I am afraid I might have to miss treatments because of a historic blizzard coming this way. I'd been hoping for an easy winter. Could this effect my out come?

While it's not generally recommended to miss scheduled radiations, there are times when there is no other option. Most times the radiation sessions are just added on at the end. I do not think that this will affect your outcome.
Take care in that blizzard,
Tammy

Maybe the historic blizzard won't be that bad. While it's not a good idea to miss a Rad session, - every patient is different, so IF it does look like travel may be dangerous, I would check with the doctor just to let him know what's up. Once, my son missed an appointment but it was because the Rad Tx Center gave everybody a day off because of a holiday. Another time, when it was time for us to go to his Rad Tx, my son absolutely refused to go, he was in such pain and as hard as I tried to get him going, he just laid there refusing to move. Then I remembered he also had a doctor's appointment with the oncology doctor so I convinced him to just go for his scheduled appointment and when the doctor saw the condition of his mouth and throat, he gave him a day off. And he survived. I'll pray for the blizzard to move out of your area.

I can't give a definite answer to your question, but would probably say no, if it's a day or two. There is some literature saying for each day of unscheduled radiation missed is like reducing survival by a certain percentage, but I don't recall what it said about how long in duration or making up the days like going in for a 6th day, tacking it on at the end or doing double treatments, 6 hours apart, changes matters, and it may.

I missed several days of radiation treatment during the hurricane in 2012. The hospital closed for 5 days due to loss of power, so eventually our treatment plans were sent to a sister hospital, and had to go there for several days. I also lost 3 days due to being hospitalized for a blood transfusion and dehydration. At the end, I needed to go in for the 6th day, and a week was added at the end.

When I had Proton treatment last year, I was unable to get transportation to NJ due to snow, and several holidays they were closed, so the days missed were added at the end, once they opened up for the weekend.

The doctors didn't seem too concerned just saying they'll be added on, so patients do miss days for various reasons, and better to be safe, so radiation can be finished for the allotted times. I think its a concern when patients decide to stop treatment completely or a longer duration. Looks like the snow here is going to be mostly overnight into Tuesday, but one inch here basically shuts down the city.

Good luck, and be safe.

There are so many things to get freaked out over during this whole ordeal, it's best to try to focus on those that really are important. I'm no doctor but missing rad session that is tacked on to the end seems pretty minimal. I've never read here where someone posted here that any RO staff lit their hair on fire screaming about a missed rad appointment.

Common sense also seems to indicate an extra day or two between sessions is not that critical. Holidays are skipped and every weekend is two days off. I just never felt an extra day or two between sessions was something I was going to get worked up over.

My treatments were in March/April last year, where we have a lot of public hoidays including Easter. They scheduled in double doses on the adjoining days. You can have two hits in a day, as long as they are 8? hours apart.

Mine were obviously known events, but they do rearrange hits around chemo treatments, colds and flu etc. Its completely routine.

Yes I believe I had to miss one or two through no fault of my own. They added them on at the end. I was told it wouldn't affect my outcome.

I missed two, one the machine broke down and the second was a holiday. I asked them to double up. Not fun - but doable. HUGS!

I ended up not having to miss any appointments! Yeah! The storm wasn't so bad as predicted and we were able to get out. I am hoping the rest of the winter is mild and I can get through these appointments. I want to keep zapping these cancer cells.

Thanks everyone for easing my fears. I was hoping to have all these treatments done before my kids birthday.