Permanent tattoo markings for radiation

LM070917

Hey all,

I'm about to finish chemo soon and have an rads prep appointment next week to get marked up and prepped for my rads sessions starting on the 8th March for 5 weeks.

Can you tell me if its standard for everyone to get permanent tattoo markings of where to line up the rads machine? Just wondering that in this day and age they need to use permanent dye, as supposed to something more semi permanent, just seems another unwanted souvenir 😀 My friend had rads done in the 90s and said they used some dye which wasn't permanent. Thanks

Kicks

I had 4 tats done for 'line up' - some go through with 'magic marker' used. To me, a 'freckle sized' dot that would not change and I didn't have to be careful to not accidently remove made sense. Magic markers are not as exact and have to be redone (possibility for slight change) of the 'mark' site during TX.

The rad tats are not big tattoos - just small pinpoint/freckles. After the end of rads, they can be removed easily (so I'm told) by a Dr in today's world. Just found out yesterday at my Dermatology appt that mine have all 4 'disappeared' - something so small as a blue freckle or 2 is not something I obsess over.

Nancy2581

I agree with Kicks. I have 4 pinpoint tattoos as well. Honestly, I don't even think about them or even notice they are there. They are so tiny.

Nancy

Professor50

The tattoos are so small I am not even sure I could find mine, a year later.

MsPharoah

Lottemarine, I had small freckle-size tattoos. It was certainly not painful and really not noticeable. But, I know how you feel because I felt the same way. For some reason I was more emotional with radiation....perhaps because it was the last part of active treatment for me. I remember the technicians asking me how I was going to celebrate my last rads treatment and I said.." I;m not going to celebrate anything cancer related" and then I proceeded to bawl throughout the entire last treatment. The techs said nothing more.

MsP

etnasgrl

I was told by my Radiation Oncologist that the tattoos serve two purposes.
One, they can be used as markers, to make sure the correct area is receiving radiation and second, they can let future doctors know that the area within the tattoo markers have received radiation. (The same area can not receive radiation twice.)

It really is not bad at all. They look like very tiny freckles, hardly noticeable. It felt like a bee sting when they were done.

exbrnxgrl

Yes, they are generally used in the US, however in placed that have large communities that object to tattoos for religious reasons, alternative such as Sharpies and iodine can be used. I had rads to my femur and can barely find the dots

Kicks

My religion 'frown on' decorative tats. HOWEVER marks needed for medical reasons ('freckles' for aligning TX) is not frowned on.

Cubbie2015

I was given the option of having the tattoos, or continuing on with stickers and marker drawings. Another advantage of getting the tattoos is that toward the end of treatment, when your skin is pretty irritated and possibly peeling, you don't have to worry about stickers having to be removed and replaced, which could be painful. Before I had the tattoos, the stickers had to be replaced about once a week, because they do slip and lose their stickiness after a while.

I chose the tattoos to save on wear and tear on my skin, but it was totally up to me. I asked my RO about needing the tattoos for future reference after radiation is complete, and he said they could reconstruct my radiation field from my records if needed. It wasn't absolutely necessary I get the tattoos, or keep them afterward, for that matter. I have three, one on each side, and one just above and to the right of my armpit. They are in spots I doubt anyone would see, even if I wore a swimsuit.

exbrnxgrl

Yes, they are generally used in the US, however in placesthat have large communities that object to tattoos for religious reasons, alternative such as Sharpies and iodine can be used. I had rads to my femur and can barely find the dots.

Hopeful82014

I did not want the tattoos, for a variety of reasons, and my RO, while encouraging me to accept them, did work with me on the stickers and sharpie marks. In the end, only 2 of 3 stickers ever needed to be replaced over the course of 7 weeks, so I felt that worked out very well. The techs didn't have any issues with them at all.

I have very fair skin and no freckles; the marks that other women showed me would have stood out like a sore thumb on my pasty skin and would have been a most unwelcome reminder.

As to using them for alignment info later, with so many women having theirs removed these days I really don't see that as a compelling argument.

I say, do what YOU want. It's YOUR body.

Good luck with RT.

sos1125

I just yesterday went for my sim. When the techs said they would do tattoos, I asked whether that was strictly necessary as I believe it will be difficult enough to stop focusing on cancer post-treatment without the constant visual reminder. Was told they could just use markers instead and put clear tegaderm patches over those to prevent them washing off (which is what they did, there was no problem about it--apparently many would prefer not to have tattoos). This was at a comprehensive cancer center, I am guessing there are few if any facilities that will absolutely insist on tattoos if you indicate that you would rather not have them.

Hopeful82014

Thanks for your update. I'm glad that worked out so easily for you, SOS.

My techs gave me a couple of extra tegaderm patches to keep on hand if needed over a weekend; you might want to ask about that at your first tx.

octogirl

I can't see my radiation tattoos. I'd probably need reading glasses or a magnifying glass to see them with my vision.

Octogirl

Cowgirl13

I don't think I could every find mine. Now, I'm kind of curious about where they are.

ksusan

Mine are larger--more freckle-sized than pinpoint-sized.

doxie

Mine are mole size and blue black. When I wear a low cut top, I dab a bit of eye concealer on the one visible. Otherwise they aren't an issue for me. It's better now that they are fading.

Eire66

I am starting my 20 sessions on Monday 1st and my tattoos 'freckles' are teeny tiny. I didn't know that I was getting them until the day of mapping, doctor forgot to tell me!!

ShetlandPony

I think the techs prefer tattoos because it is easier for them, so they don't offer the marker alternative unless you ask. If you don't want tattoos, say so.

LM070917

Thanks ladies, it doesn't sound that the tattoos are too bad then. I'm getting my markers on Tuesday.

LM070917

just had my tattoos done and it all went fine. They really are tiny, nothing to worry about in the grand scheme of things 😀