Sarah Silverman has always been known for keeping it real. In her work, the comedian often pokes fun at her real life. She also had no problem speaking out about a real-life experience that was no laughing matter.
The beloved comedian regaled us with a store about her annual mammogram. It should have been a routine experience, but it left Sarah feeling tremendously uncomfortable.
Sarah explained that she has dense breasts, which means her breasts consist of more dense tissue than fatty tissue. As a result, a mammogram alone wasn't sufficient. In addition, she also needed an X-ray and ultrasound for a comprehensive breast cancer screening. The radiologist who was giving Sarah her ultrasound behaved in a way she felt was inappropriate.
Sarah posted about the experience on Instagram. She proclaimed that while she didn't think the man was doing this to a sexual end, she would no longer get mammograms or any other intimate imaging done by men. Her story has been met with both support and criticism.
Sarah recently had a thoroughly uncomfortable experience that she decided to speak on. In an Instagram post, Sarah detailed an incident where she was treated reprehensibly while getting screened for breast cancer.
Sarah shared the raw and emotional post with her fans. In the caption, she gives a detailed explanation of her experience.
Sarah began by explaining her situation:
"I had a s***ty time at my mammogram appt today. I have to get an ultrasound after my mammograms because I have dense breasts (insert joke here) and this radiologist — the same man I had last year — I do not like him and here is why."
Early in her description, it became clear that the behavior she experienced was shocking and unprofessional.
"He opened my gown and put gel on my breasts and smeared it around with his bare hands," she recalled.
The tech then started a conversation with Sarah about her chest X-ray, another portion of her exam.
"Then he started talking to me about my chest X-ray (I also got a chest X-Ray) and was pontificating with my boobs just out and covered in gel and cold and finally I said 'Hey-can we either talk about this when I’m dressed or WHILE your doing the ultrasound? I’m not comfortable with my breasts out just shooting the s**t with you,'" she continued.
"Okay so — he smears the gel on with his hands and NO GLOVES on and when he glides the ultrasound wand thing over my breasts he drags his fingers on them and it f*****g bothers me," she wrote.
At this point, Sarah has vocally expressed discomfort once in this appointment and once during her previous exam the year before.
"Again, AS I TOLD HIM LAST YEAR, I said 'Hey! Do you need to be touching me with your fingers?' He said 'No'. And he pulled them off of me," she explained.
His following comment didn't make matters more comfortable.
"Then he added 'I do that for balance.' I said 'Well I believe in you and I think you can do with without your fingers on me,'" she wrote.
Sarah explained her reasoning that the tech should have been more sensitive, considering the circumstances.
"Look, I truly don’t think he was getting off on it, BUT it is his job to be aware that this is vulnerable for a woman. Wear f*****g GLOVES — this isn’t a date," she wrote. "For him to be so arrogant that he didn’t even internalize the problem when I said something to him about it last year is obnoxious and probably a subconscious power thing if we’re getting deep."
Sarah's next proclamation is what has caused a lot of the conversation around this publicly.
"That was my last mammogram with this dude. Or any dude," she stated.
"Look. I’m a grown woman and I’m fine. But this guy does this with everyone and I know that personally it took many years into adulthood before I spoke up for myself," Sarah explained. "It’s uncomfortable and too easy to think it’s all in your head. And arrogant fks like this doctor take advantage of women’s socialized instinct to not speak up. All this to say speak up. Trust that thing in your gut that tells you this st ain’t right."
Sadly, some have tried to make light of Sarah's situation. She posted an example of it on Instagram.
Thankfully, many women came forward to support Sarah. Plenty of others have had an experience or an instinct that makes them feel more comfortable receiving these services from women.
Many applauded Sarah for coming forward with her story. They encouraged her to follow up with the proper administrators and authorities to report the incident. Sarah confirmed that she is following up but doesn't want to discuss the details on Instagram.
