Radiation machine down for several days. Has anyone experienced this?

Posted by dicka @dicka, Mar 24 9:46am

My RT protocol is/was 26 sessions, 5 days a week. After completing 13 sessions the linear accelerator went down. Rescheduled (including weekend), but machine still down. It remains inop after M and Tu this week. So, I have missed 4 sessions plus the weekend, resulting in 6 days without treatment. The radiation team is hopeful, but my experience (retired systems engineer) tells me wishful thinking won’t fix a hardware problem. That said, has anyone experienced this kind of break in treatment? Thoughts? Comments? Thanks! 😁

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chippydoo | @chippydoo | Mar 26 11:22am

In reply to @heavyphil "@chippydoo Whoa! You had actual ‘burn’ or redness on your skin??" + (show)

@heavyphil Hyperbole. Like whip it, whip it good. They hit it, hit it good on a low bladder at least a few times.

heavyphil | @heavyphil | Mar 27 7:49am

In reply to @chippydoo "@heavyphil Hyperbole. Like whip it, whip it good. They hit it, hit it good on a..." + (show)

@chippydoo OK - I knew a woman undergoing radiation for breast cancer whose chest was freakin broiled! I mean bubbles, blisters and peeling skin…glad you didn’t have that!
Phil

chippydoo | @chippydoo | Mar 27 9:35am

In reply to @heavyphil "@chippydoo OK - I knew a woman undergoing radiation for breast cancer whose chest was freakin..." + (show)

@heavyphil Wow! I had some redness as did my wife for her breast cancer.

carbcounter | @carbcounter | Mar 27 12:18pm

All machines have problems at times. Better they fix them before using them again!

Colleen Young, Connect Director | @colleenyoung | 1 day ago

@dicka, how did things turn out for you? Has the machine been fixed or did you have to go elsewhere? How many sessions did you miss?

dicka | @dicka | 1 day ago

In reply to @colleenyoung "@dicka, how did things turn out for you? Has the machine been fixed or did you..." + (show)

@colleenyoung Thank you. The machine got fixed. Went 4 days without radiation, but the team got everyone back on track. All is good. Two more sessions to go! 🙂
Cheers, Dick

brianjarvis | @brianjarvis | 1 hour ago

In reply to @scottbeammeup "@heavyphil This made me laugh. When I was getting treated I got 8 grays for 5..." + (show)

@scottbeammeup Something like this had happened.

Between 1985 and 1987, at least six people died or suffered severe injuries due to massive radiation overdoses from the Therac-25 linear accelerator, caused by critical software flaws, lack of hardware interlocks, and inadequate manufacturer response. The machine delivered electron beams at maximum energy without the safety, beam-scattering filter in place.