Radiation Crew is Cold and Unfeeling
I read that someone celebrated their final treatment by ringing a pink cowbell. I asked the head of the zappers if they did anything for someone's last treatment. She looked at my like I was insane and answered, "No. Some people are private and wouldn't want anything like that." I couldn't believe her. She's NEVER called me by my name. She's never even acknowledged me when I head to the dressing room. There are as many as five people in the outside area and one of them called me Mrs. Lastname during the third week. I was so impressed that I told my husband, "Someone addressed me by my name!" The only things they ever say to me are, "Take a deep breath. Hold. Breath" and "Okay, you can put your arms down." That is absolutely IT. The first week they scared me because after treatment they entered the room and touched my arm to indicate I should lower my arms. I hadn't heard them come in (I'm hard of hearing) and the touch on my arm was really frightening. I told my RO that I'm hard of hearing and would appreciate knowing then they're in the room. That's when they started using the intercom to tell me I can lower my arms. That crew really leaves me feeling like a slab of meat. It can't be that way for everyone because they have thank you cards posted on a bulletin board. SOMEBODY must like them but I can't imagine why.
Comments
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Carolyn, I'm so sorry to hear that you're having these issues with you rads tx. Isn't it bad enough that we have cancer?
I also had the same attitude. I was treated like I was a piece of equipment they had to deal with. If I said "Good morning" when I walked into the room then 1 would answer (never both - I guess they figured they were covered that way) but if I didn't say "Good morning" then they certainly didn't.
Here's the conversation we had on my last day:
Tech: Did you know that today is your last tx?
Me: Yes, of course (thinking, "Yeah, lady, I went to first grade, I can count to 25" but didn't say it).
Tech: You have to stop at the office to get the paperwork for you HMO so you'll be reimbursed for your transportation.
That was it. Nothing else - not "Best of lucK", not "We hope you do well", nothing. Well, no one has conversations with their table, do they? That's all I was, just a piece of equipement on the table.
Since I now have bone mets I know that the possibility of rads in the future is high. When the mets were dx, one of the things I told my DH was, "If I need rads again I'm going to "XXX" facility. I will never go back to where I was before".
I'm glad you'll be done soon. We'll happy dance together when we do, and throw the techs into the bonfire (maybe you should head over to the Bonfire of the Goddesses thread).
All the best.
Leah
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My rads were the same - for the setting up appointment I had to go into a whole large room totally topless with nothing to cover myself with at all while all staff were fully dressed of course and even then they asked me which side it was - DUH the side there is nothing there!!! I was in there for 30 minutes totally naked top half all the time and no privacy, not even a paper sheet to cover myself with, other staff came in too at one point, I may as well have not existed......then for actual rads staff never spoke to me ever, when I complained about leaving the door open to the room so passers by could look in and see us topless on the screens that show what is going on in treatment room I was told I needed psych help if I could not cope with the treatment...!!! Totally inhumane
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I'm sorry you guys have had such bad experiences! The entire staff at the place I go have been wonderful. Don't know what they do on the last day yet, but I guess I will find out tomorrow.
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Wow, how awful! I think when you are finished with rads you should write a letter to the facility manager telling them exactly what you wrote here. You deserve better!
My rad techs, and the whole staff, could not have been nicer! Since we have to go there every day it sure makes a difference to have friendly yet professional folks doing the treatments. -
I forgot that the zappers tug me around on the table and more than half the time they pull me so my neck is awkward on the headrest. If I try to pick up my head and get comfortable again they tell me, "Don't fidget," so I've gone through treatments with the headrest jabbing into my neck or the pillow under my knees cuts off circulation in my legs. I know I have to be arranged "just so" but they don't give a hoot about whether I'm awkward and uncomfortable the whole time.
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I'm sorry your treatment center is so impersonal. I think they forget we are living breathing people with feelings. My rads techs were nice but the RO was cold. If I needed to have rads again (heaven forbid), I would go elsewhere.
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Sorry that you've had such impersonal tx. It really makes a difference when you feel like an individual and the staff laugh and/or cry with you. I had a bell ringing and got a "diploma" when I finished rads. My diploma was signed by all the rad techs and my RO. My center is really big so this happened in a more private area between the TX rooms and the dressing rooms. It is a shame that centers don't focus more on the human touch. Sometimes it's these little things that make all the difference.
Caryn -
I agree that you should let someone at the facility know how you feel about your treatment with their employees. It's hard enough that we have to have (what seems like) the entire world looking at our breasts, let alone not being treated in a dignified manner. Studies have shown that how we are treated with the medical community can make or break how we deal with the outcome of our experience. Sorry you have to deal with BC and an insensitive medical staff.
I was given a certificate of gradation when I finished my last treatment.
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So sorry they treat e d you like that.I'm hoping the staff that was with me during the mapping will be the same staff.I was so scared that day I didn't even want to sit on the table.The one man gently sat on the table first and asked me to come sit next to him to sign some papers.They asked me what time I wanted my Rads and when I explained about my work schedule the presented me with my schedule at the end with the exact time I needed 8 a m .They also explained what was going to happen step by step.
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Hi Lily
Your experience sounds like mine.
I absolutely hated rads because of the cold, impersonal people I met.
They had:
. No understanding whatsoever of how it feels to be topless with arms over the head and one boob or more missing.
. No understanding that I did not like my remaining boob being moved in and out of position so that they could draw on me.
. No understanding that I was feeling sad about what had happened - and worried about the tiny risk of getting leukaemia from their treatment too.
These are not outrageous concerns - and neither were yours too.
Even my onc referred to them as the 'physicists.
To be fair, I guess radiographers are so in love with their profession because of the efficacy of their treatment that I guess that's what they focus on.
A bit more of a bedside manner would not go amiss from what I have seen!
