You say there's no such thing as a dumb question, wanna bet?

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2Floridiansisters
2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Are we naked during radiation?
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  • calvertcrafts
    calvertcrafts Member Posts: 93 Member
    #2
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    1/2 naked
    When I went thru rads I was wearing a gown over my pants and underwear. While under the machine they just pulled back the gown exposing my breast.
  • KayNYC
    KayNYC Member Posts: 495 Member
    #3
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    only the twin girls...
    It was always: "take everything from the waist up off and put on the gown." Of course the gown came off rather quickly when you were "in the position"...
    Hugs, K
  • chenheart
    chenheart Member Posts: 5,159
    #4
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    Oh Rats! I was going to say
    Oh Rats! I was going to say "It's a Surprise", but it seems my more honest sisters beat me to the truth! LOL
    And, for the record, after the first time, and the positioning etc, it will take longer for you to get undressed and put on the gown than it will take to get the rads!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥
  • TraciInLA
    TraciInLA Member Posts: 1,994 Member
    #5
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    chenheart said:

    Oh Rats! I was going to say
    Oh Rats! I was going to say "It's a Surprise", but it seems my more honest sisters beat me to the truth! LOL
    And, for the record, after the first time, and the positioning etc, it will take longer for you to get undressed and put on the gown than it will take to get the rads!

    Hugs,
    Chen♥

    My techs were very considerate about modesty
    For all the problems I had with my rad techs scolding me like a naughty child about my stickers falling off, and heavy sigh-ing that I was causing more work for them by having both breasts radiated...they were very considerate about modesty.

    I only had to undress from the waist up -- never even had to take off my shoes! -- and they were very careful to expose only the breast being radiated, then would come back in and switch the drape to the other breast.

    I'll share one funny story: My first official day of rads, I met the supervising tech, and he asked me to change into a gown, "open in the back." I said, "But my breasts are in the front." He said, "just trust me -- it'll make sense when you're on the table."

    And it did -- with the kinds of gowns they had, it worked better to slip one arm out with the opening in the back -- there was much less contorting than if it had been open in the front.

    But I have to say -- for those first few minutes, I thought -- geez, is he new here or something? Doesn't he know where women's breasts are located? :-)

    Traci
  • 2Floridiansisters
    2Floridiansisters Member Posts: 384 Member
    #6
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    LOL that is funny Tracy!
    Okay thanks ladies now I know what to expect, looks like I'm doing the lumpectomy instead of the other, so wish me well during the radiation this fall.
  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    #7
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    TraciInLA said:

    My techs were very considerate about modesty
    For all the problems I had with my rad techs scolding me like a naughty child about my stickers falling off, and heavy sigh-ing that I was causing more work for them by having both breasts radiated...they were very considerate about modesty.

    I only had to undress from the waist up -- never even had to take off my shoes! -- and they were very careful to expose only the breast being radiated, then would come back in and switch the drape to the other breast.

    I'll share one funny story: My first official day of rads, I met the supervising tech, and he asked me to change into a gown, "open in the back." I said, "But my breasts are in the front." He said, "just trust me -- it'll make sense when you're on the table."

    And it did -- with the kinds of gowns they had, it worked better to slip one arm out with the opening in the back -- there was much less contorting than if it had been open in the front.

    But I have to say -- for those first few minutes, I thought -- geez, is he new here or something? Doesn't he know where women's breasts are located? :-)

    Traci

    There should probably be a law
    ...that Chen and Traci are not allowed to respond to each other's posts. Makes it very difficult for me to catch my breath after reading.
  • DebbyM
    DebbyM Member Posts: 3,289 Member
    #8
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    2Floridiansisters said:

    LOL that is funny Tracy!
    Okay thanks ladies now I know what to expect, looks like I'm doing the lumpectomy instead of the other, so wish me well during the radiation this fall.

    I only took my top clothes
    I only took my top clothes off for rads. Then, you put on a dressing gown. You only expose

    the side being radiated. I am not shy or modest, so, it didn't bother me at all. I knew

    that the rads were killing any stray cancer cells and I just concentrated on that. Good

    luck to you with your radiation treatments.


