permanent tattoo from mask?!?

bpell0402

As i cannot sleep once again.. i decided to whip out the little " HN radiation manual" we recieved today at the docs...

" the therapist will draw on your skin with a felt marker. then they will make PERMANENT markings. These may be placed on your skin. They are made with a sterile needle and a drop of ink. The felt marker can be washed off after simulation. the tattoos are permanent and will not wash off"

Under skin care:
Use dove blah blah ... " the tattoo marks are permanent and will not wash off"


is this for reall??? i would think someone would have mentioned a new tattoo on their FACE?? this must be out dated material right???

GraceLibby

What you're referring to is a small mark they use as a registration / reference point when they line you up for rads, just another way to make sure you're in proper alignment. From what I understand, the tattoo is generally placed somewhere on the breastbone, collarbone area. They wanted to give me a tattoo and I told them heck no, I've already got enough marks from surgery. Instead, they marked the spot with a Sharpie and put a clear sticker over it, so the mark wouldn't wear off. That sticker lasted me the entire 7 weeks and hurt like heck to peel off at the end - but no tattoo.

sweetblood22

GraceLibby said:

What you're referring to is a small mark they use as a registration / reference point when they line you up for rads, just another way to make sure you're in proper alignment. From what I understand, the tattoo is generally placed somewhere on the breastbone, collarbone area. They wanted to give me a tattoo and I told them heck no, I've already got enough marks from surgery. Instead, they marked the spot with a Sharpie and put a clear sticker over it, so the mark wouldn't wear off. That sticker lasted me the entire 7 weeks and hurt like heck to peel off at the end - but no tattoo.

Gee Grace Libby, they stuck
Gee Grace Libby, they stuck me and I didn't even have a chance to say yay or nay.

I think they used to tatoo your face, but now there are lines and bullseyes on the masks for them to line you up with. My dot is between my boobs, right under my bra. The other day in the shower I tried to get it off. Lol. I forget every once in a while.

That poke hurt. I asked the tech if he could do a cross inside my left hip bone, he didn't seem amused.

MarineE5

No Tattoo
bpell,

I did not have a tattoo or even a mention of it. When I was fitted for the Mask, I was set on a table that had many holes in it. Then 2 Nurses placed and formed the wet warm mask over my face and snapped the plastic clips onto the table that moved into the CT Scan machine. The table I was on then moved into the CT Scan machine, scanned and then I was moved out. I remained on the table until the Mask dried out enough to become rigid. I was told that a Radiation Physicist and my Radiation Oncologist then would plan my radiation treatment program for the computerized IMRT machine.

Several weeks later, I was scheduled for the radiation. On the first day, I was positioned on the Radiation table that also had many holes in it so the Nurses and Tech could then snap me into position once again. At this time, they made a Mark on the Mask for reference to the start position of the Radiation Machine each time afterwards.

Also, at the beginning of each week of Radiation on the same machine, they would do a quick CT Scan to make sure that I was still aligned properly. If I wasn't, they put white tape over the original mark and made a new mark on the Mask. They were very percise with aligning me up each time. Again, no Tattoo or mention of one the during my treatments.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

Fire34

MarineE5 said:

No Tattoo
bpell,

I did not have a tattoo or even a mention of it. When I was fitted for the Mask, I was set on a table that had many holes in it. Then 2 Nurses placed and formed the wet warm mask over my face and snapped the plastic clips onto the table that moved into the CT Scan machine. The table I was on then moved into the CT Scan machine, scanned and then I was moved out. I remained on the table until the Mask dried out enough to become rigid. I was told that a Radiation Physicist and my Radiation Oncologist then would plan my radiation treatment program for the computerized IMRT machine.

Several weeks later, I was scheduled for the radiation. On the first day, I was positioned on the Radiation table that also had many holes in it so the Nurses and Tech could then snap me into position once again. At this time, they made a Mark on the Mask for reference to the start position of the Radiation Machine each time afterwards.

Also, at the beginning of each week of Radiation on the same machine, they would do a quick CT Scan to make sure that I was still aligned properly. If I wasn't, they put white tape over the original mark and made a new mark on the Mask. They were very percise with aligning me up each time. Again, no Tattoo or mention of one the during my treatments.

