Mapping and tattooing

jakeca
jakeca Member Posts: 92
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Just finished chemo--yeah! Next comes radiation. What does "mapping and tattooing" entail?

Comments

  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133
    If my chemo memory serves me well.......
    You'll have to do a CT scan of your chest area. Your team will form a pillow just to your body and you will use that pillowmold for all of your treatments. This helps to make sure you are in the same position each time you go in. Your radiation oncologist will look it over and figure out how far to extend the radiation beams into the areas that need radiated. Then you'll come back at a later date and they will will set you up under the radiation machine and do a lot of drawing on your chest. Once they figure out where you need to be exactly they will make little tattoo marks on your chest (usually about 5 or so). This will allow them to align the machine up properly for each of your treatments. Once that is all done, you will be ready for your radiation treatments. How's that in a nutshell? :)

    BTW, I chose not to get the tattoos and so my team used paper tape as my 'map'. They had to draw on the paper tape and then reapply them every few days. I don't know why I didn't want the tattoos, but I'd seen several ladies with them on their upper chest bone...I didn't want that reminder looking at me in the mirror every day. One benefit to tattooing....if you ever need to do radiation again, they will be able to use the tattoo marking to determine where you've been radiated before.
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    Chellebug said:

    If my chemo memory serves me well.......
    You'll have to do a CT scan of your chest area. Your team will form a pillow just to your body and you will use that pillowmold for all of your treatments. This helps to make sure you are in the same position each time you go in. Your radiation oncologist will look it over and figure out how far to extend the radiation beams into the areas that need radiated. Then you'll come back at a later date and they will will set you up under the radiation machine and do a lot of drawing on your chest. Once they figure out where you need to be exactly they will make little tattoo marks on your chest (usually about 5 or so). This will allow them to align the machine up properly for each of your treatments. Once that is all done, you will be ready for your radiation treatments. How's that in a nutshell? :)

    BTW, I chose not to get the tattoos and so my team used paper tape as my 'map'. They had to draw on the paper tape and then reapply them every few days. I don't know why I didn't want the tattoos, but I'd seen several ladies with them on their upper chest bone...I didn't want that reminder looking at me in the mirror every day. One benefit to tattooing....if you ever need to do radiation again, they will be able to use the tattoo marking to determine where you've been radiated before.

    Tattoos
    So these tattoos are permanent? As in if I wear a tank top, everyone will see them?
  • CR1954
    CR1954 Member Posts: 1,390 Member
    mimivac said:

    Tattoos
    So these tattoos are permanent? As in if I wear a tank top, everyone will see them?

    My tattoos...
    Hi mimivac & jakeca, my tattoos are just tiny black dots, about the size of a pencil point. One on each corner of the "window" where they radiated. Then, they used paint markers to draw lines from one point to another. They re-drew the lines when they started to fade.

    I can tell you that compared to chemo, radiation is so much easier. Aside from the time out of your day ( I had a 45 minute drive each way. The radiation only took about 8-10 minutes each time).

    Best of luck to you. You will sail through with flying colors!

    CR
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    mimivac said:

    Tattoos
    So these tattoos are permanent? As in if I wear a tank top, everyone will see them?

    tattoos
    Only if they know where to look and get real close. I have four: one in each armpit, one under my breast and one in my cleavage--that's the only one that can really be seen and it looks like a black freckle. I figure if it really bothers me when this is all over, I'll go to a tattoo artist and get something creative on/around it. Or you could have laser removal.

    Maureen
  • EveningStar2
    EveningStar2 Member Posts: 491 Member
    Chellebug said:

    If my chemo memory serves me well.......
    You'll have to do a CT scan of your chest area. Your team will form a pillow just to your body and you will use that pillowmold for all of your treatments. This helps to make sure you are in the same position each time you go in. Your radiation oncologist will look it over and figure out how far to extend the radiation beams into the areas that need radiated. Then you'll come back at a later date and they will will set you up under the radiation machine and do a lot of drawing on your chest. Once they figure out where you need to be exactly they will make little tattoo marks on your chest (usually about 5 or so). This will allow them to align the machine up properly for each of your treatments. Once that is all done, you will be ready for your radiation treatments. How's that in a nutshell? :)

    BTW, I chose not to get the tattoos and so my team used paper tape as my 'map'. They had to draw on the paper tape and then reapply them every few days. I don't know why I didn't want the tattoos, but I'd seen several ladies with them on their upper chest bone...I didn't want that reminder looking at me in the mirror every day. One benefit to tattooing....if you ever need to do radiation again, they will be able to use the tattoo marking to determine where you've been radiated before.

    differences
    I'm in the process of this right now. The mapping may take several appointments--they keep calling me for yet another one. And I had no choice on tattooing, which is OK with me because tape tears up my skin. They tried to tape over the tattoo and I said no. The tech removed the tegaderm after about 2 minutes and I was already getting red.

