jazzcat, I was told (had my first this year), that if necessary, they could do I think an MRI instead of a mammogram, that some women preferred that. Might had been an ultrasound, not sure. It was a longer wait for that, and I just wanted to get it over with, so I had a traditional mammogram. It hurt for a few seconds all told, but nothing unbearable, and the woman doing it was nice, sympathetic and said to tell her if it hurt too badly and she'd stop.

GO get it done, sweetie, because of your mom you're a higher-risk candidate, and you're too important to us and the kitties!