Hope you are well now.
Best wishes
Alice
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Josie, if you're treated crudely with no compassion or even decency, I'd stop using that center and find another one. I don't want to go hunting because I'm 19/33 -- too far in to start over. At the very least I should have spoken up to the staff on day one. I was too scared. I suppose I can speak up Monday, though. There's no reason why I have to have 14 more nasty treatments. If they tug me into an awkward position, I will speak up. I will say, "That position is too uncomfortable. We'll have to work to meet all our needs instead of just yours." I will speak to the techs. I will say, "Good morning. You never told me your name. My name is Carolyn. What is your name?" It's never too late to try to make things right. At the very least, I will make THEM uncomfortable for a change.
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Yes Carolyn being annoyingly nice might work
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I loved my rads guys. They were my favorites. I got a big diploma when I was finished also. I cant imagine why anybody would go into that line of work if you dont have compassion for other people. I think I would tell them on your last day they should switch to hospital bill collecting.
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It makes me sad to hear that some of you are having to deal with unpleasant people during this unpleasant procedure. I agree with others who suggest that you mention this to the administrators of your facilities. Healthcare is still a competitive field, and patients can and do shop around.
The most positive aspect of my rads experience is the staff at my hospital. My RO is wonderful, as are the nurses and technicians. Parking is comped for us rads patients, and we get to use designated parking spots so that the daily visits are as hassle-free as possible. And each week a massage therapist comes in, so we get free 15-minute chair massages.
Granted, it could be that my hospital has to go this extra mile since I live in the Boston area, where there are many treatment facility options, and the hospital needs to attract the business.
I do wish everyone here could have the same kind and compassionate care that my hospital offers. Big (((hugs))) to all of you.
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Hi y'all,
I'm so sorry to those of you that have techs that are cold and unfeeling.
My experience was just the opposite. I love every tech and everyone I've come into contact with at our cancer center. They are just wonderful, caring people. They do understand when things seem scary and they go the extra mile to explain things and calm any fears.
I began my rads with the boys (Rodney & Josh) and had my last with them. It was such a special and exciting time. They gave me a certificate and I had to hug everyone's neck. They made what could have been a scary time into a pleasant experience. We talked and joked about our kids, football (Go Pack), my hubby, etc.
It was so much fun ringing that pink bell that my DH made for me. Everyone had a great time and I think I rang that bell for each of my prayer warriors. It was a bell ringing good time. They have a bell that everyone rings at the end of their rads and it is like graduating and finally getting your diploma. My brother had tears in his eyes when I rang that bell.
I'm sending gentle hugs to y'all.
God bless,
LaDonna
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Carolyn,I actually had great staff during my mapping.I hope I didn't make it sound like just the opposite or maybe what you were trying to say was "if" the staff was uncaring and cold.I'm hoping it gets better for you.You definitely didn't ask for cancer and should be treated with respect and dignity every step of the way.It's unfortunate that the staff chose this career and if their that miserable with their lives they should maybe 're think that career path.Definitely write a letter or tell someone about your experience .I feel for the poor patients who unknowingly come after you thinking they will have a good staff treating them.
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I'd made up my mind to speak up and it wasn't necessary. Two of the old staff were there Monday and there two people from a different location there. One of the old staff was the one woman who addressed me by my name (God bless her) and the other one was one of the cold ones. The two new ones were wonderful. They introduced themselves to me and explained they worked at the office in another city but came up here to learn how it's done here. I hope they do teaching instead of learning! They were so nice! I meet with my RO on Mondays and told her how very nice the techs were and what a pleasure they made the treatment. I hope it gets back to them how valued they were!
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I'm so happy for you .Today was just films for me and then I start Rads tomorrow.Still kind of scared but I'm sure it will be fine.Everyone seemed nice and They explained everything before they did it so I knew what to expect.
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Carolyn,
I'm so happy to hear that you had a good experience. Sometimes people don't need to be in the field that are working in. It doesn't hurt to smile and the techs sometimes don't realize the effect they have on patients.
I actually looked forward to seeing them everyday and they were my cheerleaders with each good report. Whenever I'm back for checkups they always ask how I'm doing. It amazes me that they remember all the names, lol
Josie,
I'm hoping you get good techs and that you find it's not nearly as scary as you first thought.
God bless y'all,
LaDonna
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Carolyn
I would also tell your medical onc (assuming they recommended this place)--so they don't recommend this place again!! Everyone is right that medical services are quite competitive and administrators should know how bad their techs are acting (they worry about the bottom line).
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This is one big center that includes all cancer care. I got my surgery in Michigan and assumed (yes, we all know about "assume") I could get the radiation here without difficulty. My surgery was November 21. I came to Florida for the winter on December 10. I couldn't get into the RO until January 10 but I assumed (there's that word again) that meant I would start radiation the next day or two or a week at the longest. The RO wouldn't treat me until I had a Florida MO. The Florida MO wouldn't authorized radiation until my oncotype score came back. (Although he said he didn't care WHAT it was, he wasn't going to authorize chemo.) In the end I started radiation on February 12. I was so frustrated with the delay that I wanted to go back to Michigan. I'm not about the leave this miserable place and start over again. When it's all done, though, I'm going to send a letter to the head of the clinic. Maybe it's just Florida but these people know absolutely NOTHING about customer service or caring for their patients. My RO is the big exception. She's really good.
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I hate to hear about these expirences. For me, rads was scary, but a time of great reassurance. My crew, young people all of them, were so kind and warm. They chatted with me, we talked about weekend plans etc., They asked how I was doing, EVERYDAY! And if I had a complaint or a concern they'd flag down a nurse or my oncolgist to get an answer for me.
The day I finished rads I was scared to death because I really was on my own...
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