist, whatever you call the people that do it, they are all very, very nice, very kind, very, you know. And I should imagine if you have to go back they would be very, very sympathetic.

And in the portacabin, it was more in and out or was it busier or' was there a different atmosphere?

Well there was a different atmosphere because it was quite small, the waiting area, I don't think they had many people at a time, where obviously now there is more rooms, so obviously more people can gather at the same time for them. But I must admit it was rather a long wait this time. I mean, it was an hour before we even went in. Some people, they had waited an hour past the time. 

Past the appointment time?

Yes. I mean I waited about 40 minutes past my appointment time, but I mean it needs to be done so, you know, and you don't know what happened earlier, there could have been lots of things that have gone wrong, I don't know.

Did you always go to this unit at [hospital name]?

Yes. I have been there the third time now. Just that one. I didn't know any other place, which is quite nice. You know, it is close for me to go. I had my son in [hospital name], so I am familiar with the ground and he had to go there, so I wasn't and the premises are not bad. They are not so unfriendly. It is a bit, you know, a cubicle like, you know, not much space in it.

Has it always been there?

Yes. My experience was in that, so you know, and nowhere else. So it is just, I don't know if another venue would be better. But because it is such a quick thing to do. But perphaps you need to wait half an hour, you know, as sometime like last time I went, there was no space to sit. You know, people had to wait for some time until they called me. But I would definitely think it should be more space, if they want, you know. Because it is nice sometimes to have a little bit of room so you can chat with each other, changing you know, like me for example, I would talk. I am shy. Funnily enough I am a shy person, but if I, you know, if I have a little hint, I will carry on talking and exchanging experience anyway. But the atmosphere is a little bit better, the waiting room that it is. I suppose it was okay, I mean it just isn't equipped enough I guess for what they are doing.
 

Did you notice any difference between your local place, the mobile unit that you usually go and the other one, the static unit in the hospital? 

Oh yeah. I mean there it's a different environment to start with, I mean it's quite small in this cabin that you use. I don't think I had, to facilitate I thought it was a bit small last time. This time it was much more pleasurable even though I had to wait an hour, and getting up there was no problem.

Do you feel there's room for improvement with the breast screening?

Oh no I think, I thought that was very, very good, very good.

And in terms of the place that you go to locally which is a portacabin, could that be improved at all?

Certainly that could be improved [laughs].

What would be the best situation?

What they did have, well you can't have anything permanently can you? That's the local mobile clinic, do they actually move the caravans there or do they leave the caravan there? I can't remember.

I'm not sure.

I'm not sure about that. I mean it's serviceable. I mean you don't want to sit in there all day if they run their appointments, which they did, it's just a smaller environment really, it's just the same sort of thing but, you know, a caravan's a caravan isn't it?

Yeah. In the ideal world, would you prefer a static unit, a bit more space?

Now, no, I don't mind sticking to the local mobile unit, it's just I missed it, because it's convenient for me, it's not so far. So that's convenient, that's fine. But they're not coming for another three years and that's why I went to the other, static unit in the hospital.

Yeah, so you'll have another appointment in three years time locally then

Yes.

In terms of the actual breast screening though you feel that it's'?

Fine. No problems whatsoever, I mean the only time you can pick something  up it's like, when you go to a doctor's surgery and you always go in there and you see a friend and you say, 'Oh how are you?' 'Oh I'm fine.' And you think to yourself 'what the hell am I doing in here?' So you can pick up a common cold by sitting in a waiting room for so long, that is a major problem, I mean probably the area in there could've been bigger as we were waiting. I mean I like the idea of water, locked toilet, I see that for security reasons and the TV there, that's fine. But there was, we were sitting in close proximity and I just felt 'oh gosh I hope' 'cause it's like sitting in an international airport.

When you first went for your very first screen, did you know what to expect? Did you know that you would have to take your top off and that it would be a woman conducting the'.

