Dignity during treatment

Countrygirl485
Countrygirl485 Member Posts: 4
edited March 2020 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

Two days ago I went through radiation therapy simulation and the radiology tech told me that she had to take some photos of me, one was of my face, and three others were of me bare-breasted, lying on the table. This she said, was for face recognition, and to verify positioning on the table for the radiation therapy sessions. Is this common? I was caught off guard - I had not seen this step mentioned on any of the sites I visited explaining what to expect during simulation. I didn't say anything at the time, but the bare-breasted photos taken were, for me, humiliating, and it continues to bother me. I think they probably could have had me covered up, for I found out later that the purpose of those photos was to see how the knees were bent and the hands were placed gripping the handles. And it could have been easy enough to place a napkin square over each breast for the chest-on photo of the sternum tatoos. In addition, as I was ready to get dressed I noticed I was bleeding from the tattoo -sticks and I had to scrounge through my pocketbook to find a tissue to clean them up. A little more care, and empathy, would have been greatly appreciated. I feeling very vulnerable right now, and not in control of anything that is happening to me. Am I being g too sensitive?

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited March 2020

    Yeah, it all sounds normal.

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  • Moderators
    Moderators Member Posts: 25,912
    edited March 2020

    Hi Countrygirl, and welcome to Breastcancer.org,

    We're so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but we're really glad you've found us. You're sure to get a great amount of empathy, care, and support here! We're all here for you!

    Terrible that you were made to feel so vulnerable and uncared for. Everyone can stand to share a little more kindness and warmth especially during these uncertain times in general in this world, but especially when there's a medical diagnosis and anxiety around treatment! We're sorry you felt that way. Hopefully you'll see some more compassion with your treatments and certainly here in our loving community!

    Big hugs! Thanks for posting and welcome again!

    --The Mods

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  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited March 2020

    Countrygirl485, Unfortunately this is normal, but I have to say I had a great team of two older women that did this procedure all the time. That made a difference. When you have your treatment if you are face up, first you lay on the table, they uncover your breast, line up the tattoos, then cover you up. It is hard not to feel vulnerable. As time goes on you do lose all your modesty.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited March 2020

    I've never been shy about a medical professional looking at my breasts but my guess is you'll get over this quickly. ;-) (And yes--they took pictures of my hooters.)

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  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited March 2020

    Sorry...I actually got pretty used to my breasts being visible. It's not fun, but at the end of the day, it's just how it is. I can't remember if they took pictures or not. Someday you'll be years out looking back, and will barely remember all of it!

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited March 2020

    Yeah, it sounds normal from what I remember. By the time radiation came around, my breasts had been looked at and squished, scanned, photographed, you name it. Luckily, I had lost all modesty years ago when I gave birth as a clinic patient with problems in a teaching hospital. I was ready to spread 'em for the housekeeping staff after many hours of labor. I was like Pavlov's dog, responding to the door opening!

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  • ElaineTherese
    ElaineTherese Member Posts: 3,328
    edited March 2020

    Radiation's not really about dignity. I still remember lying there on the table, having the techs push and prod my body until it was in the right position, like a piece of meat. By the time I was doing radiation, I'd had so many strange people look at my boobs that it didn't bother me. Heck, I even had a male tech! A lot of guys were doing radiation at my cancer center when I did mine -- most of them for prostate cancer. I'm sure they didn't feel very dignified either.

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  • redhead403
    redhead403 Member Posts: 125
    edited March 2020

    I preferred to be uncovered during radiation. The room was hot. I am so used to having docs and nurses look at my breasts on a regular basis

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited March 2020

    Sorry, it's normal. After getting through BMX, reconstruction, then ALND surgery & radiation - I long since gave up worrying about whipping off my top and climbing on the table (s). Good thing, since I've been having docs look & feel my breasts every 3-6 months for 9 years now.

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited March 2020

    Countrygirl, I would like to say that though the procedures may be normal procedures, they are not normal for you! The techs need to remember this. It's all in a day's work for them, but not for you. And though some patients are not bothered by the procedures, some are, and your feelings should be respected. You have a right to know ahead of time what is planned, to ask questions, and to get an explanation of why something will be done. This is called INFORMED CONSENT. And you have a right to be treated with dignity and made as comfortable as possible. I encourage you to discuss this with the physician in charge, the radiation oncologist, whom you probably will see once a week. The RO needs to train his/her staff better or to know if they are not treating patients as they ought.

    P.S. I have been in breast cancer treatment for nine years, and I have not lost all my modesty, and I do not intend to. Recently in the hospital a new male nurse suddenly went peering and fishing in my gown for my chest port IV access without asking. I called him on it and told him, nicely, that he needs to ask before doing something like that, and that I would have gladly reached in myself and handed him the end of the tubing.

