Winter 2005 | The Canadian Journal of Medical Radiation Technology | Hiver 2005 •

I was very lucky that my lesion was only 8 mm in diameter and the nodes negative - perhaps the benefit of breast screening and early detection. Radiation therapy is often prescribed to follow lumpectomy; however I have a systemic condition that made this course less appealing. As such, after discussions with my oncologist, we opted to use Tamoxifen.

The technological and interpersonal skills of the mammographer have a huge impact on women with breast cancer. It is the mammographer who makes the early contact and will determine whether the woman feels anxious or well cared for during the phases of diagnosis, surgery, and follow-up examinations. My experience confirmed for me the unique opportunity the imaging technologists have in contributing to the health care team, and reinforced my respect for their skills, knowledge and judgement.

In the fall of 2004, I had my biannual mammogram and hardly gave it a second thought. However, two weeks later, the phone call from the breast screening centre for repeat films would shatter my sense of complacency and put my life in a tailspin. The radiation therapist in me wanted to take control and ensure all the best decisions were made. But as a woman I needed reassurance, support and comfort; family and good friends were to play a vital role in helping me deal with sifting through diagnostic information and the inevitable hospital appointments. On my return visit to the imaging department the first person I encountered was a mammographer; then an ultrasonographer and finally a radiologist participated in the investigative procedures. The department was busy, cold and impersonal and the wait between procedures seemed interminable – departmental policy didnʼt allow my husband to wait with me. The technologists performed their work efficiently, but there was little warmth and empathy and I felt quite abandoned by a group of people I imagined would be understanding and supportive. It is trite to say just how important these first encounters are to woman during this diagnostic phase.

However, the experiences I had subsequently with the breast imaging department at the hospital where I would have my surgery were extremely positive, in fact quite the opposite from my previous encounters. This demonstrated for me how departmental culture can have an enormous influence on how patients perceive their experience.

The mammographerʼs personality and skill set are a determinant factor in the womanʼs well-being as she moves through the process of diagnosis and treatment planning. When I was a radiation therapist I was able to develop a relationship with my patients because I would see them five days a week for a number of weeks. Mammographers (and treatment planning staff) must make this connect instantly with their patient, making her feel comfortable and safe; and obtain a good quality image.

As a health care professional, I was quite apprehensive about my surgery – in some respects I had too much knowledge and knew just what might go wrong. Having just retired from radiation therapy practice, I was returning to my former work environment as a patient. On the one hand this was intimidating; on the other, it was reassuring to be in the care of familiar faces that I knew I could trust.

PATIENT PERSPECTIVES

This article was written by Christiane Ménard, CAMRT s̓ Director of Communications, and are based on personal interviews with the individuals concerned.