A poem attempting to portray the radiotherapy experience from a patient perspective:
Anxiety creeping, thoughts invading
Is it time already?
Less than twenty-four hours ago
It’s time again, it’s time to go
Time to go to the lonely place
Time to show radiotherapy my face
I’m twisted, twirled, and moved again
I’m positioned perfectly as I lay in pain
“That’s it, let’s go!’ They exit in haste
Leaving me bare, exposed and in a state
Now it’s just me and you I whisper
As I gaze up at the marvellous silver
Its long arm twists and turn
Shooting its cure while my stomach churns
I’m a statue now: nice and still
I wish I could say it’s against my will
But it’s my cure I’m told
I want my life back – and it’s my secret code
All done, let’s go home
Anxiety creeping, thoughts invading
Is it time already?
Less than twenty-four hours ago
It’s time again, it’s time to go
It is paramount that as future healthcare professionals, we take time to envision and appreciate the patient experience in every setting. My experience in the radiology stimulation suite paved the path for me to realise that what can be seen as a simple short treatment, can also have drastic impacts on a patient’s general wellbeing and mental health. The multitude of factors a radiotherapy patient undergoes prior to the session can form a cumulative hurdle, and it is key, that as healthcare professionals, we appreciate it.
Written by: Summayah Beg | Anatomy Student