Patient
Former patients have kindly given their accounts of their experiences when they had Chemotherapy.Radiotherapy - Case 1
Purpose:As one of the options in the treatment of prostate cancer. The course comprised 25 daily sessions extending over 5 weeks.
Planning:
During the planning process, the radiographer and medical physicist, supervised by the oncologist, determine all the settings of the Linear Accelerator (Linac), including the size and number of doses. Once this has been completed in duplicate, for safety, and the patient had visited the simulator, the treatment could begin
Experience:
A week after my visit to the simulator I attended my first treatment session. On arrival I was given a brief talk by a radiographer who explained what would happen. I was given some leaflets and told a number of do's and dont's. The principle one was to try to live a normal life. I should try to have a full bladder for the treatment session and should not use soap or powder on my skin in the regions being irradiated. I was advised I might suffer from constipation, although I never did.
I was advised that my daily routine was to report my arrival by placing my appointment card in a box outside the treatment room, and then relax in the waiting area where you soon got into the routine of chatting to the regular patients whom you saw each day. About 5 minutes before I would be called for treatment, a radiographer would come and advise me to get changed using a nearby changing room. This involved undressing and putting on a gown and dressing gown. These were provided but you could bring your own dressing gown if you preferred.
Then I sat waiting again and shortly afterwards a radiographer came and first checked my identity each day. She asked me to follow her into the treatment room. This involved walking down a short winding corridor protected by a security gate. The walls had attractively painted murals which made the environment quite pleasant. The Linear Accelerator (Linac) appeared identical to that in the Simulator and so you felt some familiarity with it from the first day. The team treating you typically comprised four radiographers to whom you were introduced each day. Normally there were three in the room at the beginning, with another one or two in the control room. It was soon very evident that safety is paramount with the work of each radiographer being checked by one of the others.
A major factor about having daily attendance is that you soon get to know the radiographers and have the chance for a chat and joke. They are all exceedingly caring and pleasant and it eases the tension and alleviates the inconvenience of making a daily visit.
Once in the room you take off the gowns and are asked to lie on the couch. The radiographers then positioned the couch so that the target area was under the head of the Linac. You were asked to lie still and the radiographers explained they would go into the control room while the machine was switched on, but they would be able to see and hear me at all times. You could tell when the machine was switched on as it made a slight humming noise. After about 30 seconds it was switched off and the radiographers re-appeared to rotate the head of the Linac to its next position. They then left the room again while the machine was switched on for a further 30 seconds. Following this the radiographers came in to rotate the head in the opposite direction and repeated the process for the third period of treatment.
Following this I was free to leave the room and get dressed and depart. Throughout the daily sessions the radiographers always asked how I was getting on and if I had any problems. They also stressed that if I had any problem, even after the treatment had finished, I could phone them up to seek advice.
Also once a week I was seen by the consultant oncologist who had received a report from the radiographers and would just ask if I had any problems.
Duration:
The time spent in the treatment room was about 5 - 7 minutes, but with minimal waiting you would expect to spend 20 - 30 minutes in the department.
Side effects:
The radiotherapy didn't affect me at all until about the 4th week when my bottom felt slightly sore when I went to the toilet. I was able to carry on life as normal, sailing and playing golf at week-ends. Unfortunately my appointment time meant my week-day golf stopped, but other patients who had not retired did arrange to have their treatment either at the start or end of the day, so their work schedule was least affected.
Apprehension:
The uncertainty about what the treatment involved caused a slight apprehension at the start but after the first few days this soon went. The whole experience was interesting and because the treatment involved regular attendance over many days you soon made acquaintance with other patients. Even more so the caring radiographers did their best to put you at ease, and if time permitted you could have brief chats with them. Indeed when the treatment was over, I had that end of school year feeling and missed seeing how your friends were getting on.
Radiotherapy - Case 2
Purpose: To receive a course of palliative treatment for a metastasis tumour which had spread to one place in my spine. The course comprised of just 5 daily sessions with radiation from one direction.
Experience:
Very similar to the previous case except I had to lie face down and the dose was in the vertical direction only.
Duration:
The treatment lasted only 3 minutes and my total time in the department was about 15 minutes
Side effects:
Absolutely none and couldn't detect I had received any treatment.
Radiotherapy - Case 3
Simulation visit
Purpose:
Prior to actual Radiotherapy Treatment for a brain tumour, I went for a simulation visit.
Experience:
The fitting of shell (mould) was checked and the whole procedure gone through for the team to check the coordinates which determine the precise positions of the radiation. There were two or three people present in the room, plus one or two in the control room, as for the actual treatment later.
I was told to shift position slightly as required - the shell was fitted over my face and attached to a sort of solid pillow bolted to the bed. The conversation was generally among staff to do with technical data, but occasional they spoke to me to reassure. General feeling of competence.
Radiotherapy Treatment
Purpose:
After the simulation visit, I attended for the actual Radiotherapy to treat the brain tumour.
>Experience:
I was in the same (windowless but pleasantly spacious) room as for the simulation. I expected high-tech equipment but was unable to see much of it. I was only a little apprehensive as I felt staff were competent. Throughout the treatment high-quality music was played which had a calming effect - choice of music much appreciated. I felt this was quite helpful.
After the staff positioned me on the table and put the shell over face (it looked rather like a fencing mask) readings were taken to check the coordinates. I kept my eyes closed as I was flat on my back and somehow this helped with keeping still (essential). I didn't experience any sensation of any kind while the treatment was taking place. During the actual treatment the staff disappeared to another room but popped back as necessary to make adjustments during the three periods of radiation.
Overall there was nothing to worry about!