Rads "mapping"

tgf

Just got home from my radiation treatment "mapping" ... and I thought it was just fascinating. I kept asking questions ... but of course with chemo brain ... I've forgotten the answers ... so I'll probably ask them every time I go.

From what I've been reading here I was expecting tattoos ... but I didn't get any. Instead my radiology bunch uses some kind of magic marker thing with blue ink ... and then there's circular tape things ... but I can't tell if they are on top of the ink or if the ink is on top of the tape. Anyway ... there's 5 of them. There's 3 going down in a sort of straight line starting at my collar bone and they are about 3-4 inches apart down between the boobs. Then there's one on my right side and one on my left. I can shower and everything ... as long as I don't scrub. They said they stay on the whole time ... and if they need to be "moved" or replaced ... it's easy since I go every day. I start my radiation treatment on the 23rd.

My BIG "problem" is that I don't have many summer tops that are cut high enough toward the neck. Most of my summer tops are slightly lower cut (no ... not LOW cut) ... but now most of my tops will show the top marker ... and it's not very attractive. The tape is clear so that's OK ... but the blue ink looks like something my 2 year old grandson smeared on there. So ... now I have to hunt down higher cut tops ... bummer!

hugs.
teena

chenheart

Rat a TAT Tat!
I say to heck with finding other tops~ put Happy Face Stickers, or Hello Kitty Bandaids or
big beautiful necklaces ( ala Robin Roberts) and to heck with anyone seeing tape, etc. Cancer and its subsequent treatment should be illegal, but alas it isn't~ no crime in others noticing you are being treated! I had a Dr who made me keep the port in for A YEAR post chemo..( how's that for not waiting for the other shoe to drop??/) and because it was in for so long, I do not have a descreet little scar as most of us do, I have a very visible indentation about the size of a 50 cent piece. I forget that it's there, but mow and again I notice the "sideways glance" I get from others.

And, btw, aren't rads fascinating? Every day for over a month except for weekends~ which makes cancer fascinating as well...evidently it doesn't survive on weekends! Either that, or those rads are like a microwave oven and things keep cooking even after the fact! Sheeeesh!!!!!!

Hugs,
Claudia

Marcia527

Right on
Wear a really busy blouse that acts like camouflage. They will just think the lining of the blouse is sticking out.

I like the Happy Face idea too.

jgridley

Teena
I have three tattos...mine will never go away but they are low enough until you put on a bathing suit top on. with all of us women and creative minds here..we should consider our own clothing line for survivors..your thoughts?

Julie

tasha_111

jgridley said:

Teena
I have three tattos...mine will never go away but they are low enough until you put on a bathing suit top on. with all of us women and creative minds here..we should consider our own clothing line for survivors..your thoughts?

Julie

The Queens speech ...
Having read ones post about embarassing markings; One has decided to knit a garment to cover the entire human body. It's only right. It will be available in every shade of turquoise.

My Husband and I, would, on this auspicious occasion like to make a few utterances on behalf of the ladies of this establishment.......

Each, and every one of you would benefit tremendously from welcoming a new member into your families and homes, One recommends Guppies and lots orf them!

Gawd Bless you all

Madge

(all stand )

Christmas Girl

teena...
I see a little Retail Therapy in your very near future, shopping for a few new summer tops with slightly higher necklines! Hey, I'd use any excuse to buy new clothes!

Tiny little tattoos, stickers - might depend on the rad equipment itself. Nobody ever seems to think about it; but, the machines themselves do vary. So, maybe that's why marking methods are also different.

Hoping you'll do well with rads, teena. Honestly - I fell asleep several times on that hard, cold, narrow table. Much to the shock of the rad techs, who then had to wake me so I could leave. Not kidding.

Kind regards, Susan

Kristin N

I don't know about your
I don't know about your mapping Teena. I got the little tiny tattoos. You can barely see them and they are really low, none of them are high at all. And, I know they are hard to see because when they were first done, the rad tech's did to me what you had done to you. They marked them and put the little circular things on them until they got used to where they were. lol It only took a few days, but, I was glad to get those things off. You can't wash very well with them on. But, rad oncologist's do thing differently. If I were you, just wear what you want. If someone stares at you, that is their problem. And, if it gets to you, just say " I have cancer and these are markers for my radiation." I bet they will feel like a fool then and crawl away. lol Good luck to you Teena!

