I know hospitals have their protocols, but just now I felt like I was on a conveyor belt instead of being seen as a actual person. A young girl rattled off radiotherapy instructions at a million miles an hour, and I had to ask her twice to slow down. Then I’m asked to confirm I’m not pregnant — at 53, 7 years into the menopause, no fallopian tubes. I was then asked if I was happy to have treatment. Happy? No. This isn’t about happiness — it’s about survival. I’m not a number, I’m Becky.
This is supposed to be my personal healing journey, but sometimes it feels like I’m just a number in a cattle market. I’m overwhelmed, and I wish the system would remember that behind every tick‑box is a human being trying to hold it together
Yes, sometimes dealing with hospitals does feel a bit like you are on a conveyor belt - I think initially they are pushing you through to try and get things done as quickly and efficiently as possible and so to that extent, it IS a 'conveyor belt'.
It's quite overwhelming, especially at the beginning when you just don't know what is going on, and you have all the anxiety and concerns about having cancer too.
I found it all got a bit better once I got to know the people who were treating me and the places I had to go, and the routines of the treatment. Hopefully once you are settled into this you will feel that you are being treated as an individual and welcomed each time you go, as the staff get to know you and what your needs are.
Please let us know how you get on, and if there is any way we can help.
I wish you all the very best as you try to make you way through. xx
I must admit this is not what I have experienced and I'm sorry that you are having this on top of the very real nerves you have about starting treatment. I was so nervous about starting.
I hope you feel better once you get to know everything and know your way around. This group is very helpful with any questions you may have. Wishing you all the best xx
Thank you for all your replies. I'm all but ready to head to the train station. Fortified by hugs from my beautiful daughter and meeting Mum there as she's coming to hold my hand today. I'm not really sure I've got this but I'll give it my best shot xx
There is no excuse for giving you instructions so fast that you can't grasp them - a lack of training (as well as compassion) here I think. The pregnancy question is one they have to ask of everyone - I was asked that yesterday just before being given GA and I burst out laughing - I have no womb and I am 74! The staff all started laughing too.
But I am way past the treatment that you are on now, and I am really sorry you had to go through that. I hope your first day went well in spite of that, sending more hugs.
I’m so sorry that you’re having this experience and very much hope that things improve. We can feel very anxious and vulnerable starting treatment and the attitude and manner of staff can go a long way to helping alleviate this.
It does seem that experiences vary and many forum members had an excellent experience with their teams. In my radiotherapy there was absolutely no interaction other than asking me to confirm name and date of birth and asking if I was feeling full’ ( meaning had I drunk the vast quantities of water).
I think that as Mrs Vanilla says, it actually is a sort of conveyor belt, but a few gentle words and proper explanation shouldn’t be too much.
What helped me enormously was that friends took me to all of my appointments and their support and kindness was amazing.
It’s great that your mum is going with you today. I do hope it all gets a bit more supportive and wish you all the best for the rest of your treatments. Xx
Hi all I’m here in the waiting area. having been here an hour already just been announced they’re running another 1.5 hrs behind! I’m strangely calm lol and me and mum have grabbed a pager and are going for a brew! It’s a major hospital I’m attending so I’ve wrapped my head around this probably happening on a regular basis and luckily Mum bought open train time tickets! I’m here, radiotherapy are aware of the disruption so until then I’m listening to a volunteer playing Xmas songs on the piano lol xx
The first session can be quite long - even without the delays - but once you have had this one, it should become a bit more streamlined, so don't feel you are in for six weeks of this!
My Mother-in-law had a lot of hospital appointments and she resigned herself to waiting. She used to say once she got through the doors she moved into a different time zone, 'Hospital Time'. She just settled down and waited. I am still not able to do that. If I am kept waiting too long I start to get really stressy and quite internally stroppy, although when I speak to staff, I turn into a small obedient, frightened lamb!!
Thinking about you and your Mum today, and hope you can mentally fast forward to when it is all done, and you are home with the kettle on and your feet up. xx
The sign has been changed to a 2 hour delay now I’m hot and have a headache and I’m desperately hoping it’s just stress just conscious of having to go to radiotherapy after my chemos over .. so wish jt was February xx
I’m hot and have a headache and I’m desperately hoping it’s just stress 
just conscious of having to go to radiotherapy after my chemos over .. so wish jt was February xx 