Well when we had the letter they did explain to us, as, not like before, can you please bring your dressing gown with you as you will have to, just have to take your bra top off but the rest you leave. But you don't know what to expect because it's like when you go to the hospital, if you have to have an x-ray, it can be a man, it can be a woman, you don't know who but, with an x-ray [mammogram] you got a room you can change in and it leads you straight into the x-ray you got, and, we, even you had that garment on which you still can wear a dressing gown over the top, no-one is telling you you can't because of what we are [Muslim], we have to cover up. We're not allowed to go out and show ourselves. But that's what, I think a lot of it is involved in, is who is actually taking the pictures.

It's always women for the breast screening.

Yeah, yes that's what I'm saying but they [other Muslim women] might think because you go to the hospital you might not see a woman, but it's always women, every time I've gone, every three years it's always been a woman.

And have you taken a dressing gown with you or you're okay with having the x-ray then putting your top back on and waiting outside?

But this is what it used to be for x-rays but I find, even you go with the screening at [hospital name], I just had my jumper over the top, because this is what they tell you now as before it's changed, you see?

How's it changed?

It's changed because before, they'd tell you take your dressing gown with you, so you can cover yourself up, but it's none of that any more, they just ask you just wear a loose top, d'you see my point what I'm trying to say? It's not encouraging them [Muslim women], it's making them a feel wary, where if I'm gonna take my bra what am I gonna put on top of myself? Do you understand what I'm trying to say? So that's what I'm saying, like me I put a jump, I took, you know, a bigger jumper. But it is nice if they would put on the paper there, 'Muslim women bring your own dressing gowns to cover yourself up'.

You think that would help, in the leaflets?

That would help because to me the letter doesn't explain enough, it does not explain enough and it's not gonna encourage Muslim women to come and have it done. Do you see what I'm trying to say? This is what it's up against in Islam, you see in Islam you're not allowed to have a male, a male doctor, or a male nurse to touch a Muslim woman because we are cleansed, do you understand? If it is a woman we do not mind, we know what to expect, but a male to touch a Muslim woman, no, it won't. But if they can put on the letter that it will be done by a woman you know, the screening and the smear test, because not a lot of women go for the smear test either, Muslims. For a Muslim woman to go for a smear test and for the screening, if they were to put that it will be a female nurse, you will find they will go. Because, like I said, half the letters you get do not indicate. It's the same like me going for physio, they ask you, 'Would you like a male nurse or a female?' I ask for a female because she's a woman, just like me, you see. But that's what I'm saying on letters that go out to Muslims, before they go out they should explain that they will be looked after by a female member.
 

Have you ever felt when you have gone, because I am going for screening it is more convenient to wear certain clothes?

Oh definitely. Definitely. Garments which is easier to remove. Easier to wear again to save time, staff time especially when they are so busy. I wouldn't like to fidget around with one dozen buttons on a sweater you know, or something with a zipper on. Something like a skirt that you don't have to remove. No I am very specific, I always bear that in mind, always wear something that is easily taken off, removed, yes, definitely.

So if someone was going for the first time is that something, did you think of that the very first time, or later with the experience?

Maybe, because, oh I don't remember going that far back, because the thing is I don't remember the machine, or else it was done by hand, so no. But I am quite wary of all these things, you know, that whenever, irrespective of mammogram, if I have ever to have to go to any hospital or any dental appointment even, if I think my clothes are not going to let me breath because of a lying down posture, I always wear loose underwear and garments which is comfortable. I think it is very important for breathing sessions and it is time saving. Yes. Yes.
 

The first time I went for the check up is about eighteen years ago when I was 50 years old. I went to there, it was organised by a Chinese Association, so it's a group of Chinese women. They booked an appointment and they brought us there and then they've got an interpreter there. So its quite easy for me.

It sounds very good?

Yes and then after three, every years - after that every three years I went to the same place. 

And there's always someone there to translate?

Yes each time they arrange an interpreter there and also we, three women went there altogether. Every time it's the same.

All three women go together, so if one has a problem with language the other one can help is that'?

I think they need to arrange the interpreter so it is better to arrange three women going altogether you know, won't waste any money or so on. All the people is women, even the nurse and the doctor always women, no men there. It's a hospital but it's arranged for the Chinese Association in Chinatown. 

So you had nothing to worry about but did you have any questions, because you could ask them in Cantonese, did you have any questions either the first time or later? 

No I didn't have any worry or any questions, I just, you know they arranged everything, explained everything to me and I just followed them. 

