It has been 8 months and 7 days since I was told that I had breast cancer. I have had a double mastectomy, followed by 4 months of chemotherapy, followed by exchange surgery. Now I begin the next phase of my treatment... radiation.
Yesterday, I had my radiation mapping appointment. It is the doctor visit just before radiation starts so they can pinpoint exactly where the radiation will hit your body.
They molded my position on the table, took some CT scans and drew all over my body with a sharpie marker, along with adding some stickers. Although I have been told time and time again to stay off the internet because so much of what is out there is untrue, I am so glad I am a rebel and don't listen! Before the drawing began, one of the girls standing over me said "do you mind if I give you a few small tattoo's? You will only feel a pinch or two." Now, because of my internet research, I was aware that this question would come up. The benefits of a freckle size tattoo are so the marking doesn't rub off in the shower or the pool, and also for future reference so doctors always know where you have had radiation. For me, the benefit of watching the markings fade away so that I don't have to be reminded of this - far outweighs having to re-apply the sharpie lines every day! I was happy to say - Yes, I do mind - no tattoo's for me please. If I had not done the research, more than likely I would have just let her apply the tattoo's because the doctors, nurses and technicians always speak as if what they are doing is no big deal and as if whatever test or treatment they are giving is so common place and everyone does it. Because for them, they have been through this dozens of times. But for people like me - this is all new and even with everything I've been through in the past 8 months, I am still scared to death at every visit.
More info on radiation mapping:
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/types/ext/expect/simulation
Yesterday, I had my radiation mapping appointment. It is the doctor visit just before radiation starts so they can pinpoint exactly where the radiation will hit your body.
They molded my position on the table, took some CT scans and drew all over my body with a sharpie marker, along with adding some stickers. Although I have been told time and time again to stay off the internet because so much of what is out there is untrue, I am so glad I am a rebel and don't listen! Before the drawing began, one of the girls standing over me said "do you mind if I give you a few small tattoo's? You will only feel a pinch or two." Now, because of my internet research, I was aware that this question would come up. The benefits of a freckle size tattoo are so the marking doesn't rub off in the shower or the pool, and also for future reference so doctors always know where you have had radiation. For me, the benefit of watching the markings fade away so that I don't have to be reminded of this - far outweighs having to re-apply the sharpie lines every day! I was happy to say - Yes, I do mind - no tattoo's for me please. If I had not done the research, more than likely I would have just let her apply the tattoo's because the doctors, nurses and technicians always speak as if what they are doing is no big deal and as if whatever test or treatment they are giving is so common place and everyone does it. Because for them, they have been through this dozens of times. But for people like me - this is all new and even with everything I've been through in the past 8 months, I am still scared to death at every visit.
More info on radiation mapping:
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/radiation/types/ext/expect/simulation
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