    Hugs, Debby
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #9
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    No HONESTLY asked question is 'dumb'!
    For me - I was 1/4 nude/naked.

    I was given a locker in the dressing room. Had to take off everything above waist and put on a pink 'Superwoman' cape under a white terry robe for waiting in the waiting area. (It was where only patients and those with them were if there was anyone.) When you went back to the Rads room, the robe was taken off before getting on the table. The 'Superwoman' cape was pulled back to expose the radiation area. Always had my jeans on. Depending on how bad the weather was outside (snow/mud) rather or not tennies/shoes/boots were left on. When it was bad weatherwise I took little sockies with non-slip on the bottom to wear. Unless you're in the southern hemisphere, there is not much chance of snow for a few months.

    Susan
  • cahjah75
    cahjah75 Member Posts: 2,631
    #10
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    TraciInLA said:

    My techs were very considerate about modesty
    For all the problems I had with my rad techs scolding me like a naughty child about my stickers falling off, and heavy sigh-ing that I was causing more work for them by having both breasts radiated...they were very considerate about modesty.

    I only had to undress from the waist up -- never even had to take off my shoes! -- and they were very careful to expose only the breast being radiated, then would come back in and switch the drape to the other breast.

    I'll share one funny story: My first official day of rads, I met the supervising tech, and he asked me to change into a gown, "open in the back." I said, "But my breasts are in the front." He said, "just trust me -- it'll make sense when you're on the table."

    And it did -- with the kinds of gowns they had, it worked better to slip one arm out with the opening in the back -- there was much less contorting than if it had been open in the front.

    But I have to say -- for those first few minutes, I thought -- geez, is he new here or something? Doesn't he know where women's breasts are located? :-)

    Traci

    I don't know yet
    if I'll be having rads, but if I do I'll think of you Traci everytime! LOL
    Char
  • waffle8
    waffle8 Member Posts: 234
    #11
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    Rague said:

    No HONESTLY asked question is 'dumb'!
    For me - I was 1/4 nude/naked.

    I was given a locker in the dressing room. Had to take off everything above waist and put on a pink 'Superwoman' cape under a white terry robe for waiting in the waiting area. (It was where only patients and those with them were if there was anyone.) When you went back to the Rads room, the robe was taken off before getting on the table. The 'Superwoman' cape was pulled back to expose the radiation area. Always had my jeans on. Depending on how bad the weather was outside (snow/mud) rather or not tennies/shoes/boots were left on. When it was bad weatherwise I took little sockies with non-slip on the bottom to wear. Unless you're in the southern hemisphere, there is not much chance of snow for a few months.

    Susan

    naked radiation
    I went for my initial visit last week they gave me my "dignity" robe to take back and forth everyday..Thats what they called it...lol
  • Marsha Mulvey
    Marsha Mulvey Member Posts: 597 Member
    #12
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    waffle8 said:

    naked radiation
    I went for my initial visit last week they gave me my "dignity" robe to take back and forth everyday..Thats what they called it...lol

    laughter
    This thread made me laugh too. Thanks!
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #13
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    Marsha Mulvey said:

    laughter
    This thread made me laugh too. Thanks!

    Hmmmmmmmmm
    I guess I am the only one that from day one, the cute male tech always had me take all of

    my clothes off. I just thought that was the norm. So, I guess it wasn't?????


    OMG...I was wronged!!!!!



    Sue :)




    p.s. Kidding lol I just took my top off and always went directly into the zapping room. I would kiss my hubby on the way in, as he always stood outside the room, watching me on the monitor. :) I was only exposed where they were zapping me. Whichever sweet tech came in the room first would always offer me their hand to help me up and they would usually pull the gown back up and cover me. I had such angels for techs. :)
  • mariam_11_09
    mariam_11_09 Member Posts: 691
    #14
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    Thanks for asking this

    Thanks for asking this question. I had not given it much thought and I start rads sometime next month. Now I know what to expect and Traci I know not to argue with the person who tells me to leave my gown open in the back.
  • Rague
    Rague Member Posts: 3,653 Member
    #15
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    Another thought - surprise to me!
    I expected to be locked in behind a heavy door in a small dark/dank room - like when you get an x-ray. It wasn't at all - no door at all - just a fairly large opening and a rather large round room with artificial plants up high on the walls around the room. I was told that it was designed in a circle so that no rays could escape the room even with no door.

