I felt exactly the same about having a tattoo - luckily they have got some new scanners in the local unit which mean you don’t need to have a tattoo. I would have been prepared to travel to/stop over for treatment at a different centre if this hadn’t been offered locally. It could well be worth discussing this with your consultant particularly if you’re in a big city where there could be several options for treatment. There are also people (on here, I think) who have used indelible pen instead of being tattooed and it might be worth searching back through previous threads about this.
I know some people feel proud of, or not bothered by, the tattoos but for me it felt like just one more way the cancer was going to disfigure me and it bothered me a lot. Good luck!
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Thanks for your reply and suggestions. I’m waiting for surgery first and will cross the next bridge as it comes… I appreciate the advice from everyone. x
I didn’t love the idea, but my radiologist and team explained they’re not only necessary for precision for this radiation, but if you ever need anything in the future, those marks help them know exactly what was done. The calibration/scanning is very mathematically specific to your case so accuracy is really critical. I hope that helps by knowing there’s a reason more than just making it easier…it truly makes it more accurate too.
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i refused tattoos in 2004 at Barts hospital and they used a mole under my arm and a large cross put on with permanent pen with clear plaster over. i had 15 sessions over three weeks
it wastoo nazi for my liking
Seagulls
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They are literally like a pin prick. Hardly noticeable at all. Interestingly though where I was treated no longer use permanent tattoos.
I have 4 tiny little dots, one on each side and 2 on my breastbone…. literally never notice them and don’t think about them they’re that small x
I felt there wasn’t a choice and that was it. Also it did not work as I got breast cancer again in the same breast
Seagulls
I was lucky in Inverness the radiotherapy department machine just scans your body and they line you up with a virtual body shape ( I’m probably not explaining well) perhaps another local hospital can offer this if you’re not inclined to have the dots?
Also one of the local tattoo parlours here offers free radiotherapy tattoo removal for cancer patients. Good luck - it’s a pretty scary journey but radiotherapy was virtually symptom free for me (pink slight itching skin)
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I am having 5 x radiotherapy this week (just finished the 3rd one) and finally d not have a tattoo.
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It will soon be over. Good luck
Seagulls
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I’m about to start radio on my right side after having it 17 years ago on my left side.
I have 3 small tattoo dots on my left and centre of my chest so will be interested to know if they re-use these as they plan my right hand side treatment.
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I was told that I would be tattooed (as if there was no alternative.)
When I declined to consent the radiographer immediately said “that’s ok, we’ll use a permanent marker and cover the marks with clear plasters” which they duly did.
I’m astonished that tattoo markings are the default. As someone said previously, definitely a case of what they’ve always done and what is most convenient for the staff.
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That’s very helpful. I didn’t think about refusing - I asked the oncologist if there was any alternative and she said no. I only had it done two days ago and it has become the focus of many negative feelings ( which I’m sure are about more than just the tattoos). But I hate seeing the one on my sternum, which is very obvious to me. I wish I had tried the refusal route.
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I have just had my tattoo I am just wondering why people don’t want them you can’t even see them and I am 70, sorry I just don’t understand what the problem is of having them x
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Hi, I think it’s personal. I don’t want a permanent reminder however small. We’re all different and cope with this in our own way. Good luck with your RT. X
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Yeah fair comment I understand what you are saying 
xxxxx
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Of course I might not get any other option! Will see how it goes, waiting for scars to heal and then oncology meeting, so I’m probably 4 weeks behind you. X
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I don’t mind having a reminder - to me they’re a mark of strength , something that I’ve come through successfully.
However mine are very neat tiny dots it seems some others have been a bit less fortunate and ended up with large unsightly marks - and I might have felt differently about mine if that had happened to me. Xx
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Some people have had permanent marker put on them instead - you have to be careful that it doesn’t come off between planning and treatment because although it’s permanent it does fade with showering etc. Some of the newest machines apparently don’t require landmarks . As mentioned my dots are tiny - one has actually disappeared completely. Xx
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Yeah mine are very small and neat, I probably wouldn’t have been so pleased if mine were all messy xxx
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