You need to let the Staff know about this problem, at the Norris Cotton Cancer Center I had a card that I put in a machine apon arrival (works similar to wn ATM) this then told the secretary and the Techs that I was present. The secretary receives a call from the Tech for the patient, you give your name and date of birth and proceed to a waiting area.Next a Tech comes and revarifies your name and date of birth and escorts you to the radiation room where another Tech joins in and verifies the name and date of birth on the neck brace, mask and mouth guard then a 3rd Tehn joins in and reverifies everything again before snapping the mask down. Before starting the machine they (all three techs) would verify that the machine was set for me and not someone else!This seemed like alot at the time, but the Techs explained that they did not want to make a mistake with the radiation theropy. So listen to everyone and complain to your Doctors ASAP! Bob

Don . . . I also had a card to check in and I never had any techs that I didn't reconize or visa versa. One comment on the mask, mine was so tight initially that I had them cut ( RO okayed ) a small rectangle around the adam's apple area so I could swallow without discomfort. Best of luck.

I can't believe you haven't reported this the the doctors, especially since it almost happened a second time. Do not wait any longer. Print off you posts so you don't forget any of the details and see the RO tomorrow, not sometime next week. This guy could do someone a lot of harm.

Take care,
Eileen

now Four Down Thirty One to go

Today was about the same routine, same Tech, motioned me to follow him. But once in the Tomo room there was a second Tech.

Unfortunately he turned out to be a trainee
Neither asked me to confirm my ID.

I made sure to keep my glasses on so I could clearly see that it was my image being displayed on the Tomo machine. It was, so I politely handed the Tech my glasses and laid down... session went fine.

Tomorrow, after my Tomo session I have an appointment with my RO and will asked about protocol and if it is possible to zap the wrong patient.

Over the week-end I combed the TomoTherpay web site to see if it had any info on safeguards that might be built into the system -- didn't find anything. So I went through the American College of Surgeons site since this Cancer Center is accredited by them. Their site has a lot on protocols to be followed, but nothing related to the actual zapping.

Tomorrow, I will approach the issue delicately. I don't want to piss anyone off since this is the only Cancer Center in San Diego with a Helical TomoTherapy Hi Art IGRT/IMRT system and I have been told for Head and Neck it is my best treatment option.

Now Six down Twenty Nine to go

It turned out I was wrong about having an appointment with my RO this past Tuesday. We do exchange hello�s most days at the Cancer Center, so when I asked he said not until next week unless I was having a problem.

I figured discussing the zap protocol in the hall was inappropriate and could wait a week.
Also this week I have had different Techs.

Yesterday the Tech was Debra. She did my first zap -- so I asked her. She said it couldn�t happen because everyone has a unique plan and the CT Scan wouldn�t match.

Of note Debra did call me by my name, but I noticed when I walk into the vault that my picture was not showing on those little displays built into the Tomo. But, my name was showing on a nearby computer display. So now I figure if I don�t seem my picture on the Tomo to check that display.

Today a different Tech named Julie called me by name, and then Debra joined her. I think the girls are really good, but Danny and his trainee still bother me. I guess now having two Techs is also an improvement since most of my zaps have been by just one.

Well with that I will probable end this thread, but at an appropriate time mention it to my RO just to confirm that they really can�t zap the wrong guy

Hi Don,

It's up to you what you do and you certainly need to be comfortable with the people who are working with you while in treatment. That said I do think that your centre seems to be lacking in consistency with their protocols and cross checks. This is a problem that may have affected not only you but also the guy who may have missed out on his brain zaps.

I had to have surgery in the second week of my treatment and missed two days of radiotherapy because of that. I then had to make up those days by attending on consecutive Saturdays. My RO said it was vital that I received the full radiotherapy treatment and that even missing two could compromise the outcome. I guess my point is that if you have missed even 1 prescibed dose it is important to follow it up and get the extra treatment is there has been an error.

I know that it may be uncomfortable but you may be compromising both yours and someone else's treatment by not following this up.

Good luck with the rest of your treatments and please keep us updated with your progress!

Sue

I used to ask my RO questions whereever I saw him and he would quit what he was doing and listen then give me his thoughts. He is still the same way. just approach him and he will take the time to help.

I believe that if there is any doubt about recieving the correct treatment that you should ask the question now. Ask the RO and make sure he/she checks the treatment plan and reviews the records of the treatment that you have already recieved. You have to be your own advocate at times. Protocols for radiation, as Brian and Gary have eluded to are to be "EXACTLY as prescribed" and only altered by the doctors. We all know mistakes happen and unfortunatly too often in my own opinion. Check it out, it will only benefit you and if all is right it will certainly take at least one stress off your shoulders.
All the best,
Cheers.
Mike

DonB - While it is not my place to tell you what to do, I am a little surprised by your willingness to let this ride, continuing to get more treatments from a tech that may have made more than one mistake on you, and live within the doctor's schedule/timetable to discuss it. That level of trust may not be justified, and makes me feel that you do not fully appreciate the seriousness of the issue. I will not say any more about this, as this (OCF) is a place to come safely to talk without being pushed in one direction or another.

Thanks to so many for being concerned, but I am pretty confident now that I was not zapped using another patients treatment plan.

I am sure it was just newbie anxiety, but I will bring it up with my RO at our appointment next Tuesday.

I went over this again with Julie. Of note, both Debra and Julie have always called me by name.

Julie is the by far the best RT Tech I have had and like Debra, she said "It can't happen".

She said she thinks she always calls patient in by their name, but confirmed they could and some might rely solely on the photo displays which she showed me was also on their control console.

She said she didn't see how Danny could have ever gotten past the setup phase without detecting he had the wrong patient.

But, she said even if he were to the Tomo has to be able to register the Treatment Plan with the daily CT Scan and recalibrate or it will abort.

She said "the shift would be to great".