I am undergoing radio been therapy for prostate cancer at the moment, this is an account of what happened to me one day last week. I have made it clear from day one that i wish to keep my underwear on and have been told by 9 out of 11 radiotherapists that this is not an issue, as all i need to do is lower my pants so they can see the tattoo in my groin.

I was called into the changing room by a nice lady who introduced herself to me , then told to change After I got changed I made my way to the treatment room where there was another woman in the room who didn’t introduce herself but asked me to confirm my details, then I laid on the bench on the machine there the woman who had not introduced herself helped me take the gown off, by off I don’t mean down I mean off,  as she did this I lowered my pants to where I thought they should go after a few seconds I felt her get hold of the elastic on my pants and pull them down to the middle of my thighs easily far enough to cause me to be very embarrassed, I quickly grabbed my pants pulling them back to where they had been saying in an assertive voice no you don’t she didn’t object to me pulling my pants back up or attempt to give any reason why she needed them further down, in fact apart from IDing me she didn't speak to me throughout the treatment, after been shuffled me around a bit more they left the room whilst the treatment took place. After the treatment the lady who had called me in came back into the room telling me I could go.

 I really feel like the other woman pulling my pants down was a real invasion of my privacy, it caused me to feel vulnerable and embarrassed.  I mean she hadn’t even told me her name, where’s the dignity in that. after speaking with a friend about the incidentI I later rang PAL Patient Advice and Liaison Team to let them know how I felt

The next day whilst waiting for treatment I was called through by a tall lady who was maybe in her 30s, great I thought as it was only around 7:55 been seen 20 minutes early what a bonus, when I walked into the room I realised it wasn’t a changing room it was an office, my first thoughts were what have I done wrong, was she going to tell me I had to take my pants off from now on when been treated, she introduced herself but cannot remember the name due to been a little scared she then invited me to sit down telling me the PALs Patient Advice and Liaison Team had been in touch with the department manager about what had happened during my treatment the previous day, she said she had spoken with both people about this separately and there account of what had happened in the room was the same as I had reported to PALs, she went on to say the radiographer was truly sorry for what she had done, saying that she was not in work today to apologise in person, however sent her sincere apologies, she went on to say that the note regarding me keeping my underwear on had been made more prevalent in my file, she continued by saying that if I was challenged about the underwear in future I should contact her or speak to reception.

 I replied saying, when I had woken up this morning, this was the most prevalent thing on my mind and I had decided that if anything like what had happened previously happened again then I would stop attending the appointments, I went on to say, I had been challenged several times regarding the underwear, and had refused to take them off or pull them further down, however on this occasion the radiographer had not asked she had simply pulled them down without asking or letting me know her intention, further to this she had not even introduced herself or said a word to me apart from asking me to confirm my identity, I went on saying I don’t know how she had the audacity to think what she did was OK pointing out that I am a person not just a piece of meat, I also said what if i had been a woman with a man doing this how would that be dealt with as it amounts to indecent assault she apologised again saying it won’t happen in future so not to worry,

I then told her that many of the people I had seen the previous week had said there was absolutely no need to take my pants off for this treatment though some treatments did require your underwear to be off, Then I explained to her that previously I needed 6 operations on my balls and had no issue taking my underwear off for this as it was necessary, but I wanted to retain my modesty when there was no need to take my pants down, she apologised again then  said that no one in the hospital would set out to make me feel uncomfortable or vulnerable, 

I dont believe this to be true as out of he now 13 treatments all with clear notes on my file on 4 occasions the staff have been very pushy about taking my underwear off or down,