Missed radiation treatments

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Lemolo
Lemolo Member Posts: 2
edited August 2019 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi - I am worried. The radiation machine at the facility I go to broke down. I have received calls for three consecutive days to not come in as it wasn't fixed yet. I was told I can't go to another town to keep up my treatments. What worries me most is the National Cancer Institute posted an article about how missed radiation therapy sessions increase risk of cancer recurrence. Has anybody else experienced missed treatments due to issues with the facility rather than being a non-compliant patient?

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  • DorothyB
    DorothyB Member Posts: 305
    edited August 2019

    I only missed two days (not consecutive) - one was a holiday and the other was when machine wasn't working.

    Remember - stress is also a huge possible cause of cancer or cancer recurrence. If you can't do anything about it (which you can't), then try to accept it and not stress.

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  • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Member Posts: 609
    edited August 2019

    I don't believe too much in that study, weekends are also lost days, and no one seems to have problems with that.

    I think that if a few days off can damage the treatment, the rads should be applied 7/7


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  • tadover
    tadover Member Posts: 41
    edited August 2019

    I missed several days due to winter weather while I was taking my treatments, no one at the treatment center ever seemed concerned .

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  • illimae
    illimae Member Posts: 5,710
    edited August 2019

    I missed 3 consecutive days (mon-wed) due to Hurricane Harvey, the center had me come in on Saturday and added the other 2 to the end of treatment. It’s not ideal but it does happen.

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  • lyzzysmom
    lyzzysmom Member Posts: 654
    edited August 2019

    The machine at my facility broke on 2 separate occasions. I think his happens a lot and they did not seem concerned.

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  • Lemolo
    Lemolo Member Posts: 2
    edited August 2019

    Thanks to all of you for responding! This eases my mind a bit. This is a new and difficult journey for me and I am glad I've found this forum for support. I hope everyone is having a great day!

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  • Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
    Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Member Posts: 609
    edited August 2019

    Ilimae: I am surprised that your lost days have been added to de end. My RO warned me to not lost a session and take care of my skin because if I have to take a break, those days will not be added to me at the end of the treatment.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited August 2019

    I had a choice of taking a four-day break over Thanksgiving and adding a day at the end, or coming in on Friday. I was happy with the mini-break. Of course they were closed on Thanksgiving.

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  • DorothyB
    DorothyB Member Posts: 305
    edited August 2019

    My missed treatments were added on at the end

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited August 2019

    I think the machine broke a couple of times when I did radiation, plus my treatment spanned both Christmas and New year's which were on weekdays so I had two four treatment weeks. I did get the full # of treatments but it was definitely a raggedy schedule. No one seemed concerned.

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