weird question re. rad

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e_hope
e_hope Member Posts: 370
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Has any of you had this problem with radiation????

I noticed last night I have a dark pink square on my back directly behind where they are radiating with the same brown marks that are on my front.

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  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #2
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    Weird? Never!
    Hi! NO question is weird on here, ok? We are all in this together and have lots and lots of questions. Ok, now that is out of the way. So, ask anything, anytime!

    I just finished rads a couple of weeks ago. I never had anything on my back, as my rads treatment didn't zap me there. And, I never had brown marks either, so, I don't have any idea what that is. I just got a little pink on my front side where they zapped me. I didn't get "the tan" that some speak of because they said the machine they used was so new that they don't do that anymore. I got a little burn next to my collarbone, but, not bad. The Biafine took care of that. Be sure and ask your rads oncologist about your concerns. Don't just accept it, get answers.

    Let me know what you find out. Wishing you luck with your zappers! If I can help ever, just let me know.

    And, be sure and use whatever creams your rads oncologist gives you. I used Biafine and a lot of Aquaphor. It WILL help your skin now and after you are done.

    Sue :)
  • mickeymom
    mickeymom Member Posts: 117
    #3
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    It's an "exit" area
    It is an "exit area" for the radiation. The info my radiologist gave me about skin care said to be sure to use the lotions or gels on the "exit areas" too. I had to ask what that was and he said that one of the beams I get is aimed at my shoulder and "exits" through my back. When it exits it affects the skin on your back the same way as the skin on your front. He told me it is very common for people to come in complaining of a dry skin spot on their back because they didn't realize there was an "exit area." I wonder why they don't point that out better, but it sounds like something that happens all the time.

    When you use lotion or get or whatever everyday, make sure to do that spot too.
  • DianeBC
    DianeBC Member Posts: 3,881 Member
    #4
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    mickeymom said:

    It's an "exit" area
    It is an "exit area" for the radiation. The info my radiologist gave me about skin care said to be sure to use the lotions or gels on the "exit areas" too. I had to ask what that was and he said that one of the beams I get is aimed at my shoulder and "exits" through my back. When it exits it affects the skin on your back the same way as the skin on your front. He told me it is very common for people to come in complaining of a dry skin spot on their back because they didn't realize there was an "exit area." I wonder why they don't point that out better, but it sounds like something that happens all the time.

    When you use lotion or get or whatever everyday, make sure to do that spot too.

    No exit area for me
    I didn't have an exit area. My radiation treatments were concave, so they don't go thru you as to protect all of your organs. So, my back got nothing. I have never even heard of an exit area. Wishing you good luck with your rads!

    Talk with your rads oncologist about this. And, put lotion on that spot too.


    Hugs, Diane ♥
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #5
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    Never heard of this.....
    I finished rads today.......nothing on my back...was never told anything about an exit point either......we learn something new here every day...
    Wishing you the best
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #6
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    MAJW said:

    Never heard of this.....
    I finished rads today.......nothing on my back...was never told anything about an exit point either......we learn something new here every day...
    Wishing you the best

    I had chocolate "Exit area'
    Hi,
    I had brown are on my back/shoulder , behind my breast "exit area" I treat it with lotion and deep moisturizer.
    I think it happen with thin people. Radiation goes inside your body 3 inches deep. I guess depends on your size you do or do not have it.
    Just take care of your "exit area" the same way you do with breast.
    Good luck
  • Ritzy
    Ritzy Member Posts: 4,381 Member
    #7
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    New Flower said:

    I had chocolate "Exit area'
    Hi,
    I had brown are on my back/shoulder , behind my breast "exit area" I treat it with lotion and deep moisturizer.
    I think it happen with thin people. Radiation goes inside your body 3 inches deep. I guess depends on your size you do or do not have it.
    Just take care of your "exit area" the same way you do with breast.
    Good luck

    Maybe old machines versus new?
    No, I have no idea why two of you have the "exit" area. I am 5'7" and weigh 120, so, I think that is pretty thin. lol I think those of you that had the "exit" area had a different type of machine and a different type of rads treatment, as there are different kinds. Like I said, I had one of the newer machines that is similar to 3D-CRT. It conforms to the tumor shape like 3D-CRT, but also allows the strength of the beams to be changed to lessen damage to normal body tissues. It provides even more control in reducing the radiation reaching normal tissue while delivering a higher dose to the cancer. It is concave, like a hollowed out watermelon or something. Maybe, that explains it better. It stops and doesn't penetrate your body clear thru. So, you must have had possibly an older machine?

    Sue :)
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #8
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    Well went to rad and asked
    Well went to rad and asked and that was the answer I got from the nurse.. as she then proceeded to say that she always looks at her patients backs... and my answer to her was.. "well this is number 33 treatment and not one person ever look at my back... and I was never informed this could happen..."

    I was never told of this.. pisses me off ... esp since my rad oncologist told me that it wouldn't go through major organ... hummm what lungs aren't a major organ... lol...

    My skin has onlyslight pink are dark dark brown areas.. which at first glance look like bruises.. anyone else's skin look like this????

    Ugh... so over this... at least monday is my last treatment.. have not been too happy with that department of the hospital...
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    #9
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    e_hope said:

    Well went to rad and asked
    Well went to rad and asked and that was the answer I got from the nurse.. as she then proceeded to say that she always looks at her patients backs... and my answer to her was.. "well this is number 33 treatment and not one person ever look at my back... and I was never informed this could happen..."

    I was never told of this.. pisses me off ... esp since my rad oncologist told me that it wouldn't go through major organ... hummm what lungs aren't a major organ... lol...