My Best to You and Everyone Here

Similar To Marine
BP
My experience was similar to Marines. I was fitted with my mask in much the same way. Each week at the start of my rads, I was x-rayed to make sure my position was correct on the table. My IMRT room had many colored lasers floating around, whichever colored laser was in the best positon was the color they used for the week. They then put a piece of tape on my breast bone with that color for reference. I was still re x-rayed for position but that helped them get me closer to start with. The only tatoo I received was the what I called waffle face from the mask LOL of course it went away. Must be outdated material. Wishes & Prayers
Dave

Jimbo55

tattoo you
I had the same as GraceLibby, a mark from a sharpie and a clear adhesive over that. My mark was on my chest. Cheers

Jimbo

Glenna M

Tattoo
I didn't have a tattoo for the laryngeal cancer but for the Stereotactic Radiosurgery I received for my lung I received ten of them. All they are is a small dot of green ink about the size of the tip of a fine point pen. They hurt like h*&& because they were put directly through both breasts and along my ribs but they are hardly noticeable. I really have to search for them to find them.

Ask your rad doctor's nurse to explain where and how many of these you will receive. I'm sure it will not even be noticeable.

Stay strong,
Glenna

fisrpotpe

very small
You do not get tattoo on the face. They are on the upper body and very small. I have them and they are very hard to find. It's like taking a pen and making a dot on the skin. They tend to fade some and that makes them hard to find. Like a very small freckle.

It certainly did not bother me at all when you compare it to scars and etc.

John

Skiffin16

No Tat Either
I didn't have a tat either....the mask fits so tight and everyday before rads they take measurements.

They make sure that everything is aligned within something like .5mm (very precise measurements).

Like dawn has mentioned before, I would come out of rads with waffle marks on my forehead and cheeks.

But all in all, it is what they need to do to kill the cancer in the right spot and save as much good tissue and cells as possible.

Best,
John

Greg53

Skiffin16 said:

No Tat Either
I didn't have a tat either....the mask fits so tight and everyday before rads they take measurements.

They make sure that everything is aligned within something like .5mm (very precise measurements).

Like dawn has mentioned before, I would come out of rads with waffle marks on my forehead and cheeks.

But all in all, it is what they need to do to kill the cancer in the right spot and save as much good tissue and cells as possible.

Best,
John

Tattoo-Man
I'm proud of all my tats. Ok, I only have one and it's the size of a pinhead (my young neice thinks it's way cool though that I got a tattoo). It's located on the middle of my chest and like Sweet, the rad tech gave me mine before I even knew it was happening. It stung quite a bit but is not even noticeable. Never heard about the felt tip marker and tape though. I did not mind it at all, especially if it helped line me up right for the rads. Everyone I heard that got one, was on the breastbone like others have mentioned, none on the face.

Hey Sweet, love your line to the tech about getting one on your hip - lol!

Positive thoughts to everyone!

Greg

sweetblood22

Greg53 said:

Tattoo-Man
I'm proud of all my tats. Ok, I only have one and it's the size of a pinhead (my young neice thinks it's way cool though that I got a tattoo). It's located on the middle of my chest and like Sweet, the rad tech gave me mine before I even knew it was happening. It stung quite a bit but is not even noticeable. Never heard about the felt tip marker and tape though. I did not mind it at all, especially if it helped line me up right for the rads. Everyone I heard that got one, was on the breastbone like others have mentioned, none on the face.

Hey Sweet, love your line to the tech about getting one on your hip - lol!

Positive thoughts to everyone!

Greg

So far it's 3/6. Tatto/no
So far it's 3/6. Tatto/no tattoo. Guess I didn't realize that we all didn't get them.

Not sure if I should count Glenna since hers was for the other treatment.

Either way, trust me, that little tattoo was nothing for me in the grand scheme of what I went thru. The waffle face was way worse IMO

adventurebob

Double tatooed
I ended up with 2 on my sternum. Just little dots like the others. One was for the rads I got to the head and neck and the other was for the rads to the sternum itself. As they are the only "ink" I've had done I am very proud of them. I'm thinking of adding a few more dots to make the Big Dipper on my chest. Then I'll always know which direction is North.

