Are your Radiation Treatments on Time ?

Posted by chamblee54 @chamblee54, Jun 16 8:31am

I’ve gone for treatment 13 times of 44 . I’m receiving Proton Radiation. As many know you show up with a full bladder.
Of the 13 times I’ve gone for treatment , I have had to leave 2 xs without treatment that day -due to machine breakdown with no clear idea of when it would be fixed. Three more times I’ve been delayed anywhere from 25 minutes to 5 hours due to breakdowns.
This is extremely frustrating and uncomfortable - trying to hold your bladder. I don’t really get warnings about how long I’m going to get delayed except 2 xs— they called once and rescheduled on my way down - for 5 hours later, and once 40 minutes after my appt they said they were broke down and could only guess they were going to be at least another hour and a half. I chose to leave as I had to keep emptying my bladder due to urgency. So 5 xs there were some type of delay or no treatment (2) out of 13. Trying to hold your bladder and not knowing how long you have or trying to refill with no clear direction is beyond frustrating.
So my question is - is ANYONE experiencing similar events. I did reach out to 4 different people who had radiation ( 3 not prostate ) and NONE of them experienced delays beyond 5 minutes. I realize there are many variables. At what point do I ask to be transferred to another facility with a better On Time track record AND a crew that bothers to communicate along the way. I don’t like trying to manage my bladder voiding partially and risk damaging bladder. I also don’t like to complain BUT - feel like there is risk with bladder partial voiding
Please share your experience.
Btw. This is NOT at Mayo.

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lag | @lag | Jun 16 10:01am

My husband has had radiation since his 2005 diagnosis and many times over the years since then. This has NEVER happened. His radiation has been with IU Health in Bloomington and at Mayo Rochester. But I think that any competent facility is unlikely to be as unreliable and non-communicative as yours. Seek out another radiation oncology facility pronto--preferably one at a Center of Excellence. Good luck.

web265 | @web265 | Jun 17 7:29am

I had 39 treatments in June/July of 2022. Wasn't in a "Center of Excellence" per se, but it was an excellent center. Never missed a treatment because of anything at the center. May have been 5 ish minutes late because of patients coming in a hair late or unprepared a couple times. They were great.
I'd be looking elsewhere.

Scott M | @smurphympls | Jun 17 8:16am

I just finished five fractions of SBRT, not at a COE but a well-regarded cancer center in my area. No hitches. The schedule was provided to me in advance, and it went according to plan, in some cases they treated me earlier a couple of times. If your current provider is having recurring issues, you may want to look elsewhere. Best of luck to you.