    Maureen
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    CR1954 said:

    My tattoos...
    Hi mimivac & jakeca, my tattoos are just tiny black dots, about the size of a pencil point. One on each corner of the "window" where they radiated. Then, they used paint markers to draw lines from one point to another. They re-drew the lines when they started to fade.

    I can tell you that compared to chemo, radiation is so much easier. Aside from the time out of your day ( I had a 45 minute drive each way. The radiation only took about 8-10 minutes each time).

    Best of luck to you. You will sail through with flying colors!

    CR

    Tattoos
    Ok, that's a relief. I was picturing huge, "X marks the spot" scars.
  • Chellebug
    Chellebug Member Posts: 133
    mimivac said:

    Tattoos
    Ok, that's a relief. I was picturing huge, "X marks the spot" scars.

    Sorry for the confusion
    Didn't mean to cause a panic!!! One of the ladies that I mentioned has her 'little pencil point' tattoo right at the base of her neck and it was more light blue than freckled colored. So it's just always there as a reminder. She had said to me, "if there's any chance you can avoid the tattooing, you should." So, since I was offered that option, I took it.
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072

    differences
    I'm in the process of this right now. The mapping may take several appointments--they keep calling me for yet another one. And I had no choice on tattooing, which is OK with me because tape tears up my skin. They tried to tape over the tattoo and I said no. The tech removed the tegaderm after about 2 minutes and I was already getting red.

    Maureen

    tattoos etc........
    I had the tattoos and mapping 1 week before I started rads. took about ten minutes totally painless, and after 6 months they have faded to nearly nothing, hey you really had to look for them anyway. Tiny little dots. My sister suggested with my tattoos and skinhead hairdo, i should also get loads of body piercings, Bovver Boots, leopardskin skirts and take up beating up old age pensioners or setting fire to orphanages, just to keep in type! Wow, with a sister like that who needs enemies?
    Turquoise Hugs all J xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Aortus
    Aortus Member Posts: 967
    tasha_111 said:

    tattoos etc........
    I had the tattoos and mapping 1 week before I started rads. took about ten minutes totally painless, and after 6 months they have faded to nearly nothing, hey you really had to look for them anyway. Tiny little dots. My sister suggested with my tattoos and skinhead hairdo, i should also get loads of body piercings, Bovver Boots, leopardskin skirts and take up beating up old age pensioners or setting fire to orphanages, just to keep in type! Wow, with a sister like that who needs enemies?
    Turquoise Hugs all J xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

    No matter what
    Even if you take up beating up pensioners and burning orphanages and tearing apart baby barnyard animals with your bare hands, I will be proud to be your Brother In Turquoise.

    Joe
  • tasha_111
    tasha_111 Member Posts: 2,072
    Aortus said:

    No matter what
    Even if you take up beating up pensioners and burning orphanages and tearing apart baby barnyard animals with your bare hands, I will be proud to be your Brother In Turquoise.

    Joe

    Mr Joseph!
    Moopy and you are just lovely! I thank you for being here and wish you were not........>> BIG BIG HUGS to ya both J xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Marcia527
    Marcia527 Member Posts: 2,729
    dot
    Can't even see mine anymore. When I went in for the 'tattooing' I asked if I could request a rose and he said 'no'. I figured if I had to have a mark it might as well be something. He said it was just a dot.
  • NorcalJ
    NorcalJ Member Posts: 187
    Tattoos
    You guys are such wimps. I recently finished rads and had my 3 tatoos turned into a flying eagle swooping down to grab the one remaining "girl". I'd post a picture, but I know you'd all be jealous.

    O.K., if you believe all that I'm also selling some simply beautiful swamp land in the Brazilian rain forest! LOL

    I actually can't see mine. Tiny little blue, black marks that look like small moles (and I don't mean the cousins of gophers).
  • fauxma
    fauxma Member Posts: 3,577 Member
    NorcalJ said:

    Tattoos
    You guys are such wimps. I recently finished rads and had my 3 tatoos turned into a flying eagle swooping down to grab the one remaining "girl". I'd post a picture, but I know you'd all be jealous.

