Postby weisssoccermom » Thu Aug 27, 2015 3:36 pm
I have to agree with the assessment of rad oncs and their openness with patients. I'm sure that there are practices out there that are very proactive and helpful, but in the 9 years since I had my treatment....from my experience and from reading on this and a few other boards about patient's experiences...I think rad oncs rate very poorly in the
helpful category. After treatment, I asked my rad onc why they didn't tell me about all the side effects (I had learned about them on another site prior to treatment so did well) and they flat out told me that 'if we told you what to expect, you wouldn't do it'. Seriously? My friend's sister who had breast cancer radiation also was given the same answer. Over the years, particularly when it comes to the female rectal cancer patient, I have heard over and over again that the rad oncs and their staff 'neglected' to mention the severe problems that are prevalent with pelvic radiation....side effects that can be minimized or avoided if given the correct information from the very beginning. A female patient shouldn't have to wait until the end of treatment to ask about dilators....she should be given them from the start and told about the possible side effects. Patients shouldn't have to wait for serious side effects before the doctor steps in and plays the 'hero' by giving drugs to combat the pain. Why not be proactive and try to minimize/avoid many of these problems? For crying out loud, it's only a mere short 6 weeks of our lives. I can only speak for myself but even if the docs had been forthcoming and told me everything upfront, I still would have had the treatments....wouldn't all of you?
I am very passionate about this subject and worked with the local rad onc clinics to help prepare patients better for their treatments. There is just no reason that all the pain, burning etc has to happen and be so severe. I hate to tell you but once the burns get as bad as you have indicated, all the creams in the world aren't going to magically fix it....it will take time and patience...but it will get better.
Dx 6/22/2006 IIA rectal cancer
6 wks rad/Xeloda -finished 9/06
1st attempt transanal excision 11/06
11/17/06 XELOX 1 cycle
5 months Xeloda only Dec '06 - April '07
10+ blood clots, 1 DVT 1/07
transanal excision 4/20/07 path-NO CANCER CELLS!
NED now and forever!
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