Bob

hawk711

adventurebob said:

Double tatooed
I ended up with 2 on my sternum. Just little dots like the others. One was for the rads I got to the head and neck and the other was for the rads to the sternum itself. As they are the only "ink" I've had done I am very proud of them. I'm thinking of adding a few more dots to make the Big Dipper on my chest. Then I'll always know which direction is North.

Bob

tatoos
Isn't north always straight ahead of you Bob???? Ha. I had my mask marked and a dot on my chest too. The dot looks like a freckle to me and I forgot i had it till this topic came up. I like the Big Dipper idea, maybe I'll get the little dipper or the North Star
all the best
Steve

Hondo

hawk711 said:

tatoos
Isn't north always straight ahead of you Bob???? Ha. I had my mask marked and a dot on my chest too. The dot looks like a freckle to me and I forgot i had it till this topic came up. I like the Big Dipper idea, maybe I'll get the little dipper or the North Star
all the best
Steve

Tattoo
It is so small that I can’t find it anymore

Glenna M

sweetblood22 said:

So far it's 3/6. Tatto/no
So far it's 3/6. Tatto/no tattoo. Guess I didn't realize that we all didn't get them.

Not sure if I should count Glenna since hers was for the other treatment.

Either way, trust me, that little tattoo was nothing for me in the grand scheme of what I went thru. The waffle face was way worse IMO

I don't count???
LOL...just kidding. I probably shouldn't be counted in this survery as I didn't get a tattoo for the H&N radiation, just for the lung. I did get the waffle face which was uncomfortable and embarrassing. People in the parking lot were giving me strange looks - LOL.

Ed_PortOrange

2 or 3 Pinpoint Spots
I was given 2 or 3 pinpoint marks in the collarbone area. I had to wear a shirt with an open or no collar so they could align with the dots (tattoo not!) as well as the mask markings. It was painless for me and they are so small I'm not sure exactly which mark they are. Just added protection to minimize the damage that misdirected rays can cause.

Best wishes

Ed

sweetblood22

Glenna M said:

I don't count???
LOL...just kidding. I probably shouldn't be counted in this survery as I didn't get a tattoo for the H&N radiation, just for the lung. I did get the waffle face which was uncomfortable and embarrassing. People in the parking lot were giving me strange looks - LOL.

Glenna
Now look here, Missy- don't you be twisting my words around. I never said you don't count. Besides, you very well know where you rate in my book! 

SASH

Ed_PortOrange said:

2 or 3 Pinpoint Spots
I was given 2 or 3 pinpoint marks in the collarbone area. I had to wear a shirt with an open or no collar so they could align with the dots (tattoo not!) as well as the mask markings. It was painless for me and they are so small I'm not sure exactly which mark they are. Just added protection to minimize the damage that misdirected rays can cause.

Best wishes

Ed

Single Tattoo
I have a small single tattoo for a registration mark on my chest. The rest of the markings were put on the mask itself with a marker. Most of these were put on tape so that it could be removed and replaced every time they needed to re-aim the beams.

bpell0402

SASH said:

Single Tattoo
I have a small single tattoo for a registration mark on my chest. The rest of the markings were put on the mask itself with a marker. Most of these were put on tape so that it could be removed and replaced every time they needed to re-aim the beams.

couldn't they say DOT then
thanks so much all! wouldnt know what to do if i had to tell mom they were going to "tattoo" her face!! haha .. i guess wonder why they dont state .. "small marking on sternum"

well .. if mom comes back with tribal markings on her face after her first radiation treatment i will take a picture for everyone

D Lewis

Not your face, silly
Your mask will cover your face. The technicians will make ink marks on the mask. I got one tiny black tattoo'd dot just below my breastbone. It helps them line up the machine every time.

Yep. Still there ten months later. Doesn't wash off.

Deb

Glenna M

sweetblood22 said:

Glenna
Now look here, Missy- don't you be twisting my words around. I never said you don't count. Besides, you very well know where you rate in my book! </p>

Sicilian blood
LOL Sweet, looks like I got your Sicilian blood boiling You can calm down, I know the bond we share but couldn't resist my previous post. Just the abi-normal in me