I have had breast cancer, which has been treated by a mastectomy, followed first by chemotherapy, then herceptin injections (that continue) and, at present, by radiotherapy. I have been consistently impressed with the expertise of nurses, doctors and all other practitioners.
This has been the case with the radiotherapy treatment; the radiologists have been very supportive, kind, friendly and helpful. But what has been distressing to me is that the radiotherapy machine has broken down twice in the first 8 days of radiotherapy, which I have found very distressing. I want to get this treatment done and over with; I find it very tiring and I want to return to the full energy I had two months after finishing chemotherapy, which I know will return. But I have become very depressed as a consequence of the machine breaking down twice so far.
I have no confidence that it won't break down again and now all I want is to finish the treatment. The radiographers have kindly offered to have myself and other patients receive an additional treatment tomorrow, Saturday, so that we can catch up a bit. But why is this machine not being replaced when it should be? When will the machine be replaced?
I am thinking not just about myself, but about all those in future who want to return to health and find that the machine keeps breaking down and dragging out this process.
"The faulty and therefore stressful radiotherapy machine"
About: Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham / Clinical oncology Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Clinical oncology Birmingham B15 2WB
Posted by joy2bwriting (as ),
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