Couple of questions about radiation

The tattoos are to get the radiation in the right place, and I have understood that thay are very important. Nobody asked me if I wanted them, they just tattooed away ... and the dots are almost invisibly small. Well, I live in Sweden, they might have other routines where you are.

I asked about deodorant and was told that a deodorant without perfume is OK. I use a thai stone (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alum) and have less problems with the area where I use the deo than with the rest of my armpit and breast. I have had 18 radiations by now.

I never had tattoos.  Only sharpie marks with clear tape under them.  The facility I go to stopped doing tattoos.

Tattoos were not optional at my center.  I had to get them whether I wanted them or not. I finished rads over three months ago.  I saw my MO for a check up today and I asked him about getting the tattoos removed.  Even though they are tiny, I hate them.  He said it would be fine to have a dermatologist remove them.

I recommend asking your RO about what deoderants are safe to use during radiation.  Every center seems to have a different opinion.  I used no deoderant each rad day until after rads.  Then I used Tom's of Maine, a deoderant without aluminum.   

Finding the discussion on marks vs tatoos very interesting.  I DID NOT want tatoos, and the people who did the planning/simulation the initial visit were fine with that.  I agreed to come back if the stickers started to come off.  The therapists who did the simulation and actual radiation really wanted me to get tatooed.  The woman therapist completely understood why I didn't want them and was very respectful.  The man didn't get it, but was still really good about it.  They told me it was completely my call and you know, it is YOUR body, don't let people tell you things are required: they aren't.  You can refuse anything you want. 

 After a long discussion I did end up getting just 3 marks.  They were radiating very close to my heart, and I decided that I wanted everything as precise as it could be.  Honestly now, the marks don't bother me.  I think that if everyone in the facility had given me the same explanation, I wouldn't have had such a hard time with it. 

As for deodorant, they told me that the basic thing was nothing with metal in it.  Most deodorants have aluminum.  They mentioned that any metal residue on my skin would be like metal in a microwave--yikes! 

Hope all went well for you today!

If metal in the deodorant is like metal in a microwave, I'll stop using the thai stone, as alun does contain aluminium. So, no thai stone. 

There is obviously wide variation in practices across treatment centers. At my radiation oncology center, they told me that they used to tattoo everyone, but that they got a lot of complaints about it, so they finally just started using Sharpie marks and stickers on everybody. However, they were still willing to tattoo me after I asked for them. 

Why would I ask to be permanently marked? Well, we all have things that drive us nuts or that we can't stand. Some people hate being permanently marked but I hated having the large Sharpie marks all over my chest because they were visible in some of my tops and made me self-conscious. I also hated seeing myself topless in the mirror with those large ugly marks. In contrast, the tattoos are tiny and look like other freckles and birth marks I already have on my chest and ribcage. They look natural. Also, they are SO SO much smaller than the Sharpie marks. Finally, the last reason was that I am a pretty active person and I just had a really hard time keeping the tape marks on, what with the bras and the constant lotioning and changing. And they would itch as they started to pull off my skin.

So I decided that right now I'm under a lot of stress and if these tiny permanent marks can reduce that stress in any way, then I wanted them. And I have not regretted my decision in the slightest because it feels like it has been faster to line me up for treatment plus no more stress on my end about losing my itchy, ugly big stickers. I will admit that I already have 2 decorative tattoos on my body, so maybe I was already predisposed to being inked. But this is a very personal choice and as other people have said, it is your body and to the extent that you can control what is happening during this very difficult time, you should consider your options and see if you can get what you want during rads.

the tatoos are no big deal, they just look like dots, i think they do them to line everything up correctly.  they should give you a list of things you can and can't use , just a suggestion but look into getting emu oil, read about it many here have used it , i loved it , after radiation i would put it on and in the morning, i went to rads late in the day, i tried aquaphor and it was sooooo greasy it ruined many shirts.  if i put it on in the morning sometimes they had to wipe it off when i went for my rads.  i got exrays every so often too but i can't remember why, sorry.  good luck

Did not want even the teeniest tattoo -- see my profile line. To each his/her own, but I am so so so happy that they allowed me to just be stickered and sharpied (and I was very respectful to not make extra work for the techs so did take care with the stickers and they were very thorough about making sure each time that everything lined up). Not every place gives you a choice, so am grateful for that. 

FYI...my hurt really bad...then they faded and had to do some of them over...especially the ones on my chest bone and on the sides under my arms....