    O.K., if you believe all that I'm also selling some simply beautiful swamp land in the Brazilian rain forest! LOL

    I actually can't see mine. Tiny little blue, black marks that look like small moles (and I don't mean the cousins of gophers).

    I have a mole next to one of
    I have a mole next to one of my tattoos and the mole is larger than the tattoo. And the 4 I had for pelvic radiation, I can't find anymore. A few years later I did get a real tattoo. A fairy sitting in a tiger lily. I figured if I had one tattoo I might as well have another. No, I honestly did it because I wanted to do something a little out on the edge. I was over 50 and everything I did was so normal, so responsible, so thought out. I wanted one way back in the 60s but I chickened out so it was my rebel moment thing. I don't regret it a bit. It's very pretty and while it can be seen in some clothing mostly it is hidden. She sits slightly above my left breast so during all this treatment she has been seen by many people.
    Stef
  • Mikes Sunshine
    Mikes Sunshine Member Posts: 129
    NorcalJ said:

    Tattoos
    You guys are such wimps. I recently finished rads and had my 3 tatoos turned into a flying eagle swooping down to grab the one remaining "girl". I'd post a picture, but I know you'd all be jealous.

    O.K., if you believe all that I'm also selling some simply beautiful swamp land in the Brazilian rain forest! LOL

    I actually can't see mine. Tiny little blue, black marks that look like small moles (and I don't mean the cousins of gophers).

    Tatoos
    Not to worry. My husband Ray had his chest tatoos done for radiation. We tried looking for them after he had them done and we couldn't find them. They are really tiny. Believe me after all we have been through a couple of little tatoos are nothing to worry about. You might find this hard to believe coming from Mike's Sunshine but I have five tattoos. If I can sit for those you can get thru this very easy. Please don't be afraid. We are a tatoo family here. My oldest daughter, Barbara got her first one on her 18th birthday which was just days after her dad died. I never had any desire for one until Ray died. I wanted to get an angel on my shoulder but I could never find just the right one. After a few months of searching I decided on something totally different. When Ray died hospice gave each of my kids a package. One of the items in each package was a pack of flowers seeds. They were called For-Get-Me-Nots. I decided on a bouquet of For-get-me-nots tied together with a ribbon that has his name and the date of birth and dead of his death. Barbara told me that day that getting tattoos were very addicting. I guess she was right since I know have five. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was a Monday that Thursday Barbara was off to the tattoo parlor for number 10. She got the most beautiful tatoo for her Mom. It is all done in pink. It's the word HOPE , the letter E is made from the pink ribbon. Maybe this is also a good time to confess S I ride a motorcycle too.Something I never thought I would do but learned to love with Mike. If it's one thing I have learned in this life is to Never say Never. I hope I have not shocked you too much. I hope you are all having a good day.
    Love, Nancy
  • divablu
    divablu Member Posts: 75
    Tattoos ... My Badge of Courage
    I had my first appointment with my radiation doc today. Dr Menendez at the Montana Cancer Center. She and her staff were fabulous! She examined where my left breast used to be. We discussed the radiation process. The lowest radiation area will be around the breast area, they are very cautious to not give too much radiation since it is right above the heart/lungs. There will be a longer radiation to my under arm, where the lymph nodes were removed ... I had 21 removed and 12 were positive for cancer ... So it is a good thing that they will be a longer radiation time in this area. She said the treatment to this area will go up into my collar bone area.

    Then we went to meet the radiation therapist and take measurements. Dr. Menendez marked out the area with a marker, then the radiation therapist put me under the radiation machine and took measurements according to the marks the Doctor made on my breast area. Oh yeah, they did an x-ray of the area as well.

    Tatoos ... I went for the tatoos. They used India ink and just a pin prick. The tatoo will be no more than the size of a freckle. I have 4 of them. No big deal.

    Actually, I asked if they could give me flowers or maybe horse shoes! But, alas, no. I'm going to enjoy my little purplish tatoos ... a badge of courage and the next step of getting through this process.

    Next week I go for the CT scan. I've done those before. The following week will be another meeting with the Doctor and the next week I will begin the treatment!

    Geez ... What a long process.

