Is it common to have male radiation techs?
For all of my mammograms, ultrasounds, etc. the techs were female. I was surprised when I got to my first radiation treatment and went to lay down on the table, a guy I had never seen before came up and told me to take my arm out of the gown. Maybe it's common, but it really caught me off guard when I was already feeling stressed and vulnerable. My Gyno and breast surgeon are both female because that's what I'm comfortable with, I hated the feeling of being put on the spot. I wasn't comfortable but didn't feel like I could object as I'm laying down on the table. So back to my question, is it typical to have female techs do your treatment or is it common to have male techs?
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I found that male techs were quite common and part of the norm. I had asked the radiologist ahead of time to assure me that I would be covered with a sheet except for the times when they had to actually do the radiation to a specific location requiring removal of the sheet. She was kind of annoyed, but agreed to it and it's my understanding that you can ask (but you have to ask) and they should provide. They act like it's all routine and no big deal, but I felt very vulnerable lying there exposed and on my back. I likened it to feeling like a dying bug turned upside down on the sidewalk - very vulnerable. On another note, I'm not real specific about whether a tech is male or female; to me it's the individual person and there are women I wouldn't want to be around when I'm naked and vulnerable either, but I thought they were generally real insensitive all around about the whole process. I've heard from others though, who didn't care at all and said, "what the heck!" Many do care however, and the medical systems should understand and accommodate. I'm sorry you had to experience what you did.
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At my treatment center the breast cancer radiation techs were usually females and the prostate cancer radiation techs were usually males. Each team stayed with a specific LINAC machine so if one machine was being serviced you ended up with the other team. The men seemed more upset when they had to have female techs than the other way around. For less sex specific cancers such as colon or head and neck the patients and techs were mixed.
While you have options in choosing an outpatient provider (and consequently their gender) you do not have the same choice when you are hospitalized. You could always ask if a female were available to do that specific task (maybe switching with someone in the control room) but there would be no guarantee the request would be honored. You always have the option of asking for a chaperone (not necessarily a medical provider) during any intimate examination or procedure.
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I had one male radiation tech and the rest have been female. I think my perspective is a little different as I had bilateral mastectomies and no nipples so they don’t feel like intimate sexual objects. They covered me until the radiation and there was a female present. He was just helping and it had been later in the day.
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I'm doing rads for the second time in my life, and at a different location than before. At both locations, it's been predominantly male techs. It threw me off too, when I arrived to do the mapping and was greeted by two male techs... but it was more because they were all business. One thing I noticed is these techs are a little less likely to introduce themselves, and a little less into small talk. I can't tell if it's just this location or that they're male (there is one female tech who's kind of in that camp too). I've insisted on asking their names 😏 and asking a question or two. Mostly it's just to slow them down a bit because they're all about the task at hand.
Anyway, I'm really sorry you have had to feel vulnerable... this whole process is an exercise in vulnerability… but that doesn't make it right! I can't really add to what the others have said, but can appreciate why you feel the way you do.
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I also had a male tech for radiation but I refused. The doctor was not happy but I didn’t care. The RO said I should have told them I wanted a female tech. I responded that if the RO had been willing to meet with me prior to radiation we could have discussed it. But since the RO was refusing in person visits due to Covid (understandable) we did not discuss anything prior to my mapping appointment which was with female techs. I wrongly assumed radiation would be given by those same female techs. Lesson learned.
Ironically when I had chemo for ovarian cancer last year at a different hospital, I had the only male oncology nurse at the infusion center and my doctor asked if that was okay. It was more than okay, he was fantastic. Actually all the nurses there were amazing.
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Thanks everyone. I'm a week into radiation and not freaking out about it as much but still uncomfortable with how it was all handled. 15 more visits and I'm done, now I'm just focused on the finish line. I really appreciate you all taking the time to post and share your experiences with me ❤️
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