treat us with dignity & sensitivity

Public Archive
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Some suggestion for hospital staff to treat BC patients with dignity & sensitivity. NB I must stress that these comments were inspired by a visit to plastic surgery outpatients appt to discuss reconstruction rather than at a BC unit.

NURSES

  1. The nurse should introduce him/herself before asking us to do anything, ESPECIALLY undress. Please also ask us how we would like to be addressed.

  2. Please remember that we are being treated for BC and be sensitive - we’re not just here for cosmetic reasons but because we’re fighting/have fought cancer. It’s surely not too much to ask that you’ve familiarised yourself with our case.

  3. Do not expect us to wait dressed only in a flimsy hospital gown to meet a doctor, especially one we’ve never met before. This may save a few seconds of their valuable time but it can be really humiliating for us.

DOCTORS

1-3. The same as above.

  1. “Does she take sugar?” It’s great to include our partners/husbands/supporters in the discussion, but PLEASE don’t let the patient feel that she’s being excluded from the conversation. Oh, and please maintain eye contact with US.

  2. Don’t pour scorn on our own research and assume that we don’t know how to ascertain quality information on the Internet.

  3. If we ask you a question to which you don’t have an immediate answer, don’t dismiss it out of hand. Consider giving us the answer once you’ve had the time to research an answer.

I’m sure others will have their own comments!

Deborah

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I’ve also just had a bad experience. I visited the clinical oncologist for the first time last week and was told to undress – which I wasn’t expecting. He’s not my surgeon so why would he need to feel my boobs? (I still don’t have the answer to this one and stupidly didn’t ask why he wanted to examine me). This was the first time anyone had seen me since my surgery and I felt like a lump of meat. It was humiliating and I actually felt dirty. I’m still thinking of declining my chemotherapy treatment, partly because of the awful experience I went through.

Elizabeth

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Hi Elizabeth,

I am sorry that you were not treated with courtesy. I think that your Oncologist should have explained why he needed to examine your breast.

When I saw the Oncologist for the first time I was not surprised that he wanted to examine my breast area because the Surgeon had already told me, after my operation, that I should have radiotherapy.

Do you have a contact with a breastcare nurse or would you be able to speak with the Surgeon?

Elena

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Thanks Elena

That makes sense. It’s all so new and horrible and anything I’m not expecting just sends me into a downward spiral. I will take your advice and contact my BC nurse. I’m also seeing my surgeon on Friday so can have a chat with him too.

Thanks again

Elizabeth x

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It is a real shame Elizabeth that you were made to feel ‘dirty’ when the doctor asked you to undress. I can see how that happened though as so often health professionals forget that patients are human beings, focusing on the ‘task’ and end goal of getting the job done.

Out of interest, do these doctors have chaperones? If not, they really should.

Hummingbird
x

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Hi Hummingbird

Yes there was a chaperone but it was still horrible! Hopefully he will be the last “new” person I have to see (and anyone else new I won’t have to get undressed in front of).

Elizabeth x

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We have all had to face this distressing and upsetting new world. On the whole I have found most staff well-trained and considerate, but I also have had to remind myself that they are under enormous pressure of time and statistics, and don’t always follow their own guidelines properly.

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Hi ladies,
When I went to get the results of my biopsy i was asked to strip to the waist then left for what seemed ages. while i could hear the registrar and others chatting and laughing in a side room - there were three chairs left in my room and a bc nurse was hovering - so i kind of knew it was bad news coming but it was an aweful 10 mins and I felt so vulnerable. To be fair since then the team treating me have been really sensative - but that first appointment was aweful. I know this probably sounds raceist but i suppose doctors from different culture have different ways of treating patients? To be honeast I am prepared to stand stark naked in front of anyyone in a white coat if that’s what it takes to get rid of this aweful thing - but not everyone feels liek that - and people deserve to be treated with sensativity.
cheers
caroline