Hi
How long is a normal appointment for first radiotherapy appointment before treatment. My appointment is 9.45 and my husband has to be somewhere at 1.00 was wondering if he should take me
Thanks DLT
Hi DLT
The scan itself doesn’t take too long but the thing you can’t control is potential delays in the department. I don’t think I was ever once seen at my actual appointment time for anything I had to go to in radiotherapy, as it was just so busy every single day. Machines needing maintenance or going out of action can also cause delays and you just don’t know. Sorry, that’s not very helpful, but if you’re seen on time it won’t take long at all. Are you far from the hospital? I live 1.5 hours from mine which wasn’t very handy!
Sarah xx
Hi Sarah totally agree and also on my first appointment I was told to leave extra time because first I seen a nurse to have bloods done then a radiographer nurse and they explained what would happen and what to expect, then they gave me a small tube of (I'm Gona say diprobase but could be wrong) moisturizer anyway and told me to apply it to any red areas which fortunately I ddnt experience..just tenderness. But in any case the first app definitely is the longer one, and after that, as you rightly say it's pot luck with machines on the blink etc but I was a few hours on my first. Xx
Oh I remember diprobase! I think I can still smell it! I didn’t have and redness or burning, and I remember using it on my legs as I suffer from dry skin there in the winter months! Mine came in massive pump dispenser bottles-that’s brought back some memories this morning.
Sarah xx
Don't think I'm going for the trials as nurse called this afternoon and my scans are out of date so would have to have them again which would mean waiting as they can't put in a request until I give consent which would delay starting for weeks and there is only a 50/50 chance that I might get the extra chemo as 50% only get standard treatment as a control
Hi DLT
The main reason I didn’t go ahead with the trial was the uncertainty about what arm of the trial I would be on, and no guarantee of having the extra chemo. Plus any potential delays-I was just desperate to get on with the standard treatment. It’s a shame your scans are out of date though.
Sarah xx
Sarah I was also offered a trial treatment and tbh I turned it down as first thing I asked was would I lose my hair (as I'd been told I wouldn't with the "standard" cisplatin") and I'm afraid my vanity got in the way when I was told ther was a possibility! In hindsight and with the Information I'm now armed with I would take it in a heartbeat,! But as they say hindsight is a wonderful thing xx
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