So unhappy with where I go for radiation...anyone else?

p0mpey

Hi, I am new to writing on this board but I have been following many of the threads. I hope by writing down my feelings will help me get through these last two weeks. It has got to the point that I feel so sad when I walk out from my radiation treatments.

I was very lucky and was diagnosed early on (did not show up on mammogram but seen during a follow up sonogram for something else they saw and looked suspicious). Biopsy end of Nov, lumpectomy in January and radiation started on Feb 28th.....8 more to go and then hopefully 'the end'.....oh except for the 5 years on meds .

Everywhere I went up to the radiation treatments were so so nice and friendly. Obviously I didn't want to be there but seeing that I was it really helped to have such nice people help me on this journey. I can go for my radiation treatment and walk out and not ONE word has been spoken unless I try to get something going. And this effort gets met with one word answers. The reception desk are usually on the phone (there is one friendly girl but she only works there occasionally) and then the radiation tech beckons me in with her finger, no greeting and then again unless I say something that is it.....not even a goodbye see you tomorrow. If they do something different for example take Xrays they don't tell me. She doesn't say when they go out of the room and start the treatment and forget about asking how I am doing, or even 'did you have a nice weekend'. I have given up trying to be friendly but today I came out with tears in my eyes. It is such an emotional roller coaster we are all on it would be so nice to feel some warmth and caring from this facility. I so hope they offer up a questionnaire at the end. The RO is quite nice but I only see her for 3 minutes a week.

Thank you for allowing me to vent. That in itself has helped. Sometimes I feel like I am facing this alone but when I read this board I know I am not. Thank you to all who have shared their experiences, fears and successes.

ICanDoThis

I thought I had the only cold, distant, rude rads techs out there.

I am so sorry that you are being subjected to this. May I suggest that you say something - they may just have had a string of people who didn't want to talk, and have gotten out of the habit of being human. If not, you are entitled to not be treated like a slab of meat.

And, if that doesn't work, tell the RO.

3monstmama

many (((hugs))).  I agree with ICanDoThis -- it may be that they are out of the habit but then again it may be the culture of the place.  I would definitely try talking to the doctor about the problem and maybe also give a call to your oncologist.

I confess, if someone crooked their finger at me, I'd likely just sit there and ignore them until they called me by name.

Elizabeth1889

p0mpey, I am so sorry you are having such a miserable time with radiation.  You are not alone.  I HATED every second of rads.  I had 4 rounds of chemo and I would have gladly done 4 more if that would have gotten me out of radiation.  It was the coldness of the staff that made rads so miserable. A kind word from the receptionist when I entered the center would have helped so much.They just gave me a card to scan myself in so there was no human interaction at all.  Then I would walk by the nurse everyday and she never once smiled at me or asked how I was doing.  I saw the RO once a week, but it was an exercise in futility to try to talk to him.  My nickname for him was "Dr. Clueless." The techs were actually nice to me, but I was always too upset by the time I reached them to appreciate their friendliness.  Sending hugs to you and hoping the remaining sessions will go by quickly.

p0mpey

Thanks for your hugs et al.  Hate to hear that I am not the only one with cold uncaring rad techs. Oh well, we are strong and will NOT let them get to us....will not, will not. will not If we say it enough times it will be true....isn't that what we thought as kids.