Does someone literally have to touch your breast every day??

Hi, I've only done 7 out of 33 rad treatments, but so far, none of the all female techs have had to touch my breasts. They try to keep my untreated breast covered, as well.

My rad doc is female. The first time I say her, she did a breast exam but the few times I've met with since, she has just "looked" at the breast. The rad nurse also just examines, without touching.

You usually lay on your back (occasionally on the front with your boob dangling thro a gap depending on the type of machine). Google radiotherapy and click on images at the top when the results pop up. You'll see a picture of someone lying under a machine.

The staff will need to either draw lines on you or put small tatooed dots so that the machine can align itself correctly. After the first exam by the rad onc no one should need to manhandle your boob  unless you have a problem. Mine is a bit sore inside after 25 sessions and the rad onc did prod it abit today.

The staff could be men or women I guess. Mine were women altho there was a male trainee for the last 3 weeks.

I don't think you should be manhandled too much by anyone there....certainly not compared to a followup with the surgeon who usually does a good bit of manhandling in the whole area.

I hope it all goes well and try not to worry too much about it. I know it's easier said than done, but I hope we have reduced your concerns abit.

All the best, Macc

Even when it is a male tech, the touch is so impersonal it doesnt matter.  They could be touching your shoulder with the same attitude.  Just relax as best you can.  Pretty soon, this too will be over.

My tattoos were done by a male tech and so he had to touch for markings, etc.  All the techs for the 33 rads were nurses and they also put me on a sheet and used that if any adjustments were needed on the table.  My rad onc is a guy, older gent, and he didn't touch at all but that may because I didn't have any issues with burning/peeling/soreness.

You can do this.  When you get your start date don't forget to join your BCo 'Rad {month/yr}' group.  It really helps to commisserate with your sisters also going through at the same time.  My April '09 group even planned a "virtual" ice-cream party when the last sister finished.  How cool is that!

Raili, my experience has been different from those of some of the people here. My clinic is not a very busy one at this time, so the techs are not rushed. They do wear name tags, and they call me by name, and we have time to exchange a little chitchat just before and after each treatment -- just a few sentences, but it's friendly. They always wish me a good day or weekend as I leave.

I lie face-up on a sheet, which they use it to make fine adjustments to my position, so that the radiation hits only the spots it's supposed to hit. Some people get rads in the face-down position. So far, the techs haven't touched my breasts, except for a light touch with a ruler, as they make one last measurement to make sure I'm in the right position. They do keep my other breast covered, and in all ways treat me with respect.

My techs are female, but it won't matter to me if a male shows up some day. I've been through mammograms, ultrasounds, a biopsy, a wire location, injection of radioactive dye, and two surgeries: by now so many people, both male and female, have seen and touched my breast that I am not even slightly "shy"  

The treatments themselves are very fast and painless. You'll be surprised just how quickly you are done each day. 

Good luck with your treatments. Be sure to join one of the "Month 2010 Rads" threads, so you can help and be helped by others as you go through treatment together. 

adrienne 

16 rads treatments down, 17 to go 

Raili, I apologize for not being sensitive to your situation. I did not in any way mean to be unhelpful. I'm glad that you were able to put in a request for only female techs.

I don't believe that my rad oncologist touched me on that first day: I think that was all done by my techs, as they drew on me and gave me the tattoos. The techs have never touched my breast since, except with the ruler.

adrienne 

I'm sorry, I misunderstood your question, too.  Both of my breasts where uncovered and handled at every treatment.  I requested no male technicians, but was told that it "was the luck of the draw" which technicians were assigned to the room and there is no control.  The Rad Onc physically examined both breasts once a week.  I asked him not to do the unaffected breast, but he said it was standard of care so I had to put up with it.  As to how to deal with all this breast handling, I just closed my eyes and cried.  I couldn't get used to it.  I finally had to ask for a sedative to take an hour before treatment to help get through that part of it. 

I consider gender to be only one factor and a minor one compared to many others, but it is a personal decision. Considering the feelings you are describing, I think you should go to a female doctor.  The frequency of breast physical exams may be as little as the initial consult and follow-up after treatment is done, but doing the breast exam is part of the doctor's job.  If you have any problems with your breasts during treatment, assessment including a breast exam is necessary.  It seems unlikely that you are going to be able to establish a good doctor-patient relationship if you dread having him touch you.

As for the techs the only time they touched my breasts at all was with a marker, not directly.  The goal is to define a position for you such that the breast falls in exactly the same position every day once they have you correctly aligned.  Alignment involved pushing and nudging the body but not the breasts.  If you have very large breasts there may be more need to touch them to get them in the correct position. It is not at all like the process of getting a mammogram.

Most facilities will have a mix of male and female techs and two are involved with your treatment each day.  At least one will usually be female and you can ask for that one to do the positioning.  That may mean you are sometimes choosing the less experienced or less skilled over a better option.

If I remember correctly, the only time my breast was touched was during the markings.  I always had male techs and they were young men.  They were always very professional and a gown covered the non radiated breast.  They always called me by name and even with the language barrier it went very well.  They knew some english and along with my limited spanish the time sped by.  I actually felt sorry for them having to look at my old lady scarred up breast, but you could tell they were there to help get rid of those cancer cells.  The whole procedure took 5 minutes max, except for the initial measuring sessions.  I would bring goodies once a week for the staff and patients and the time went very fast.  The nearly seven weeks went by very fast.  I will pray for you that your time goes by quickly and they make it as comfortable as possible for you.  God Bless, Kathy

Raili,

I am preparing for radiation treatments, too.  I realize my feelings about male docs and techs are different from yours, but I respect your feelings and hear your anxiety.  I live in an area where the women I work with are of a faith group different from mine.  A co-worker said her husband strongly objected to other men handling her breast during treatment.  Caregivers respected his feelings, but I suspect it was because they were of the same faith.  Whatever the root cause of your concerns, find someone involved in your care who will listen to you and take you seriously.   I'm anxious about the radiation as well, because of the unknown.  Your "sisters" care.