Duct Taped Anyone?

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rettemich
rettemich Member Posts: 369
edited August 2014 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

I posted this on another older board but thought I would throw it out there.

I went in to have all the marking done. I have never been so humiliated! Now by boobies have been seen by Dr.'s, PA's, nurses, techs, had lumpectomy, and bilateral reduction. So surgeons teams etc. As I am sure most of us have. I am usually pretty easy going and try to make jokes and stuff. But this was the topper. They positioned me for the form and after they had it, I had to scoot up which of course messed up the head. Then the positioning. I felt like meat being tenderized. When they finally got that part, there was an issue with the left breast catching in the beam. Ok, yes has to get out of the way. No argument there. But I guess I am "odd" my boobies are close together, partly from still being a little swollen. So as I am laying there being told not to move, they stand above me starring at what they were going to do. So they bring in more people for advise. They "have never seen this before and don't know what to do this is very different and only seen this once with Dr. blah blah" so besides being exposed to numerous unknowns I was cold and cramping. Then one of the techs walks within my sight pulls on a roll of "oh look at this cute tape" duct tape and states they are going to duct tape my boob off to the side. Really? Wasn't enough. After 4 pieces of duct tape going from my sternum yanked on my boob and over my arm and attached to the gurney. Well I am glad they were happy. Then I get "you will have to do this every time you have a treatment. Are you Fricking kidding me!!!! It really hurt. So much for modern medicine. 

Anyone have experience with the dreaded Duct tape?

PS so to ramble so long had to vent. Everyone around me thinks it was no big deal.

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Comments

  • lane4
    lane4 Member Posts: 175
    edited May 2014

    Hi, rettemich - I see no one has replied, so I thought I would. I have a friend who was treated at the same facility and by the same RO that treated me. They duct taped her opposite breast every time to keep it out of the radiation field. I thought it sounded pretty bizarre, but she is large breasted and I guess her anatomy made it necessary to keep the other breast out of the beam. You would think they could come up with a better way, like maybe a lead blanket or something.

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited May 2014

    Same thing with me. It was odd but didnt bother me.  I'd rather the precaution be taken. 

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  • rettemich
    rettemich Member Posts: 369
    edited May 2014

    Thanks for the responses. I really think what bothered me the most is the way they approached it. After their "discussion" the tech just pulls out the tape and says we have to tape it off to the side. No hint of gee it know this is going to sound odd or hate to do this would it be ok if we try this. No, they just jumped on me like a pack of wolves. I felt like they were actually enjoying it. And bevin, I completely agree with you I want Every precaution taken. They were just so unfeeling about it. And I am usually pretty easy going. I'm the one usually cracking the jokes. But this just hit me, for some reason. 

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  • bevin
    bevin Member Posts: 1,902
    edited June 2014

    HI rettimich - I agree, its always better when a doctor or tech or other medical personnel explains with care what they are doing and why. Otherwise the clinical approach can be off putting.

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  • rettemich
    rettemich Member Posts: 369
    edited June 2014

    bevin, they explained it, sort of, it was the manner that they handled it that was upsetting. Like a bunch of "high schools girls". My husbands words. And then letting me know by coming at me zipping out a roll of duct tape, saying "isn't this cute" as she proceeds to press from my sternum over my nipple as tight as she could, attaching it to the gurney while telling me what she was doing. This was an issue because I was still healing from my mammaplasty and  was still swollen and extremely sore epically around the nipple. If I had a warning I would have asked to AT LEAST cover that area with the gown. Having it taken off wasn't fun. I was sore (er) for days. Plus as they were "chatting" I was freezing. The techs I have now have no problem securing me with masking tape and over the gown. Of course plenty of skin to attach it.

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  • boobieprized
    boobieprized Member Posts: 36
    edited August 2014

    I have had my right breast taped down during rads a couple of times so far.  They said it depends on how the breasts fall when I lie down.  It is awkward, but they made no big deal about it.  It was more like masking tape.  Duct tape?  Ouch!

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  • rettemich
    rettemich Member Posts: 369
    edited August 2014

    Yeah the Duct tape was horrible especially since they did it right over my nipple that had reconstructive surgery on. Now my team covered that side leaving enough for the tape and used masking tape. They did it in a circle around my boob. That was SO much better. Never had duct tape after. I did complain about the way that was handeled.

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  • RaiderGirl
    RaiderGirl Member Posts: 419
    edited August 2014

    Sorry for your experience . I find it hard to believe that duct tape was even an option. There are surgical tapes of varying strengths. I would like to duct tape their balls and see how quickly they come up with al alternate.

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  • rettemich
    rettemich Member Posts: 369
    edited August 2014

    Yeah I would have liked to Duct tape all their boobs, just for the fun of it. It was cruel and so indignant. If I had been doing this for a while it may have been different, but to do this to someone that was already frightened and clueless. I felt like a slab of meat waiting to be sliced up. Unfortunately, that experience will always be with me, no matter how hard I try to let it go. 

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