    My skin has onlyslight pink are dark dark brown areas.. which at first glance look like bruises.. anyone else's skin look like this????

    Ugh... so over this... at least monday is my last treatment.. have not been too happy with that department of the hospital...

    I have only heard about this
    I have only heard about this happening in the old days. I didn't know it still did. My rads oncologist checked my skin twice a week and his nurse looked at me everyday. I can't believe someone isn't checking on your skin. The only thing I got was a little pink and very tired, never any brown areas. If your rads are going thru your back, seriously, what about your lungs etc? That is why they have the new machines now and the different rad treatments, so that the radiation doesn't harm your lungs, heart etc. Sorry this happened to you. And, weight has nothing to do with it, I am a size 4, so that was kind of a strange comment. lol

    Good luck and glad you are almost done!
  • New Flower
    New Flower Member Posts: 4,294
    #10
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    survivorbc09 said:

    I have only heard about this
    I have only heard about this happening in the old days. I didn't know it still did. My rads oncologist checked my skin twice a week and his nurse looked at me everyday. I can't believe someone isn't checking on your skin. The only thing I got was a little pink and very tired, never any brown areas. If your rads are going thru your back, seriously, what about your lungs etc? That is why they have the new machines now and the different rad treatments, so that the radiation doesn't harm your lungs, heart etc. Sorry this happened to you. And, weight has nothing to do with it, I am a size 4, so that was kind of a strange comment. lol

    Good luck and glad you are almost done!

    My skin was as well-done steak
    Yes, my skin looked as a well done steak.
    The treatment was Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). My oncologist said that because radiation was on the left side this method is better to avoid heart. I had 36 treatment at one of the best radiation Departments in the country. I think every body reacts differently as well as everyone skin is different too.
    Keep moisturizing your skin after radiation will be finished.
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #11
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    No weird questions! My
    No weird questions! My radiation tech warned me take care of my back...I wrote about it in a much, much earlier post and I remember someone scoffed in her reply. But, yes, it does go through and affect the skin on the back. Just protect it, like you would a sunburn. This is a great site for radiation questions and concerns: american society for therapeutic radiology oncology xoxoxoxo Lynn
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #12
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    survivorbc09 said:

    I have only heard about this
    I have only heard about this happening in the old days. I didn't know it still did. My rads oncologist checked my skin twice a week and his nurse looked at me everyday. I can't believe someone isn't checking on your skin. The only thing I got was a little pink and very tired, never any brown areas. If your rads are going thru your back, seriously, what about your lungs etc? That is why they have the new machines now and the different rad treatments, so that the radiation doesn't harm your lungs, heart etc. Sorry this happened to you. And, weight has nothing to do with it, I am a size 4, so that was kind of a strange comment. lol

    Good luck and glad you are almost done!

    Survivor.....
    It was, wasn't it?
  • MAJW
    MAJW Member Posts: 2,510 Member
    #13
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    lynn1950 said:

    No weird questions! My
    No weird questions! My radiation tech warned me take care of my back...I wrote about it in a much, much earlier post and I remember someone scoffed in her reply. But, yes, it does go through and affect the skin on the back. Just protect it, like you would a sunburn. This is a great site for radiation questions and concerns: american society for therapeutic radiology oncology xoxoxoxo Lynn

    Lynn........
    Did you have this also? I am so curious about this, now. When I read this the other day, I whipped off my shirt and looked in the mirror......nothing on my back......nor was I ever told to look at it.....and no one ever looked at my back. I finished rads on Friday, but I am going to ask my rad oncologist when I go back in a few weeks for my follow up...

    As I said, we learn something new in here every day......
  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #14
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    MAJW said:

    Lynn........
    Did you have this also? I am so curious about this, now. When I read this the other day, I whipped off my shirt and looked in the mirror......nothing on my back......nor was I ever told to look at it.....and no one ever looked at my back. I finished rads on Friday, but I am going to ask my rad oncologist when I go back in a few weeks for my follow up...

    As I said, we learn something new in here every day......

    The linear accelerator has
    The linear accelerator has multileaf collimators or MLC that shape the radiation beam. My collar bone area was zapped, and I'm guessing that is what affected my back. These beams are at an extreme angle and didn't zap my heart or lungs. My back shoulder area just became a bit pink. Lynn
  • lanie940
    lanie940 Member Posts: 490 Member
    #15
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    lynn1950 said:

    The linear accelerator has
    The linear accelerator has multileaf collimators or MLC that shape the radiation beam. My collar bone area was zapped, and I'm guessing that is what affected my back. These beams are at an extreme angle and didn't zap my heart or lungs. My back shoulder area just became a bit pink. Lynn

    That is what the RAD machine
    That is what the RAD machine is where I'm getting my radaition treatments a linear accelerator. They darken my markers every time I go.
  • e_hope
    e_hope Member Posts: 370
    #16
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    lynn1950 said:

    The linear accelerator has
    The linear accelerator has multileaf collimators or MLC that shape the radiation beam. My collar bone area was zapped, and I'm guessing that is what affected my back. These beams are at an extreme angle and didn't zap my heart or lungs. My back shoulder area just became a bit pink. Lynn

    LYnn... I also had collar
    LYnn... I also had collar bone area radiated.. and they said that is what caused the exit burns on my back.. and why I questioned the lungs is because they are right under that area and burns are around the shoulder blade...

    and who ever asked about them checking the skin... yes, they checked my front once a week, but no one ever looked at my back... they would look at breast and my under arm.. I never had to take my gown off so they wouldn't even been able to see it without asking to see it..

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