"Radiotherapy - kindness caring and consideration"

Anyone diagnosed with Cancer, in my case Advanced Prostate Cancer, will understand the emotional draining, distress and anxiety experienced by being told you have Cancer, that it is Advanced, that an operation is not practical and that the first choice of therapy is Radical Radiotherapy, maybe following by Chemotherapy as the Cancer has metastasised into the lymph system. The staff and practice nurses in the Urology Department need medals; their care and consideration during biopsy and fiducial implants was the first stage in experiencing nothing but excellent care, consideration and understanding in such difficult times; not only for myself, but also my wife who accompanied me during this stressful time. Following diagnosis the perception of the experience of Radiotherapy is even more distressing. However the nursing staff and radiotherapists are the best of the best; spending inordinate time explaining everything, soothing troubled brows, and trying to make the experience as less daunting as they possibly could. Their smiling faces and compassionate welcome was always welcome on each of my 37 visits to Radiotherapy. Some of the Radiotherapists went beyond their remit in understanding my stress and concerns; they know who they are, amongst a cohort of highly trained, empathic, understanding and caring professionals. I will not leave out the Administration and front facing reception staff who excelled in providing first line assistance during the 8 weeks I attended the Churchill Hospital, and never once showed any hesitancy or impatience in answer question after question, even though it had already been explained several times during consultations. I won’t say the experience was one I would wish to repeat, but if I had to I know the staff would do their very best to support me again. Thank you Medical Oncology, Radiotherapy and Urology.