I also have a lovely black head in the middle of my cleavage and quite a sizable ‘smudge ink mark’ in my upper breast that shows with scooped necked T-shirts that I wear all the time. Apparently smudging is common on soft tissue. Someone did say that if they really bother you, you can get them lazered off - but not necessarily on the NHS.
It’s quite important to leave the tattoos in place just in case (heaven forbid) that there is ever any question of more rads, since they musn’t do rads on the same area again. Maybe if your tattoos have smudged they could be replaced with a neater dot? Don’t know if this is possible, might be worth enquiring. My tattoos are so tiny (difficult to see even with my reading glasses on!) that I’d forgotten all about them until I saw this thread again - but I’m covered with moles, freckles, etc so they blend into the general mess. If you have smooth, clear skin they must be more noticeable.
Sarah x
I’m having the tattoos. Compared to the HUGE blob of bright blue dye that should have faded but hasn’t next to my nipple and the crater from the lumpectomy, a couple of mole like marks are the least of my worries.
Jo X
Mine are tiny dots and can’t find them easily amongst freckles. The hospital did say that they would remove them for me if I wanted after on the NHS. Always worth asking if they bother you.
OMG!!! I don’t know why this has taken me so long to realise - but FFS these hideous black dots are permanent!!! B******s! This is surprising seeing as I have 4 proper tattoos!! Numptey!! I wish mine were hardly visible pin pricks - more like a felt tip splodge!!! The ones on each side aren’t that bad cuz I can’t see them, but the one in the middle of my chest looks like a big black head - thats exactly what my husband said when I got home - lovely!! I had it in my head that these dots would wear off eventually. At no point was I told that I would be stuck with these dots for ever!!! I am bit p****d off about that actually. I know in the grand scheme of things this really isn’t an issue but even so I am still annoyed.
Bird
x
Hi Bird,
Sorry, but your comment was sooo funny! Your post really made me laugh. In a way it’s soo good to read comments that are just what you’ve thought yourself, tho i’m sorry you are so upset about it. Some of my family could not believe that i was so upset about a black head tattoo in the front of my chest - i can’t see the other two at the sides. But, like you, i was so annoyed about it. I just felt that it was another thing to put up with, blue boob, two scars, a dent and now a blackhead… But, i’ve asked my surgeon to remove it when i have Lipofilling done, so i hope it will not look worse!!!
You should have been given a consent form by your onc. I told mine i didn’t want them but basically was made to feel guilty and went ahead, i’m sorry now. I know it’s irrational compared to what we have etc but i don’t care, i still don’t want it!
Hope you calm down and consider that it can be removed!
Take care. x
I intend to ask if they can do mine in brown ink even if it means me providing it myself, I don’t have any freckles on my chest so it would still stand out ,but not look so unnatural.Don’t suppose I’ll be able to, wonder if the professionals think it’s over reaction considering they are helping to save our lives?Bring on the blue!!!
Hi Bannibug
I remember reading somewhere on here that brown tattoos are done at some hospitals, and as you say they look more like a natural freckle. Unfortunately due to the useless search facility on these forums I haven’t been able to find the earlier reference to them.
Try asking - it’s obviously possible.
Sarah x
Bird - that is exactly how I felt! I may be 46 but I’d still like to show off my cleavage now and again!
Bannibug - I think you’re right about the professionals not understanding what we’re making a fuss about. The reaction I got was one of surprise that it was an issue for me. Stick to your guns!
Fitgirl - so hard sometimes to make your voice heard. I was just ignored rather than made to feel guilty but both of those do nothing for your self-esteem.
Maybe we should just join the dots and turn them into something.
My daughter thinks a flower would be nice. I’m thinking more skull and crossbones…
Lilac x
For anyone that hasn’t had them yet, the one dot on my front is so low it comes below my bra line. I appreciate it depends where your tumour was (mine was right at the front of my clevage, high up, visible in average shirt neckline). The tattoo will never show in a neckline, its too low. It won’t even show in a swimsuit.
I might still get it zapped off afterwards. Not sure yet.
Jo XX
Hi Just wanted to say I didn’t want a permanent blue mark as I am very fair. The hospital did try to tell me they would be hard to see but I still was against it. Eventually they agreed to draw the marks on with a special pen and cover them with clear tape. You have to be careful when washing and the crosses are huge but they wash off afterwards.
Just had my radiation consultation today at the Marsden and asked to have temporary marks as two of my dots will be very visible. The onc drew an example of how big they’d be and they are a million times bigger than a pin-prick!
It does seem trivial to make a fuss and I’m sure the medics want to strangle those of us who don’t want obvious, permanant marks, but if it’s not necessary, why have them? The onc pointed out to me I wouldn’t be able to swim during treatment as if that was an enormous problem, which I think I can just about cope with!
I’ve just found out today that I’m going for my planning tis wednesday, I’d rung one of the radiotherapy nurses with yet more questions and she had contacted the booking department for me. I asked her about brown ink but she said they only use blue/black because it stands out better which is needed for accuracy. She did however say that if I wanted to have them lasered off afterwards they could do that at a differant hospital on the NHS.
I SUPPOSE, COME WEDNESDAY, MY BODY WILL BE LESS A TEMPLE, MORE A TEMPLATE!!!
I really wish I had read this before last week. Nottingham City Hospital said that it could compromise my treatment if a tattoo was not used. In fact they were quite arsy about it wanting to know how I knew that I could have treatment without it, but I felt so intimidated in the end I gave in. Had I read some of the articles on here I would have been better prepared and would not have two marks that could have avoided and not been reduced to tears(not something I do very easily).
My onc has said that my rads tattoos dont have to be permanent!!!
She has referred me to a plastic surgeon who can remove them by laser on the nhs!
No blue smudges in summer tops this year!