    Susan
  • mwallace1325
    mwallace1325 Member Posts: 806
    #16
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    Cute question and answers too
    I was given a towel to hold in front of me when I got ready for rads (fully clothed from the waist down). Once on the table the towel was moved to expose the breast being zapped. One of the first times I was in there they took photos of the correct position to put me in. I, of course being the pain in the a$$ that I am, told them to make sure my "bad side" didn't end up on youtube. Poor techs, they seriously kept reassuring me that the pictures would never leave my file until I started laughing. They knew never to take me seriously again.


    marge
  • Lighthouse_7
    Lighthouse_7 Member Posts: 1,566 Member
    #17
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    calvertcrafts said:

    1/2 naked
    When I went thru rads I was wearing a gown over my pants and underwear. While under the machine they just pulled back the gown exposing my breast.

    Just like you calvertcrafts
    I had exactly the same experience as you.
    Wanda
  • Pinkpower
    Pinkpower Member Posts: 437
    #18
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    My experience was a little
    My experience was a little diff. I had the gown, and my breast would only be exposed till the tech positioned me using the very small tatoo dots they had previously done. Once I was in position, they covered me back up and proceeded with that radiation.
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #19
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    Pinkpower said:

    My experience was a little
    My experience was a little diff. I had the gown, and my breast would only be exposed till the tech positioned me using the very small tatoo dots they had previously done. Once I was in position, they covered me back up and proceeded with that radiation.

    they radiated you through
    they radiated you through your gown?
  • Wolfi
    Wolfi Member Posts: 425
    #20
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    mwallace1325 said:

    Cute question and answers too
    I was given a towel to hold in front of me when I got ready for rads (fully clothed from the waist down). Once on the table the towel was moved to expose the breast being zapped. One of the first times I was in there they took photos of the correct position to put me in. I, of course being the pain in the a$$ that I am, told them to make sure my "bad side" didn't end up on youtube. Poor techs, they seriously kept reassuring me that the pictures would never leave my file until I started laughing. They knew never to take me seriously again.


    marge

    To towel or not to towel......
    I was given a "modesty towel" when I went in for rads (it was about the size of a washcloth). Since I was only having radiation on one side the point of the towel was to cover my other side during treatment. This is all well and good if you have had a unilateral mastectomy and have a breast to hold the towel in place. I had a bi-lateral and that little towel would decide to start sliding down my side while they were zapping me and I was the only one in the room (with both arms up over my head). This wasn't bad except that every time I started to feel it slip I had to stop myself from reaching to grab it before it fell to the floor.

    I would think things like "How well will my radiation work if I keep getting my arm in the way trying to keep that little towel from slipping off my chest?" "What if I move too much trying to balance it while still keeping my arms over my head?" "Why don't they tape it on if they want it to stay in place?" and "How many of them are in that room watching the monitor and saying - 'Watch, the towel is going to start slipping now'."

    After a few days of this I told them I didn't want the "modesty towel". There had been so many doctors, nurses and techs that had seen my bare chest for months and it didn't bother me to be with those techs and my doctor without any covering. I found out later that having to have radiation after a bi-lateral is very rare so I'm sure those techs just gave me the towel because all of their other patients used them (without any problems).

    That's my story.
  • VickiSam
    VickiSam Member Posts: 9,079 Member
    #21
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    carkris said:

    they radiated you through
    they radiated you through your gown?

    I love the question .. it's is honest! I did not have
    radiation - but I enjoyed reading the responses! All makes perfect sense.


    Vicki Sam

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