Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to worry over what this radiographer said?

67 replies

doginthepond · 15/05/2017 19:44

I'm very much hoping you all say AIBU!

I'm 2 years post cancer and had a check up scan this morning. Normally the radiographers do a 'all done, off you go' type communication when finished.

Today I got - 'it'll be 5 days before the images are read. Have you got an appointment with your doctor lined up? Good, that's in the system then. Are you feeling ok? (As I was climbing off the machine)

All perfectly innocent but when you've been through the head fuck of cancer, all rational thought goes out the window......

OP posts:
MadamePomfrey · 15/05/2017 19:46

Might be follow on from all the cyber attaks there are still massive delays with certain things in affected hospitals so maybe they are just making sure everyone is aware??

Original poster
doginthepond · 15/05/2017 19:48

Hadn't thought of that....don't think this hospital was affected but could be.

OP posts:
Jjacobb · 15/05/2017 19:49

I had exactly that situation at a cancer check up. I spent the next week shitting myself. All was fine, I'm sure she was just ticking boxes or being chatty.
It is worrying though, I've got a scan tomorrow and no matter what the do or don't say I will still imagine the worst.

Iggity · 15/05/2017 19:50

Isn't it a radiologist who will read these, prepare a report and feed back to your doctor? I think in cases like this, if the radiologist themselves are not doing the scan, the radiographer does the scan but it's read by the doc. I think it's fine really.

FelixtheMouse · 15/05/2017 19:52

I think it's more likely that hospitals are becoming aware that communication between different parts of the NHS, and particularly between hospitals and GPs isn't all it might be (to put it charitably) and the radiographer is checking that your follow-up is booked.

clumsyduck · 15/05/2017 19:53

Aww op I honestly wouldn't know but do you think the 5 day thing is standard ?
When I had an X-ray they said right results will be available in X days n I thought can't you just look now ? So maybe that's how it works ? If the person is new maybe just giving the standard line kind of thing ? Flowers

Sunnyshores · 15/05/2017 19:53

I think he sounded very professional and gave you the info you needed about what happens next and timescales.

missyB1 · 15/05/2017 19:53

I suspect it was just chit chat, but I can understand you felt unnerved. As someone who has had cancer myself I get very nervous at check ups, doesn't take much to make me anxious.

At my last one I could have punched the radiographer as she blatantly stared at my mastectomy scar with an expression of horror!

FadedRed · 15/05/2017 19:53

Tbh as a (now retired) HCP, the "All done, off you go" is not acceptable. After any test/screening etc, the HCP should ensure that 1) the patient is OK and 2) the patient knows where, when and how to get the results.
So today's radiographer was doing his/her job properly.
Also agree with pp in regard to the current computer issues.

Sharptic · 15/05/2017 19:59

I'm a new radiographer and would probably say that type of thing to every patient after a scan.

I should check each patient knows how to get the results of the scan, and because lots of patients feel dizzy after lying down for a scan I tend to check how they're feeling as they're standing, especially if contrast dye was used.
Hoping ur mind is put at rest soon.

Rossigigi · 15/05/2017 20:02

My radiographer said this after my CT scan and had the results last week- all clear and no problems.
Please do not worry OP

Original poster
doginthepond · 15/05/2017 20:05

Thank you all - very happy to be told Aibu!!

OP posts:
SherlockHolmes · 15/05/2017 20:10

My DD is training to be a radiographer, and has explained to me that they are not able to "report", ie tell you if everything's ok or not. It has to be seen by a radiologist.

So please don't worry.

Justaboy · 15/05/2017 20:19

I think sometimes that medical staff don't always realize the very minute snippets of info their patients hang onto and magnify up out of all proportion!

So you are not being unreasonable at all plus yes she might have been pissed off at the antiquated IT system her hospital has!

ilovechocolates · 15/05/2017 20:20

The radiographer following guidance:
www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/EasySiteWeb/getresource.axd?AssetID=61470&type=full&servicetype=Attachment
And is checking that you know how to get the results, acting professionally

Chickoletta · 15/05/2017 20:20

Radiographers just take the images - they're not trained to read them at all so I'd be very surprised if she could tell you anything even if she wanted to. My SIL has just qualified as a consultant radiologist and the whole process has taken her an extra 8 years after leaving medical school.

Really don't worry.

Bearcon · 15/05/2017 20:20

Don't worry. I had a scan two weeks ago which turned out fine and the radiographer said the same thing to me. It's just a tick box exercise.

DissonantInterval · 15/05/2017 20:21

I think you'd not be human not to worry at every scan.

If it's any help, I had a kidney scan last week (not for a cancerous condition) and the radiographer told me she couldn't tell me anything and that the report would be sent to the consultant. She then asked if I had a follow up appointment. There was also a notice sellotaped to the table in the waiting area re-iterating the point that the radiographers can't give you any information at the time of the scan.

It's easy to say don't worry, because you are bound to until you have the all clear. But, try not to worry.

ChardonnaysPrettySister · 15/05/2017 20:28

I understand you are worried about this, but everything they said was perfectly normal.

is it because they asked if you were OK when you were getting out of the machine? I wouldn't worry about that, it was because you were laying down and getting up, some people get dizzy.

Penfold007 · 15/05/2017 20:34

I had a scan last week. As the radiographer finished he said very similar to me. I think it's standard.

WhatWouldLeslieKnopeDo · 15/05/2017 20:39

To hopefully cheer you up...

At a recent scan one of the technicians told me that when the previous man had finished in the scanner, he had turned to him, held out his hand and said "respect!". The technician was a bit confused, but gave the patient a fist bump. Except the patient had actually asked for his specs! Grin

Good luck with your results Flowers

RupertsMum2 · 15/05/2017 20:44

I have had several echocardiograms (heart scans) and normally the person doing it has shown me it what she's doing, been chatty and friendly and told me at the end that everything looked fine. The last time I had a different person. They didn't say a word and told my my Dr would be in touch so I was convinced something was wrong. Everything was fine. Either protocol has changed or the they were just very different personalities. I'm sure all will be fine.

SweetieBaby · 15/05/2017 20:51

Rupertsmum - I had exactly the same experience recently. I've had 4 scans in quick succession. The first 3 they showed me what they were looking at and told me everything was fine. The latest one the radiographer didn't speak and just took measurements and then told me results would be sent to GP within 5 days. Can't get an appointment for 3 weeks so plenty of time for me to ponder what has been found (or not)

AnnaFiveTowns · 15/05/2017 20:58

I'm guilty of reading too much into these things too, but I've come to realise that most radiographers can't actually read the scans; this is why they are passed to the radiologists to report them.

It sounds completely innocuous to me. I think asking if you're feeling OK is normal when you've been lying down having a scan.

I honestly would not worry about this at all.

fannydaggerz · 15/05/2017 21:07

They are trained to read them. They have to overlay images before radiotherapy treatment so will be well aware of what is on the scan.

If something is found on the scan, it is referred onto the patients oncologist.

Swipe left for the next trending thread