Hi Everyone
Just about to join you on the rads trip! Planning tomorrow. I have a question, which I suppose could wait, but just wondered if any of you have been through the same. When I was diagnosed one tumour showed up on the ultra sound. When I had the WLE there were three tumours, and two satellite bits, and DCIS. All this only showed up on the pathology. Tomorrow I will dutifully turn up with all the scans etc, but only the pathology showed what was there, so I am wondering how they will know where to direct the rays? Well, I’ll find out tomorrow! Also, OH is coming with me tomorrow, when you had planning was there a time to talk all together, or were you in on your own? Many thanks. Sarah
You lie on a big machine which directs rays throughout the breast tissue - not at areas where the lumps were. There are two fields, they move the machine round so they can zap you twice, once from one side and once from the other. This ensures as much of the breast tissue is covered as possible. They also try and avoid your heart and lungs - that’s what planning is about. You have to lie on a machine in a room on your own for planning. I found it odd, as I saw the consultant behind a glass window as I was lying topless on this machine. I also got marked up in felt pen which I had to leave on.
My planning session was several weeks before my actual radiation treatment as everything was delayed in my case because of a wound infection. I went to planning and radiation treatments on my own as I my boyfriend lived in Ireland and anyway I was at work so I fitted radiotherapy around work
Mole
Hi Sarah
When you have the planning done, you will have a CT scan, which is to see exactly where the beams need to be directed. It identifies where the tumours, dcis etc were and to ensure that the major organs are missed as much as possible. The radiologist then with this information and the pathology report, all previous mammograms and ultrasounds etc, will programme the machine. You won’t get any radiation until the planning has been done, thats why it takes so long.
All the very best
Cathy
xx
Hi Sarah
We meet again haha. At my planning session, my OH came with me. They first of all took me off for the actual planning, into what looks like a radiotherapy unit, where they scan you and identify the exact area to be zapped. As Cathy says, they have all the information from original ultrasounds etc, path report - and use this to correctly identify the right area for zapping, avoiding major organs. They used 3 fields in mine, and targetted the area around the breast tissue, armpit and collar bone. Once you have had it, and around 1 - 2 weeks later (well in my case anyway !) I could see exactly where they had ‘planned’ cos it turned a lovely shade of deep pink across the whole area !
Afetr they had finished the planning, the senior radiotherapist took me and hubby into a side room and discussed the treatment with us, and answered any questions I had etc etc.
I was asked whether I wanted felt pen marks or permanent tattoos. With the felt pen marks use have to leave them there for the duration of the radiotherapy - they give you plastic strips to cover it so you can wash. I opted for permament tattoos - which are tiny pin pricks of indigo ink - I have 8 of them that are visible (to me anyway) but would behard to spot by anyone else.
Even with the permanent tattoos - they still make additional felt pen marks everyday - so don’t wear a white bra or a decent coloured one, cos it will end up with smudges on it from when you get dressed afterwards !
Hope it all goes ok - keep us informed
take care
Margaret x
Sarah
I’ve already had my planning and my cancer was (WAS) also multi-focual. The radiographer was very informative and explained what was going on and even offered to answer any questions over the phone if necessary. Only down-side he and his assistant were both he’s. I went on my own and my OH would have had a chance to sit in on the initial chat. Sometimes I’m more emotional when he is there, so best to go by myself and make jokes with the ‘he’s’.
Good tip about the additioanl felt pen marks Margaret - thank you .
Pauline
Dear Mole, Pauline, Margaret and Cathy - Thanks so much for your answers and all the helpful information. I haven’t thought all that much about having the radiotherapy while I was having the chemo. One treat after another! OH and I had a lovely dinner last night and I enjoyed a glass of wine for the first time in ages, we even lit the candles! Paying for it now at 2.30 am up with dreadful heartburn! However, it’s always great looking in here! Thanks for the tip on the clothing - I usually wear underwired bras, but guess I will be going back to my very inelegant “first bras” with no underwiring that went to the back of the drawer after I got over the WLE!. Thanks for all your help. Sarah x