Akiss4me

Happy faces......
I like that idea. People would totally expect something like that out of me. Most of my tops are cut lower too. Never thought of the tattoos or markers showing. Hmmmm...guess I'll find out just how creative I can be!!

taleena

Akiss4me said:

Happy faces......
I like that idea. People would totally expect something like that out of me. Most of my tops are cut lower too. Never thought of the tattoos or markers showing. Hmmmm...guess I'll find out just how creative I can be!!

Hey.... THERE SHE IS...
Hey.... THERE SHE IS... .MISS PAMMY..... dancing.. jumping up and down.. she's here she's here.. ouch.. drain tube.. dang it.. okay.. sooo happpppyyyy to see you!!

Jeanne D

Hey Teena!
Aw, the simulation for rads. How I remember it. lol It took longer than any of the treatments. lol I got the tatoos too Teena, so, I don't have to worry about anything showing. I can barely find them now. lol And, the tech's said they will fade out eventually. Just be careful with your skin. Even if something happens to it, like a burn or a blister or w/e, it will take awhile to show up. So, be careful right from the start. Be gentle with it and use those creams!!! That is the best advice I can give. And, don't wear anything good if you use aquaphor. I used it only at night and it ruins whatever you have on. It leaves a greasy oily spot. So, good luck to you Teena! You will do fine!

Hugs, Jeanne

confused123

I am also starting radiation
I am also starting radiation on the 23rd and doing 32 treatments. I am not getting the permanent tattoos either because I asked not to. My rad onc said to be prepared to wear t-shirts because they show but I figure it is only 6 weeks of my life. I get mapped on Wed. of next week. Hope yours goes well.

Kim

tgf

confused123 said:

I am also starting radiation
I am also starting radiation on the 23rd and doing 32 treatments. I am not getting the permanent tattoos either because I asked not to. My rad onc said to be prepared to wear t-shirts because they show but I figure it is only 6 weeks of my life. I get mapped on Wed. of next week. Hope yours goes well.

Kim

Kim,
Well ... It is nice to hear someone else starting radiation on the same day I am ... and not getting tattoos. I swear ... today I tried to find something to wear ... and just about everything I put on showed the "top" mark ... and it's not like all of my tops are low cut ... because they aren't. They are just regular summer cotton t-shirty kind of tops. I guess it might not be as "bad" if the mark wasn't so big. It's torquoise (sp?) which I'm sure Tasha would love ... but it's about an inch long. I've tried to think of some way to turn it into something creative ... but I don't have much of an imagination when it comes to art.

Oh well ... maybe the two of us can just make our own little fashion statement ... summer turtle-necks.


hugs.
teena

confused123

tgf said:

Kim,
Well ... It is nice to hear someone else starting radiation on the same day I am ... and not getting tattoos. I swear ... today I tried to find something to wear ... and just about everything I put on showed the "top" mark ... and it's not like all of my tops are low cut ... because they aren't. They are just regular summer cotton t-shirty kind of tops. I guess it might not be as "bad" if the mark wasn't so big. It's torquoise (sp?) which I'm sure Tasha would love ... but it's about an inch long. I've tried to think of some way to turn it into something creative ... but I don't have much of an imagination when it comes to art.

Oh well ... maybe the two of us can just make our own little fashion statement ... summer turtle-necks.


hugs.
teena

teena
I am also glad to hear that I have someone starting with me. The summer turtleneck should be a great hit at the beach. I just keep telling myself at least it is temporary, if I can be bald I can do this! If you can believe it someone actually said that to me recently. I told a friend I was bothered because I had my right expander deflated for rad (did you?) and she said " so what you are walking around bald" Well I don't exactly care for that either. I know people are just trying to help. It's funny what they come up with though. I have been very positive through this whole experience and am trying not to let the rad part get me. I will have to let you know how I make out after my mapping session on Wed.

Kim

jnl

confused123 said:

teena
I am also glad to hear that I have someone starting with me. The summer turtleneck should be a great hit at the beach. I just keep telling myself at least it is temporary, if I can be bald I can do this! If you can believe it someone actually said that to me recently. I told a friend I was bothered because I had my right expander deflated for rad (did you?) and she said " so what you are walking around bald" Well I don't exactly care for that either. I know people are just trying to help. It's funny what they come up with though. I have been very positive through this whole experience and am trying not to let the rad part get me. I will have to let you know how I make out after my mapping session on Wed.

Kim

Just want to wish both of
Just want to wish both of you, Teena and Kim, good luck with your rads!