She could have explained the process beyond the actual mammogram itself.  And I think that's very important because we all know that the radiographer can see a lot at the time and we all wonder why can't they just say "Oh yes you're clear, there's nothing there," because they do check that the xrays come out clearly. And to me the best radiographers I've ever had have been when they've said "Oh I think there's a problem here, we'll just look at this," and they explain things to you. They tell you openly "Well I think it's clear, obviously it's got to be looked at by a doctor but I don't think you should worry." They could do that I feel.                                                   

Yes so when you went in for the mammogram did you have any questions that you wanted to ask?                                            

Yes, when will I get my results. That clearly was really the question I wanted to ask. I did expect them to give me a little more information. I think it was much more efficient and it was faster than I expected it to be. I thought that the nurse or radiographer who took the xrays was pretty cold.  And I don't expect them to be Macdonalds "have a nice day" but you had to ask questions rather than information being volunteered. My first concern was "How long will it be before I know what the results are?" and she said a couple of weeks.  In the end I waited five weeks and I got the results yesterday or the day before.

It would be nice I guess if there was a group of people going for this test, it is like they feed you, they show you the breast, how the breast operate. Like you know, there is the screening, and it goes through it, you know. You can watch while you are waiting there, you know, why, what happens there.

So a screen in the unit like a, just a TV screen?

A TV screen that goes on constantly while you are waiting. Then, you know, you know about what is physiological, what you're made of.

Why you go for breast screening?

Yes. It would be nice, you know, because you would become more aware of what it is about because I went really not that, the first time, the second time, just go there and let the people who knows do their job without really knowing myself about my body, you know. Really what it is, was all about, you know, an idea of how does it function. If you did this, put a little screen in the waiting room perhaps, we have to be more aware of it.
 

She was something else, the receptionist. If ever I heard anyone sigh, she must have sighed about a thousand times.

The receptionist in the first area before you came into the second?

Yeah. Oh she needed removing that one.

How did you feel, a few people mentioned the receptionist. 

They did, didn't they?

I didn't actually see her. What was her attitude like that people weren't happy with?

Oh it was, when anyone ever sighs you know there's a problem anyway, [loud sigh] as if every, she did that every time and course my husband and I, 'cause my husband came with me, we just had a hoot about it, thought it so funny as if, 'oh no, no, no-one else coming in surely, why do you want to come in here?' attitude. She wasn't the right person, one has to say. 

How did you feel about the radiologist on this occasion and compared to any other occasions?

I thought that she was very warming, an older woman, not abrupt, very soft, spoke nicely to me, didn't treat me like a cattle grid, you know, because I mean she's done quite a few during the day. You could have that attitude but certainly she did not. Very, very good. That is all so important, not to be patronising, but to be welcoming and explain what she's going to do, you got any questions you can ask, no problems at all. Very pleasant, very, very pleasant.

So have you ever come across a radiologist whose attitude you felt '[mmm] this isn't'.'?

I could, I mean I think possibly they can, I don't know when, but I would, I can understand that some could be put under great pressure and possibly, can I remember three years ago? This one seemed very pleasant and probably outshone all the others but it's because of the pressure they're under, I mean we can all be under pressure, in my last job I was probably under pressure and you try not to show it but there can be a kink in the works somewhere, so that can come through. But certainly I felt, having sat there for an hour waiting to go in, that this lady was very pleasant, so past experiences over-shone, this one over-shone all the rest anyway.

And throughout the times that you have been, have you ever had any questions you wanted to ask them?

Once or twice, you know, I remember asking about, they say that there is a very small dosage of radiation and I remember asking one of the ladies that was doing it, and she explained quite fully that it was a very, very small amount and she wouldn't be worried at all and there was no need for concern for anybody. But, it was, you know, she was glad that I had asked her. 

And you mentioned that you sometimes read the leaflets. Do you read it every time you go or now that you are so familiar with the process…?

No, that is the problem, because I have been going for quite a few years you just, you know, accept what is going on and get on with it sort of thing. 

Overall you have asked, you know, the odd question. Have you overall been happy with …?

Oh yes. I am completely happy with the breast screening units, well [hospital name] anyway because that is the only one I have ever been to.