They want more tattoos? Where/how many did u get?

breast2beast

So I went last week for my CT with tattoos for radiation for breast cancer. I had a left mastectomy already. My care has been iffy.

So I got 3 tattoos. two along each side (between arm pit and waist) and one in my lower front chest. I will gave 4 areas radiated fir nearly 7 weeks.

The techs were bad. I had bllack dye dripping down my sides on to he table. No one wiped it to even make sure the dots were there. I was wiping g it days later.

So they called and I start radiation next week...and btw...you will get another tattoo. What???
So did they mess up already? Am I supposed to get another CT scan and isn't that bad for you too? This is on my left side so I'm already worried about my heart and also prior screw ups. Btw...this us the only place I can go that's not hours and hours away. I have small kids.

(Btw...I have to go smack middle if the say as this us the only date and time I was told they have. Super hard with kids/work/etc.)

Where and how many tattoos did u get 4 radiation?

Tia

edj3

I have four tattoo dots and the fourth one was done on the first day of rads. My first three were exactly where you describe yours and the fourth is on my left breast. You'll also get an x ray before the first treatment, and I at least got an x ray every Monday during rads (also saw my radiology oncologist then too). That's to make sure everything remains lined up.

breast2beast

Thank u for the response. I've gotten such terrible care that I am leery if everything. I mean, I was coveted in black ink that day ND no one even wiped me. the female tech commented how awful it was (2men did it) and I could clean at home. oy.

WHY don't they tattoo u all up the first day? And why all these CT scans and xrays? this is my 3rd cancer...I'm in my 40s...never smoke or drink so I'd like to avoid a 4th.

Plus super bad care that I can't even write on here what awfulness has been done. (You would be quite shocked.)

Nearly a year into this...

Tia.

edj3

Really sorry about your experiences, that has to make an already difficult situation that much harder.

I don't know for sure why the fourth tattoo is done the day of the first radiation treatment but I suspect it's so that tattoo is exactly midline (pretty sure that's what they said it was for). On me, it's both the biggest and the one I felt the most. The one under my right armpit is nearly invisible and even the rad crew had a hard time finding for my treatments. The one on my breast bone (true center of mass for me) is small but I can see it, and also the one under my left armpit. But that fourth one is super easy to see.

All in all, I'm glad they're visible because I sure wanted the rads crew to get everything lined up perfectly.

I found this article from the Mayo Clinic helpful when trying to explain the radiation treatments to my family and friends, maybe it will be useful to you too?

Ingerp

I’m just a little surprised they’re using black ink. I thought all treatment centers used blue. I honestly can’t remember how many I got each time but I wouldn’t be able to find them if you paid me. Are you going to do the breath hold? It’s not a big deal to go through it but important if it’s your left side.

breast2beast

Yes. we practiced the breathing. I was given info on what to expect when I came back...nothing about another tattoo.

Again, if I could write how bad the doctors and are have been I would. just imagine u were given things u didn't need for nearly a year. I can't put it here. unnecessary surgrues, psin...and the best Zero...zero drains...all I can write.

I'VE decided I'm declining the tattoo from "dumb and dumber." I mean, I ruined a fifty buck bra because it was everywhere...really. They couldn't even wipe me off. THE female tech said do it at home. I felt pushed out of the room. And these techs are giving me radiation? I'm just not even feeling it at this point.

See above. But was done was fine and probably already sealed my fate.

I have 2 family members and they didn't get any further tattoos.

I don't need some other disease or something...because they surely didn't know what they were doing.

Thanks for the responses.

I had a left complete mastectomy on left fOlli wing a botched "lumpectomy." . My right (unaffected) is also nearly gone from an incompetent surgeon who removed a pound from it.

Feeling like this will never end...one year is too long.

edj3

Ingerp my radiology tattoos were done with black ink.

breast2beast, hope the rest of this saga goes well for you.

breast2beast

it's all bad, but thanks appreciate you. it's really bad.

I got more cancer while the doctors were busy giving me the wrong tteatment..so I trust no one but me at this point.

Plus, I went thru an entire surgery to make things better to get radiation...and sufftered.

So I'm just really upset. I mean, you can't get a dot right. And I need more. Better let me know b4 I leave or put it in your many fliers you give me...or I seriously dont trust you. Sorry venting. appreciate everyone.

edj3

Vent away. You might also take a look at this thread: Steam Room for Anger

It's a good safe place to vent as needed.

DiagnosisDisruption

I had three dots the week before rads started, then another mapping for boosts a little more than halfway into rads for the boosts, also. Turns out they didn't give me boosts because it would have messed things up even more than they were (and I only had a lumpectomy for a 2cm tumor).

As far as the rushing part, this was my complaint. I had a literal temper tantrum when they gave me my schedule. I worked 8-12, had a one hour drive and I needed rads to be scheduled at 1:00 to make it home by 2:00, missing traffic (hospital is an hour away). This was the only time that would work and I tried for two months to get them to schedule it, or at least to know when to schedule it. The nurse comes back with my schedule. They wanted me to come in at 3:45. This would have made my day awake at 7 am, work, dink around for three hours, rads, two hour drive home in traffic, and home by 6 pm. Every fricking day. For a patient that underwent chemo and surgeries. I had a two year old temper tantrum (I was hopped up on Valium because I was scared of the tattoo pain during mapping) and yelled at the nurse (in the waiting room, with patients) for jerking me around. I told her I wasn't coming back if this was how it was going to go. Apparently I went to leave when she said they'd try to figure something out. She came back 5 minutes later, and, wow, they could get me in at 12:45. Works for me.

During heavy duty chemo, two surgeries, more chemo and rads, rads sucked the most. It was like they were bored with cancer by then. Excuse me, I'm a wee bit bored with it too!

breast2beast

Ya...they made my appt smack in the middle of day. I have 2 small kids so I asked from the start...early or late because dad needs to watch them and can't miss much more work or we are losing the house. So to bumble this and cost me more time...and have that as the only appointment. I mean, I won't be able to go. It's 35 Mile's away too. I can't bring them. Anyhow...I can't do much more...I just can't...they messed me up something bad.