The skin is then punctured with a small needle, to allow the ink under the skin creating the tattoo. A drop of India ink is placed over the area. Also, if any additional radiation therapy is needed in the future, they serve as a permanent record of previous treatments.ĭuring the tattooing process, the area to be tattooed is first cleaned with an alcohol swab. The tattoos make it possible to bathe or shower every day without worrying about removing them. The tattoos are usually the size of a pinpoint or freckle, and although they’re permanent, they are very small, so not very noticeable. ![]() They assist with attaining the same treatment position on each day. These tattoos serve as reference points when aligning the patients before each radiation treatment. ![]() The treatment position is well documented using laser triangulation and these tattoo marks. These marks are initially made in pen, and at the end of the session some marks, usually between one and five, may be made permanent by tattooing. Once in the intended treatment position, the radiotherapist will make several marks on the chest wall. Sometimes patients may experience initial difficulty in raising the arm into position for radiation therapy due to recent axillary surgery, but with exercise and physiotherapy, this can be corrected very quickly. The positioning device usually has an armrest or handle to hold onto, to make keeping the arm above the head a little easier. The arm, on the involved side, is usually raised above the head to avoid it being in the path of the radiation. The treatment position is usually lying on the back (supine position), although, more rarely, a position on the tummy (prone) or on the side (decubitus) positions are used. The patient is then positioned into the treatment position, which normally involves lying on an immobilisation device (see photo). During this session, patients are asked to disrobe up to the waist. In order to ensure this, prior to starting the daily radiation therapy, the oncologist schedules a day for radiation planning or simulation. Hence, it is imperative that the patient is in exactly the same position each day. A small misalignment or change in treatment position between the treatments can cause radiation beam misalignments or the incorrect areas receiving radiation. They’re angled in different directions to avoid the underlying normal tissues, such as the lungs and heart. To treat the breast, chest wall and lymph glands, several adjacent radiation treatment fields or portals are needed. This is to ensure that the high doses of radiation are given to the area where the oncologist intended, such as the breast, chest wall and lymph glands the organs close by, such as the heart and lungs, are avoided as much as possible. ![]() It is important to ensure that radiation therapy is delivered accurately, in the precise way that the oncologist has planned, for each session. Dr Duvern Ramiah explains step-by-step what will be done in the planning and set-up process to set your mind at ease and allow you to be confident in knowing exactly what you’ll undergo.īreast radiation therapy for breast cancer can consist of up to 35 daily radiation sessions. The thought of planning your breast radiation therapy can be extremely daunting, anticipating an unknown experience involving your body.
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