radiation in prone position

Georgia1

Hi everyone and happy Sunday. I have a dumb question. I'm starting radiation right after Thanksgiving and will be lying on my stomach in the prone position. How does that work exactly? I understand I should start using miaderm in advance but just to my breast only? Does the radiation come in through the side so I should moisturize my side too? I forgot to ask the tech who did my mapping. Thanks for any advice.

gb2115

Do you know how many radiation "fields" they are targeting. You will want to moisturize wherever it hits. If you are getting lymph nodes done I would do under your arm, up to your collarbone and the upper part of your back (the beam goes through if they do your under collarbone nodes).

Don't use miaderm right before treatment. I think it says 4 hours but they told me not to use it until after the day's treatment.

Georgia1

Thanks for the reply. I guess I don't know how many fields, but it is just my breast and not lymph nodes.

gb2115

Then you are probably ok just moisturizing your breast!! It doesn't hurt to moisturize other places though...just wastes $$$$ lotion.

labelle

I had RADS done in the prone position. For me, the skin was impacted in basically a diagonal line from my left (radiated) breast to my collarbone on the right side-rather like a "farmers' tan" of the chest area-as well as my entire left breast and the underarm area close to my left breast. Despite not targeting the lymph nodes, I did lose my underarm hair on the left side and needed to moisturize that armpit, the left breast and the area between my breasts up to my collarbone. RADS in the prone position is supposed to reduce the chances of lung/heart issues due to RADS. A few studies have also shown it to be better in terms of cosmetic outcomes.

I had some major and severe skin issues and developed an infected seroma during RADS, but don't attribute these problems to the prone position.

However, almost 3 years later, if not for my surgical scars, one would be hard pressed to tell which breast was radiated. I've had no shrinkage of the radiated breast nor lasting discoloration of the area-other than a few extra age spots/freckles (let's call them freckles) on my chest.

Georgia1

Thanks so much!

RoseRN1

i had it prone they put pads and your mold on top of the table and leave a hole for your breast to dangle down. They radiate under the table and sides