Forum Discussion
Radiotherapy patient or sheep?
I thought I would post about my experience in radiotherapy and see if others feel the same way.
On the whole I have found it a highly dehumanising experience.
In the clinic I go to they send you through to change into a gown then you wait in a patient-only waiting area in your gown until called through for treatment. This would be okay but a couple of times I have been left waiting in my gown for more than half an hour and couldn't understand why they sent me through while knowing the treatment room was running way behind schedule. It made me feel like a sheep waiting for shearing rather than a human being.
Several times they have let non-patients sit in the patients waiting area which I hate. Who wants to sit there in a dressing gown in a room with fully clothed strangers, especially male strangers?!
They never let you know in advance when they are running behind schedule. The other day I had an 8.35am appointment and was kept waiting in my gown for forty minutes. I live only ten minutes away and could have stayed in bed for an extra snooze had they let me know.
In addition, there isn't the personal interaction with the medical staff that I had during chemo as the technicians are different faces from day to day. Sometimes they even change shift during the treatment session, to go to lunch, so two get me set up then a different two emerge from the booth at the end!
In summary, it seems like the whole setup is geared to the convenience of the staff rather than having patients' comfort in mind.
They never let you know in advance when they are running behind schedule. The other day I had an 8.35am appointment and was kept waiting in my gown for forty minutes. I live only ten minutes away and could have stayed in bed for an extra snooze had they let me know.
In addition, there isn't the personal interaction with the medical staff that I had during chemo as the technicians are different faces from day to day. Sometimes they even change shift during the treatment session, to go to lunch, so two get me set up then a different two emerge from the booth at the end!
In summary, it seems like the whole setup is geared to the convenience of the staff rather than having patients' comfort in mind.
I could go on, but thank goodness my treatment ends on Monday, I will be glad to see the back of that place!
23 Replies
- @Vangirl, I’m sorry your experience made you feel uncomfortable. Definitely write a letter and even discuss your concerns with specialist the next time you see them. In some cases such as timing, it can’t be helped but it wouldn’t hurt to let them know so they can tweak things where possible.
I couldn’t speak more highly of my Rad team, who even had my favourite Jon English CD ready once they knew I was a fan.....And a kitchenette area where patients could make coffee/ tea to have with their crackers and jatz....
Good luck going forward sweetheart, it’s onwards and upwards from here xx - So funny you say this Nat has had to have xrays/tests and they do the same call 5 or 6 people at one time and I can't help myself I will baa as we all walk together (yep I get hit by Nat and told to shut up hahaha) So then we went for radiation same deal (sorry I'm one of the non patients in the patient area my baby need me to go with her) when they called her in with 5 other patients I said the same(yep still got in trouble lol ) production line or sheep run the same thing.
it all depends on the radiologist whether they gave her a sheet but after a couple of shots we knew to ask and they happily got one for her. and they were fantastic if a male was rostered on they quickly rotated so she only ever had female radiologists. I realise it is for efficiency but your right It can be done better.
@ LittleBlueWren first time will be scary but take a scarf to cover your boobs and you get to leave your trousers on and wig/scarf /hat so don't panic and then just breath its tiring going in every day but you are nearly at end focus on that and it will go quickly and cream lots and lots of cream did I say that enough CREAM. - Hi @TripleNegMama
I think awareness and use of a sheet is something that BCNA could advocate for. I am not certain I will be able to do radiation due to the exposure, I feel very uncomfortable about it already and it is not happening until December!
I will ask about the sheet and even take my own I think. - Hi @TripleNegMama I think all medical professionals involved in breast cancer care could do with being made aware of the affect on women when they find themselves suddenly thrust into the medical system and have to deal with baring their bodies in front of complete strangers.
It's an important point you make too about the proportion of women who have to face this against a background of past sexual assault. Definitely something BCNA could advocate and educate about. - Something I think that the staff forget while they deal with people without their clothes on everyday and see lots of bodies and it becomes their normal it is not our normal. They forget that a significant percentage of women have been sexually assaulted and feel vulnerable. They forget to mention that if necessary they can just line you up and then cover you with a sheet while they do the radiation - you don't have to lie there uncovered the whole time. (I get hypothermia at times and so start to shiver uncontrollably, so they quickly learnt to get me positioned and get the blanket over me before they left the room and started the machine.) unless we all speak up and bring these issues to their attention we will not get the practices changed for those that follow. I would love if BCNA could advocate on this issue. what do others think??
- haha @Karenhappyquilter - I think we can all relate to that one - readily dropping your gear for all & sundry! Well done on wearing your own gown - I'd never thought of that! I was on my own all the time in the waiting room - tho many had partners or family members with them ;)
@Zoffiel - I got pretty handy at positioning myself, too ;) Tho I also forgot I was 10ft up - and tried to get off early once or twice too! LOL
All the best to everyone having their rads now or in the future xx - At my public hospital they told us we could use our own gowns so I wore a warm voluminous one from home which was comforting and very modest. I think that is a good idea.
My husband sat with me in the waiting room before every session which I found very supportive and I think helped him as well. Everyone there was either being treated or a support person for someone being treated.
The first session was a challenge for me being naked above the waist with several therapists, including a young man. I had 30 sessions and fortunately somewhere along the way I lost my embarrassment. I can pretty well show my breast to anyone now. - Hi @LIttleBlueWren They will expect you to be uncovered from the waist up during treatment but just while they line you up for the machine. You will be able to keep your headwear on.
Best wishes for your continuing treatment xx - It's probably no consolation @LIttleBlueWren , but the last thing of interest to the rads team is your scars or your state of undress. They are totally focussed on your tattoos and positioning.
I didn't like it either, but I did concentrate on training myself to lie in exactly the right position before anyone touched me. I'm lucky in that regard as I've had years of gym and yoga (that hasn't prevented me getting fat and lazy) but the muscle control and body awareness is still there.
By about session 10 I had it down pat and only needed tiny tweeks, if any. Less time on the table and less interaction with the staff. That's a win. Think about what you are doing, not what about anyone else is doing and it will all pass faster. Mxx - Hi @Vangirl, I am due to start radiation in late November or early December (depends on recovery from surgery) and am so worried about it. I really hate that they have non-patients in the 'gowned-up patient' area. I am also very uncomfortable about lying on a bed with nothing covering my horrible scar and anyone being able to look at it. And what if they expect me to remove my headwear??? I don't know what I will do then.I had an MRI in April and had to have an IV line for the dye, this part of the procedure was done in the waiting room with no curtain around me and with a youngish non-patient sitting there watching, this single experience has been the absolute worst part of this whole situation for me.I think I will take on some of the advice that you have been given and write to the hospital concerned (even though it happened in April).You would have finished your rads by now. I wish you the very best for the next step in this long process.Take care.PS. Sometimes it is the littlest things that make the biggest difference.
