Had my first rads session today and was fine, longest part was getting into correct position.
What hit me the most was being about 40 years younger than everyone else in waiting room (I am 36). Don’t know why it hit me so much, but this is what made me emotional afterwards.
Any advice about how to get out my head about this would be great.
Know what you mean, despite being 52, I only spotted 1 person who was definitely younger, quite a few older men - now I have more sympathy for the poisitions they must have to get into for prostate radiotherapy, and what they have to bare.
I was 36 and had 20 sessions. I know what you mean about age. I was youngest by a long shot. I asked to change my sessions to as early as possible, so I could get in and out swiftly. I found later appointments, ended up being late. Maybe so if you can do that to reduce your time hanging about.
I’m 51 (but I’d say a young 51) and I felt like I was the youngest by a long shot as well.
Bear in mind that there are lots of different cancers with lots of different causes. Statistically, the more years somebody lives, the more years they have to get a random mutation which could cause a issue, and the more exposure to toxins that might cause a mutation. It’s not an “old person’s disease”; it’s just a statistical phenomenon - it’s not a reflection on you.
At 36 you’re still young. You’re still the person you always were. And, think about it, it probably cheers everyone up to have you around. A lot of staff members are young or youngish and they’ll like having somebody nearer their own age around who they can have a chat with and who they have something in common with.
Best of luck,
B
I really struggle with this too at appointments and throughout chemotherapy. I’m 38. X
Thank you for such a lovely response. I agree with you, I don’t know their stories, at the end of the day we all have something in common and young or old we are doing the best we can to fight it.
The first 2 sessions were tough, in the sense the radiographers didn’t really speak to me as a person and really felt I was on a conveyor belt and just a number but today it was different and felt more at ease.
Only 2 more sessions to go!!
Hope you are well.