Never not had a gown, never had stickets, but smooshing and awkward positions. All in all, I'd rather get my boobs smooshed than go to the dentist.

The stickers crack me up. I may bring my own! I wish I had pasties, just because.

I didn't have much problem with my mammogram. Big, fatty boobs tend to do well, as they squish nicely and it doesn't take much effort to pull them appropriately on the plate. There were a couple moments of discomfort, but nothing that lingered after the procedure was done.

I have always wondered how our small-breasted sisters fared in those machines. I've got old, floppy ones, and it's always a little disturbing to see them laid out on a plate. A little too St. Agnes.

Mine have lost some density, and are easier to get a good picture of, and less resistant to being squished from various angles. One of the benefits of post-menopause.

Mine were not squishy. Or able to really rest on the plate. It was v awkward.

A little too St. Agnes.

BWAH! I'm going to giggle through the whole thing now.

I do not have mammo advice, but I do have tears of joy to share.

I've mentioned my friend going through esophageal cancer a couple of times here...once he had his stomach removed (a journey in and of itself) and went through all the horrible chemo and radiation, he thought he was home free.

And then.

He got a diagnosis of lymphoma, wide-spread.

He attempted the chemo for that and decided that dying would be easier on him. He stopped all treatment and went his own path.

When I saw him a couple of weeks ago, he was super thin and had almost no energy, but was pretty set on his own course of treatment, which included 'everything...so much of everything, I could not even tell you what or how much.' (nutrition changes, Chinese herbs and acupuncture primarily)

Yesterday, he got the results of his most recent battery of tests.

His doctor said, and I quote him quoting him, "All signs of disease have melted away."

I had to have him repeat it over the phone a couple of times just so I could be sure I heard him correctly.

He is still thin and needs to build his strength back, but he is through with hospitals.

One doctor said, "Well, it could come back next year" to which my friend declared, "Fuck that."

He's going to continue the regimen he set for himself and still hasn't quite processed what this means. He's sleeping a lot and working to get past the 'I'm sick' mindset. But here he is, cancer free.

I don't even know what to say other than, in a world of so much pain and illness and disappointment, there _are_ success stories.

When I asked my friend what he thought the number one thing he did that contributed to this outcome might be...I thought he'd say acupuncture, since that is his profession...he said, "I think I just wanted to SHOW them." (meaning his doctors)

I don't care one way or the other. I'm just so, incredibly grateful.

Mine are big and mammograms are pretty painful for me. Taking ibuprofen beforehand definitely helps.

I have always wondered how our small-breasted sisters fared in those machines.

Is a C-cup small breasted? I'm a C, and dense breasts to boot, and would call the process uncomfortable but not actually painful.