Today, a lot of patients were having their final treatment. Sounds of rejoicing were emerging from all the waiting areas when I arrived this morning! The man ahead of me in the queue for the machine was being discharged after seven weeks of treatment. It turned out that he was in the treatment room yesterday when the machine broke down. Strangely enough, despite threats from those of us in the waiting area as to what would happen if he "broke it again", the system began to play up again while he was in! Cries of "jinx" met his ears when he emerged. Luckily, the fault wasn't serious and didn't affect the treatment process; the delay was only about fifteen minutes.
The radiographers promise me they don't take it personally when they say, "See you in three days' time" and the patients announce they're not sorry for the weekend break! One of them has confessed to reading this blog and asked whether I'd thought of joining a hospital committee that includes patients who provide feedback on their experiences. I shall think about it - it would give me a purpose for having radiotherapy (other than the obvious one) so might make me resent it less!
So, today, apart from the fact that my right leg seems to have constant cramp in the thigh and my right hip is very painful, everything's gone well and the treatment was uneventful. I even had time for a chat with another patient's partner and discovered that their visit had been delayed on Wednesday as a prisoner had been brought in for treatment and had to take priority over everyone else. Wednesday was eventful; the air ambulance helicopter was on the field outside the hospital when I left that day, but I was too preoccupied to take much notice...
I'm now halfway through my treatment. It's amazing how much that cheers me up!
Eleven more sessions... and counting...
1 comment:
Blimey, that seems to have gone quickly - well done!
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