Waikato Regional Cancer Centre has completed installation of a sky ceiling in the Green Room, one of four bunkers housing linear accelerator machines for patients undergoing radiation therapy treatment. The ceiling should help distract patients during their treatment and make what can be a scary room a little friendlier.
UPDATE:
Cushla Tahana, a 36-year old mum from Rotorua, was one of the first patients to experience treatment in the refurbished Green Room. Earlier in 2016 her life was turned upside down after being diagnosed in January with grade 3 breast cancer. What followed was four months of chemotherapy, a double mastectomy and then radiation therapy.
Cushla says she was fairly nervous coming to radiation for the first time. “I was coming out of my comfort zone into the unknown.” She says the radiation therapy staff made her feel more comfortable and made the experience easier, and the sky ceiling gave her something to focus on when she was lying on the treatment bed.
“The staff are amazing, the room is amazing, and it just calms the nerves before you hop on the bed. I’m not so nervous anymore, at all.”
Staff report a really positive reaction from many other patients too. The whole idea is to provide a positive experience for patients during treatment that can last from 10 to 60 minutes.
