"being given dignity"

All the treatment I received for breast cancer has been brilliant the surgeons and staff at day surgery and the wonderful chemo nurses, until I went to radiotherapy. I cannot believe that you are not given a choice if you would like to get undressed in a changing room and put on a gown or get undressed in the therapy room with the radiotherapist present and given what looks like a piece of kitchen roll to cover your modesty. As this was my first day of radiotherapy I was already nervous and stressed and did not feel able to express my distress at the situation. The next morning I did explain how difficult I found changing in front of other people and they did show me to a changing room and I use one all the time now, but a should NOT have had to have that demeaning,humiliating and dehumanising experience in the first place. Receiving your treatment and having to be undressed is what you have to do BUT PLEASE LET US HAVE DIGNITY when dressing and undressing. I really think that patient dignity is so important for our emotional and mental well being, we are already having to face the fear of cancer the changes to our bodies because of surgery and over coming the side effects of chemo. Come on radiotherapy find your EMPATHY.

It does not take much effort to treat us with respect, what is normal for you is out of everyone else comfort zone.