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  • flashlight
    flashlight Member Posts: 698
    edited March 2020

    ShetlandPony, Good point!

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  • Countrygirl485
    Countrygirl485 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2020

    Thanks, Mods! I am SO glad I found your excellent site. Thank you, BC.Org! Its like one-stop shopping, with up-to-date information throughout and helpful tips coming from all the gals, those that are survivors and those still "in the trenches".(Ladies, I am in awe of your courage and strength. I am relatively new to this cancer thing, never thought it would happen to me, but here I am. I thank you for coming forward and sharing your experiences and insight. It has been a great help to me and I'm sure it will continue to be as I go forward on my BC journey. I wish you all best wishes as you continue on yours!


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  • Countrygirl485
    Countrygirl485 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2020

    Thank you, Shetland Pony! I'm usually a "go along to get along" person, but I think I will take your advice and make this a teachable moment for the cancer practice. It could make a world of difference to the comfort-level of other BC patients like me who are also quiet and compliant and also elevate the quality of the practice itself.

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited March 2020

    Countrygirl, yes! That spirit of teaching to help someone improve will go far, because you are not “yelling at” someone but communicating and increasing understanding. You are going to do great and are now becoming an advocate for yourself and others. Yay, you!

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited March 2020

    You GO ladies !!! I kind of harp on LE 'teaching', but any kind of educating the health practice is good.

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  • Countrygirl485
    Countrygirl485 Member Posts: 4
    edited March 2020

    ShetlandPony: I thank YOU for giving me the boost I needed to stand up and say something. You made my day! I feel better already, and am actually looking forward to speaking to my RO aout my experience. THANK YOU

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  • grandmaadams
    grandmaadams Member Posts: 70
    edited March 2020

    Countrygirl485 … you are not alone. PLEASE ladies do not dismiss someone else's discomfort because it was easy for you or you "got used to it". I wasn't told (even though I asked) until my last appointment before radiation started that my treatment center strips you naked to the waist, leaves you that way during set up and during the entire treatment. Then (only because I asked) I am told there is only one female radiation therapist and guess who was going on vacation the day I was supposed to start. They didn't think there was anything wrong with sending female patients into that room, naked to the waist, surrounded by two or three male therapists, touching, adjusting and not another woman in sight. I asked about having my husband with me during set up and they said no. I can't imagine how it was for gynecological cancer patients. I am a sexual assault survivor. Sobbing I told the RO that although he didn't have a gun in his hand that's exactly what it felt like. They delayed my treatment until the female therapist was back. That gave me a week to plan, to cry, to pick myself up and make a plan. I called the RO and told him I had made a modesty band and fully intended to wear it. Also, if I showed up one day for treatment and the female therapist wasn't there I would walk out … that statement got her some overtime. I got through the treatment and even though the female therapist was incredibly kind, it was emotionally traumatizing. What I learned is that they don't tell you that you have the right to refuse pictures, you have the right to refuse tattoos and you have the right to have a female chaperone. My last appointment after treatment I had a long talk with the RO. Almost 40% of women have been sexually assaulted and this needs to be addressed.

    I met an incredibly wonderful Cancer Support Therapist and we spent more time dealing with the emotional issues of treatment and PTSD. PLEASE know that if you are a sexual assault survivor, the treatment can be traumatizing. The following is a good article. One and half years after treatment I am good and speaking out for others. Good luck to all of you.

    http://cancer.nautil.us/article/268/when-cancer-treatment-re-traumatizes-survivors-of-sexual-trauma

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited March 2020

    You made my day, too, Countrygirl! We are all in this together.

    Wow, Grandmaadams, I am so sorry you had to go through both of these traumas. Thank you so much for sharing. My relative is about to start rads. I had already told her she could refuse tattoos. I thank you for pointing out the other things. I will share it with her.

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  • AliceBastable
    AliceBastable Member Posts: 3,461
    edited March 2020

    grandmaadams

    That is a horrible set-up and you should not have to put up with it. The hospital I used is a smaller one in an urban area with several mega-hospitals, but they treat patients like people. We had private changing stalls with lockable doors, and after removing all clothing from the waist up, we put on comfortable sturdy modest cotton wrap-front robes. After laying on the table, the technicians would use the robe to tug me into position, then quickly uncover the breasts just to line up the dots and beams. They'd then cover me back up before leaving the room to turn on the big zapper. I always had female technicians except for one day, and they told all of us the day before that there would be a male tech filling in (with a female tech), and gave each patient the option of rescheduling. There is no excuse for any facility to treat anyone with less consideration than the place I used.

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