Radiation therapy-Do you Stick your Neck Out or Raise Your Arm?!

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1mamakali
1mamakali Member Posts: 1
edited January 2016 in Radiation Therapy - Before, During, and After

New member of this continuing soap opera. Diagnosed with Triple+, left breast upper/outer quadrant. 8mm cancer found in sentinel lymph node 17 other taken were free. This is after 6 Chemo treatments. Chose to have both breasts removed, now have expanders.

A problem I have is that I can't seem to get the same treatment advice from 2 Dr.s in a row!

My Oncologist states no radiation because of Chemo and cancer has been removed. RO says must have full chest and what is left of my lymph nodes treated for 7 weeks. Which is really 9 weeks with set up. Pearlman Cancer Center states, yes radiation for 5 weeks for left side of chest and left side of neck, no arm radiation. She feels that because the chemo did not destroy the lymph node cancer and being Lymph-vacular invasion the next cancer draw would be to the neck lymph nodes. Has anyone had this scenario?


Also, cancer was not found in the lymph node I was told that I would not have to have radia

I am prepared, albeit, apprehensive to go forward…I would like to hear consistant advice. Im frustrated that different pieces of pertinant information is given to me at different times by different people. As though it is not necessary for me to know the whole procedure at up front. Like Radiation is 7 weeks. Not really, usually 9 because of the set up time.

Just informed about the tattooing done for radiation. I have been pumped up with Chemo, lost hair+, been cut up, scooped out, stuffed and sewn back up. All of those scars serve a purpose and can't be avoided. Has anyone heard of permanent ink markers, or tattoos that fade after a year? I know, I know, such a small matter. Might be a last chance to have a choice about what is done to ones body, permanently?

I would greatly appreciate any pearls of wisdom or experiences you can share, especially pertaining to neck radiation v.s. underarm treatment.

Thank you in advance Julie


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  • GG27
    GG27 Member Posts: 2,128
    edited December 2015

    The tattoos are a pin prick size, not really very noticeable, however, lots of rads centres will just remark every day with a sharpie. I had both neck, front & back & underarm rads. Feel free to ask me any questions, either here or PM. GG

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  • ShetlandPony
    ShetlandPony Member Posts: 4,924
    edited December 2015

    The tattoos may be negotiable, so speak up. Where I went for radiation, I was given three tattoo dots to begin with. But my radiation oncologist was surprised and said, "I thought we weren't doing tattoos anymore." So when the techs wanted to give me more tattoos, I asked if I could just have tape over marker if I promised not to wash them off, and they agreed.

    If you are uncertain about your treatment plan, ask to meet again with the radiation oncologist. You have a right to get your questions answered. You could also get a second opinion from a cancer center that has a tumor board where all the sub-specialists talk to each other and put a plan together for you.

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  • Sjacobs146
    Sjacobs146 Member Posts: 770
    edited December 2015

    my tats are so tiny, I practically need a magnifying glass to see them. It is unfortunate that your doctors are not on the same page. My BS, MO, and RO all work together. My treatment plan was put together by s superset of doctors (tumor board). My RO was fairly conservative with my radiation, she could have gone up to the clavicle, but didn't. I recommend writing down your questions, and getting them answered. It would be good for you to u deist and the pros and cons of each treatment option

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  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 4,505
    edited December 2015

    My tattoos are larger than pinpricks.

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  • Dcole921
    Dcole921 Member Posts: 4
    edited December 2015

    I have nine sharpie marks with round, quarter sized, clear stickers over them. The stickers protect the sharpie marks and once or twice a week I get the sharpie marks re-done and new stickers. Really restricts the shirts you can wear if you want to have them covered up, but that's such a small thing.

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  • Trainwreck54
    Trainwreck54 Member Posts: 3
    edited January 2016

    Like Decole 921 I got the Sharpie marks with little stickers over them. A couple of times they got smudged, but it took the techs all of 1 minute to fix them. After the last treatment they came off with eye makeup remover.

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  • Hopeful82014
    Hopeful82014 Member Posts: 3,480
    edited January 2016
    I had the Sharpie marks and stickers as well. None were visible with my summer wardrobe and they removed the marks (I think with alcohol) at the end of my last session.
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