External radiotherapy question

Hi! I always wore bottoms that were easy to take off. No need to remove any clothes above waist. I never wore a gown at all. I would hop on bed with knickers on and then pull them down when on bed. Had to pull t shirt up a bit but only enough for them to line up tattoos.
Radiography would immediately put towel over me. I pulled up knickers when still on bed - so really wasn’t too bad. 
if I think back I would never have thought it would feel ok, but the radiographers were amazing and made me feel at ease.

Hi EPi17

I will contact the moderators and see if we can start an additional new radiotherapy thread. 

At my hospital there was a gown if I wanted it or I had a choice of wearing my own clothes. 

I would be fully dressed and shown a cubicle to change in. There was a door on each side. 

In the cubicle I would take off just my trousers. I would wear a long top. I kept my knickers on. 

I would then be met by a radiographer who would walk me down to the room - a private short corridor. 

In the room I would take off my shoes and get on to the plinth. Once on the plinth I would have to pull down my knickers far enough to reveal the tattoos. I had a paper sheet put over me. I had to lift my t shirt up slightly. I didn't have to remove jewellery, bra etc

Once on the plinth it would take a few moments for them to line me up ready for treatment and they would have to touch me, around hips to sometimes move me a little. It was always done respectfully. Once treatment was finished someone would come back into the room and help me off the plinth and walk back to the changing area with me. 

A couple of times they checked me to make sure I had no soreness- groin area but it was a very quick look.

Jane

Thank you both that’s a big more reassuring. Wearing a long top sounds good, at least I can wear that until getting onto the plinth and pull it up then.

I don’t know if I’m worrying and overthinking about this to stop me feeling anxious about having cancer but it has been the main thing on my mind since the planning scan.

Thank you both again 

I finished my sessions on 13th.  No gown but bottoms easy to take off and covered with a towel as others said 

Hi EP17

My experience was much like Jane's.

I am quite modest and found that if I wore an elasticated waist skirt I could push it down a bit with my knickers and lift my top up just enough to expose the tattoos. I told the radiotherapy ladies about my worries and they did their best to cover me up with paper towels. I have to say that it wasn't as bad as I was expecting and I was treated with dignity and respect at all times. The staff were lovely.

Good luck with everything.

Penny Xx

Another thing you could try is to wear a long length cardigan and then you could wrap it round you a bit like a dressing gown. 

I don't think its over thinking- its about naturally wanting to know what will happen with something that we have not experienced before. Having cancer can make things feel out of control so having that knowledge can make things feel more doable. That's how I felt. 

Another good suggestion thank you.

When I was first diagnosed I was saying, to anyone who asked, that I had to put my hands and trust in the medical team. I think you’re right though I feel as if I’ve no control and the CT planning scan caught me off guard.

Thank you for sharing your experiences xx

When I went in for my planning CT, although the people were capable and pleasant, I felt like a car going in for a service. When I went for my first treatment, it was different and more dignified. I was shown to a small room to change - I was asked to put a gown on, but was told I could keep my bra and pants on. Once on the table I was asked to roll my own pants down and that area was covered with a paper sheet. After arriving the next day for my second treatment and sitting waiting, I noticed some men going in for treatments with their shorts on and bypassing the changing room ie not putting a gown on. So I asked if I could do this too and they said yes - I could take my shoes and trackies off in the treatment room. The only proviso for my top was that it needed to be a thin material that wouldn’t bunch up and alter my position when it was pulled up, so I wore a cotton t shirt. I much preferred getting changed in the room and felt more comfortable, less odd/vulnerable and more myself not wearing a gown. My hospital (Southampton) is a big one, with a big radiotherapy unit (at that time 8 LINAC machines) so there were a number of different staff teams, and just once or twice someone would ask why I wasn’t wearing a gown, but I just replied that I’d been told it was okay by staff and that it was a better experience for me. One time a staff member wasn’t pleasant about it, but I stuck to my guns and emailed PALS about it that evening as his manner had upset me. When I checked in for my appointment the next day, a sister came out to meet me, took me to a side room and apologised for what had happened, assuring me that that person wouldn’t be on one of my teams again. Btw I was told that wearing my normal bra was fine and also still wore my jewellery and watch as they weren’t in the area being treated. Probably best not to have a vajazzle though! 

Yes a car in for a service describes my experience perfectly. The staff were very pleasant too just I felt more exposed and vulnerable than I expected.

Thank you too for sharing your experience and it’s helpful to know that a thick top bunched up might affect my position on the plinth. I never thought of that at all.

Hi …when are you starting your treatment? I’m starting my radio on Weds, but they are still waiting to confirm when I will have my chemo this coming week, which has been making me a little stressed this past week!