"Very grateful for everything !"

What I liked

Hello,

Following the diagnosis and removal of what, I am assured, was a non-malignant basal cell cancer on my forehead earlier in the year, I attended a 5 day course of radio therapy at your hospital from 18/4 until 22/4/11.

May I take this opportunity to convey my most sincere thanks and appreciation to both the hospital and, especially, the staff of the R-T unit for their professionalism and consideration throughout what was a nerve-racking procedure. Everyone was a credit to the NHS and to the hospital. I really cannot speak too highly of the service I received.

What could be improved

This is not a complaint, however, may I mention one aspect of my treatment. I had the (usual) head restraint and a lead visor, a combination, especially being unable to move and total blackness, that I found claustrophobic and really unpleasant (the longest 3 minutes of my life!!). On the Thursday, the mask was placed in position, but there was a glimmer of light from under my lower left cheek (diametrically opposite to the "target area" over my right eyebrow). The psychological difference that having a point of reference (light) made was tremendous. On the Friday I mentioned this to the lead operator and he confirmed that there could be no danger to "health and safety" and placed the mask in the same position.

Talking to the operators they confirmed that everyone hates this combination, although one operator did admit that of course, personally, they had no actual experience of what it was like. May I therefore suggest that in those cases where health and safety would not be compromised, and where the patient is "nervous", such a light source could go a long way to helping the patient relax and, possiblly, with their overall approach to the treatment.