    The radiation therapist and Doctor were fabulous. I hope you all find as nice a group as I have. The therapist said she enjoys working with the BC patients and watching their recovery ... hair growing back and energy coming back. I'm looking forward to that as well.
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    mimivac said:

    Tattoos
    Ok, that's a relief. I was picturing huge, "X marks the spot" scars.

    yeah they really are just
    yeah they really are just tiny black dots. I have one on center chest(the only one others can see) and 2 on each side of my chest. They poke you w/ a needle and dribble a drop of ink into the spot.
  • mmontero38
    mmontero38 Member Posts: 1,510

    Tatoos
    Not to worry. My husband Ray had his chest tatoos done for radiation. We tried looking for them after he had them done and we couldn't find them. They are really tiny. Believe me after all we have been through a couple of little tatoos are nothing to worry about. You might find this hard to believe coming from Mike's Sunshine but I have five tattoos. If I can sit for those you can get thru this very easy. Please don't be afraid. We are a tatoo family here. My oldest daughter, Barbara got her first one on her 18th birthday which was just days after her dad died. I never had any desire for one until Ray died. I wanted to get an angel on my shoulder but I could never find just the right one. After a few months of searching I decided on something totally different. When Ray died hospice gave each of my kids a package. One of the items in each package was a pack of flowers seeds. They were called For-Get-Me-Nots. I decided on a bouquet of For-get-me-nots tied together with a ribbon that has his name and the date of birth and dead of his death. Barbara told me that day that getting tattoos were very addicting. I guess she was right since I know have five. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was a Monday that Thursday Barbara was off to the tattoo parlor for number 10. She got the most beautiful tatoo for her Mom. It is all done in pink. It's the word HOPE , the letter E is made from the pink ribbon. Maybe this is also a good time to confess S I ride a motorcycle too.Something I never thought I would do but learned to love with Mike. If it's one thing I have learned in this life is to Never say Never. I hope I have not shocked you too much. I hope you are all having a good day.
    Love, Nancy

    Us Shocked?????
    LOL Nancy. What should we be shocked about? You go girl, get as many tattoos as you want and keep flying in the wind. If I wasn't so chicken, I would probably learn to ride also. Hugs, Lili
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949

    Tatoos
    Not to worry. My husband Ray had his chest tatoos done for radiation. We tried looking for them after he had them done and we couldn't find them. They are really tiny. Believe me after all we have been through a couple of little tatoos are nothing to worry about. You might find this hard to believe coming from Mike's Sunshine but I have five tattoos. If I can sit for those you can get thru this very easy. Please don't be afraid. We are a tatoo family here. My oldest daughter, Barbara got her first one on her 18th birthday which was just days after her dad died. I never had any desire for one until Ray died. I wanted to get an angel on my shoulder but I could never find just the right one. After a few months of searching I decided on something totally different. When Ray died hospice gave each of my kids a package. One of the items in each package was a pack of flowers seeds. They were called For-Get-Me-Nots. I decided on a bouquet of For-get-me-nots tied together with a ribbon that has his name and the date of birth and dead of his death. Barbara told me that day that getting tattoos were very addicting. I guess she was right since I know have five. When I was diagnosed with breast cancer it was a Monday that Thursday Barbara was off to the tattoo parlor for number 10. She got the most beautiful tatoo for her Mom. It is all done in pink. It's the word HOPE , the letter E is made from the pink ribbon. Maybe this is also a good time to confess S I ride a motorcycle too.Something I never thought I would do but learned to love with Mike. If it's one thing I have learned in this life is to Never say Never. I hope I have not shocked you too much. I hope you are all having a good day.
    Love, Nancy

    Hi Nancy, I got a lower back
    Hi Nancy, I got a lower back tattoo last summer of a pink lotus flower to signify my cancer journey. It was not nearly as painful as I feared it would be and you are right they are instantly addicting. I used to consider tattos for shady characters. But I love them now and consider them works of art you can keep with you forever. I have been planning the word hope for my wrist and a lilly for the (back) base of my neck. I think its cool that you follow your heart and go for it! We of all people can appreciate the uncertainty of life and that we must live life fully.
  • seof
    seof Member Posts: 819 Member
    Personally, I thought the
    Personally, I thought the tatoo was preferable to having the radiation done incorrectly. I have 3 tiny dots that are hard to find after 6 months. I don't think it will be a problem.