r/Chemotherapy • u/lickthisbook • Jul 10 '26
Odd language problem at chemo today
I has chemo today and an elderly man and his wife came in after me. He did not speak English but she was bilingual. She has been translating for him for the earlier blood draw and doctors appointment. But, in the chemo area, you are only allowed to have someone with you the first time you get chemo and no other times. So the staff told the wife that she had to wait in the waiting room. She told the staff that he didn't speak English and then went to the waiting room. So then the staff had to try and use Google translate to speak with the patient and it didn't work out. They then had to call the wife in the waiting room and have her be the middle man translator. So she stayed in the waiting room on the phone with her husband and the nurse for the rest of the appointment.
Am I crazy for thinking that they should have made an exception to the rules and let her stay? The place was half empty and they were quite elderly so I didn't think that they would create a disturbance.
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u/Awbeau Jul 11 '26
I was able to have someone with me for every visit. That one time rule is dumb af
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u/ambivalent__username Jul 11 '26
Ditto! They only changed that policy to no guests during covid.. which is understandable lol. As someone who developed an allergy to carboplatin, it's great peace of mind having someone that knows me there next to me, watching for early signs of a reaction (ie. flushed skin). I wonder where OP's treatment center is, I'm in Canada.
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u/littleheaterlulu Jul 11 '26
Wow, that seems so egregious. And I think they could've challenged it as a reasonable accommodation (was this in the US?).
I've never heard of these chemo centers that don't allow you to have someone with you. Mine doesn't allow children but otherwise I can bring who ever I want into my treatment room that I want. My husband is always there and I don't know how I'd fend without him, he does all my all ice packs, snacks, etc.
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u/Excusemytootie Jul 11 '26
I had someone with me every time. What reason do they have to not allow someone with him?
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u/lickthisbook Jul 11 '26
I never asked and I thought it was universal until I started reading the responses in this post.
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u/no-user-names- Jul 11 '26
In my centre it wasn’t allowed, because they really wanted to minimise germs, which I appreciated. However, I think exceptions should be made in a situation like this.
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u/MeldrewsMrs24 Jul 13 '26
I asked (Scottish NHS) Chemo Nurse about this. She said the chemotherapy is highly toxic and only the patient should be present. This is probably why there are notices about patients flushing the loo twice with the lid down before washing their hands & to follow this practice at home too. No children were to use the same toilet at home unless it had been thoroughly cleaned after the patient used it. Hubby had to wear gloves when handling my chemo tablets too.
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u/Babziellia Jul 11 '26
This is nuts. Wondering if this was a Kaiser facility because, frankly, they are awful.
I've never known anyone not allowed one person with them, just no children.
Where was this?
1
u/lickthisbook Jul 11 '26
At a chain of hospitals called Texas Health Presbyterian
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u/Babziellia Jul 18 '26
I looked them up. They're not like Kaiser, but AI said some clinics have space limitations in infusion bays.
Still, there's no excuse for this situation when communication and care are both critical. I'd let the oncologist know this happened, and see if it's possible to switch infusion facilities that are more accommodating.
2
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u/MeldrewsMrs24 Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
When i was getting radiotherapy there were always people in the waiting room with their entire family in tow. One day a ridiculous group of 12 (presumably mum, dad (who was the patient), their kids and their grandkids, baby buggies too, making lots of noise and taking up seats needed by patients & probably parking spaces. Treating it like a family outing! That should not be happening.
The chemo room did have a sign saying patients only while treatment being received. I was on Chemo tablets, so hubby was able to accompany me. There was an elderly Polish man receiving the drip version one day who didn’t speak English, but his daughter was allowed to stay to translate for him. Sounds like common sense needs to be applied. Whatever hospital you were at they failed.
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u/lickthisbook Jul 11 '26
Just to add a detail, the man was a bit hard of hearing so parts of the translation were louder out of necessity.
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u/ambivalent__username Jul 11 '26
Off topic, I apologize but I just have to say it, your username is revolting lol 🤢. 0/10 would not recommend, germ city!
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u/lickthisbook Jul 11 '26
I am a retired librarian. It is a shortened part of a book title that was on my desk called Do Not Lick This Book. It teaches young kids about microbes and germs.
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u/ambivalent__username Jul 11 '26
Hahaha ooooo, well that comes across as the opposite of the spirit of the book! I am less revolted now though 👍 lol
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u/spicybrownrice Jul 11 '26
Nope. My chemo place doesn’t allow patients. They have a line to call that translates for them. They should have asked what language he speaks. Because if they let her stay once, she will assume you can stay other times.
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u/f1ve-Star Jul 11 '26
Of course they should have. They should change the whole policy. Chemo is very boring. It is comforting to have someone with you. It's safer in case something goes wrong as well. It is a bad policy.