Radiation & Tattoos

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  • Pollyagain
    Pollyagain Member Posts: 30
    edited July 2011

    Elizabeth, How long did the magic marker lines have to be left on before you ould wash them off?  Did you have IMRT form of treatments?

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  • stage1
    stage1 Member Posts: 475
    edited July 2011

    I have 7 rads left.  I got three tats. No choice.  They are larger than I thought they would be, as I had read they would be nearly invisible.  They hurt a little more than I thought, felt like a dull needle, but quick to finish.  Nothing is pleasant with BC.  Just coping, i am burnt and I am tired, but we have to face that these are all life-saving procedures. 

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  • sundermom
    sundermom Member Posts: 463
    edited July 2011

    I got 4 tattoos.  It was my choice to get them.  My treatment has lasted almost 8 weeks, between holidays and machine issues.  I can not imagine living with the LARGE black marks and stickers all over my chest for that long.  It is pool season after all!!!  Mine are slightly larger than a pin head, but I can pick them out plain as day.  The only one really bothers me is right at the top of my reconstructed breast and is visible depending on the shirt I wear.  I use a dot of DermaBlend if I'm going out and don't want it to show.  I've just added it to my makeup routine.  The little dots are nothing compared to the BMX scars, but it will all be worth if I'm here 50 years from now :)

    Tammy

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  • Elizabeth1889
    Elizabeth1889 Member Posts: 1,036
    edited July 2011

    Hi Pollyagain,

    The magic marker marks were just done to map the area to be radiated when the actual treatments began.  They also showed where to put the tattoes.  I could wash markers marks off as soon as I the simulation was over.  The tattoes are permanent, of course.  Even though they are small, they bother me much more than the surgical scars.  My actual treatments will not begin until July 11. 

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  • geocachelinda
    geocachelinda Member Posts: 223
    edited July 2011

    OK I am just about freaked right out now!  I would have panic attacks reading about port placement before I got my port put in.  Luckily that went off without a hitch.  I better take a couple Zanax before I go in for my marking.  Probably not until Sept or Oct.  Still on chemo

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  • Fitz33
    Fitz33 Member Posts: 243
    edited July 2011

    geocachelinda:  Your tatoos should go as easily as your port placement.  I wasn't given a choice if I wanted tatoos or not (what is the alternative?) and they are so tiny you can hardly see them.  My "x"s and squiggly lines are something else but I know they will wash off eventually.  There is so much lining up for the techs to do to get us in the right spot and so I don't mind the markings as long s I know they're saving my life.  I'm wondering if you can ask for a very small needle to do the tatoo markings?  Really, mine are just a pinprick size. 

    A good thing from having the rads is my arm didn't have much range since I was only out of surgery a couple of weeks.  I just completed my 15th rad today and I can swing my arm out of the sim so easily now and have complete range of motion in that arm.

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  • yizbieta
    yizbieta Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2011

    Hi All-

    First radiation was yesterday. I get tattoos today. I have been wearing bright green marks under clear tape for a week, even on my upper chest for all to see. Can't wait to get those off (all but two will be tattoos after today), but mostly, it has been okay. My team is great but very young. I keep thinking, 'we need an adult in here!' but I am pretty sure they are skilled and well-trained.

    I was told I would not feel anything, but I have to say, it seemed I could feel something afterwards in the area that is targeted. We'll see after today's session again. I also feel a little sick- nausea- is that possible with breast as a target? They said not. I am having headaches and am tired - this just after one treatment so far.

    Does anyone have any idea if this is normal- and what else may I expect (even though I realize everyone is different)?

    Thank you for any input you may have. I appreciate this site!

    Elizabeth

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  • Pollyagain
    Pollyagain Member Posts: 30
    edited July 2011

    Well, I talked to the radiation Oncologist's nurse yesterday and asked her about the mapping marks.  They told me at the sim that I hadf to leave them on throughout the duration of the treatment. After reading the boards, I thought I misunderstood.  I have not seen one person say that they had to leave them on for 6 or 7 weeks.  She confirmed that.  Said that everyone who receives any kind of IMRT there must leave the marks and tape on, tattoos or not.   This is not a little ticky tack hospital but a huge teaching cancer facility.  I can't tell you how much I hate this. Can't believe more people don't complain about it.

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  • coraleliz
    coraleliz Member Posts: 1,523
    edited July 2011

    I got tattoo'd yesterday. 3 total. One i didn't feel because it was in an area that is numb following my BMX. The other 2 I felt. But as far as pain/discomfot, it was over quick. I wouldn't have thought to say anything about it except I found this thread. BC has taken me far more painful places. As for what they look like, yesterday I thought they looked like blackheads & each had an very small area of redness around it. Today the red is gone & marks are quite small. But they still look like blackheads to me. They aren't anywhwere anyone will see unless I intententionally expose them. It may be different for someone who had a lumpectomy.

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  • BlazerFanC
    BlazerFanC Member Posts: 71
    edited July 2011
    Coraleliz   I have 4 and one of them looks like a blackhead to me too!  The other 3 are slightly blue instead of black and a little smaller.  I will have setup for my boosts on Tuesday and when i asked the techs said I would get 2 more tattoos.  The first ones weren't too bad but they did bleed a little.
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  • yizbieta
    yizbieta Member Posts: 100
    edited July 2011

    I got eight tiny tattoos yesterday (like eight tiny reindeer!). haven't looked at them today yet. They can't be as bad as the huge blood marks on my arm from blood tests, and the staining of my veins from taxotere, and the four inch scar in my armpit from the lymph nodes, and the sizable dent and discoloration on my right breast from the lumpectomy. One bruise/blood mark is two inches long and one inch wide! They tell me I have scar tissue from so many blood draws. I look like a junkie on my left arm!

    I swear, I can feel something after the radiation. Any others feel anything? I have had two sessions. I think  I feel something. Am I crazy?

    I am laughing as I write this. I am 59 years old in three months. I am past bikini days and if someone my age wants to see me naked, I am sure he won't be perfect either. :) I DO feel for the younger women though.....

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