More commonly, the marks are covered with a thin, transparent, membrane-like, waterproof polyurethane medical dressing that adheres to the skin. Patients may be instructed to limit activities that may cause the marks to wear off. Radiation treatment can span 4-6 weeks and if the marks fade or wash off, the patient will need to be re-simulated.
The downside to temporary marks is that they are temporary. The patient will not have a visible mark on a sensitive area for the remainder of their life that could make them self-conscious, nor a permanent reminder of what was an unpleasant experience for them. The main upside to temporary marks is that they are temporary and act as a counterbalance to many of the downsides that permanent marks represent. Temporary marks are small pinpoint or linear marks made with a semi-permanent marker. And, of course, " stick" injuries to both patient and staff always need to be considered when needles are involved.
#Pinpoint cosmetics skin
The value of knowing the exact site of treatment is lost to clinicians when patients opt to have their tattoos removed or, as is trending among breast cancer patients, turned into decorative tattoos along with their surgical scars.Īge and weight gain/loss also compromise the accuracy of the tattooed record of the treatment site over time as the marks are motile with changes in skin elasticity and no longer consistent with internal structures. Considerations include cultural or religious beliefs, cosmetic concerns (particularly on face and neck areas), and patient attitudes towards having a permanent reminder of their cancer experience. There is also the issue of patient acceptance - some patients object to permanent tattoos.
Some of these methods include drawing lines or circles around the mark with a temporary marker - which in itself can have its own drawbacks if proper precautions are not taken to ensure their longevity investing in black light responsive inks or using an external cover over the mark, such as Beekley's PointGuards®, to quickly draw attention to it. In these instances radiation therapists must either take extra time to find the small bluish-black set-up marks or use other methods to quickly identify them at each treatment.
The marks are very small and sometimes it can take up to 5-7 minutes for the radiation therapist to locate them all prior to each treatment session - longer for freckled, densely haired, or darker-toned skin. However, permanent marks in radiation therapy have their drawbacks.Īs alluded to above, there are times where the tattoo is not easily visible. Other advantages to permanent marks are that there is usually no need to re-simulate the patient during treatment to reestablish set-up marks and there are no restrictions as to patient activity. Not only will the marks remain in place and be easily visible (in most cases) throughout the treatment process, they also serve as a permanent record of radiation exposure should additional radiation be required due to recurrence or the development of a new cancer near the original site. Permanent marks are preferred by many clinicians mainly for the fact that they are permanent. Permanent marks are small pinpoint tattoos - meaning permanent ink is injected under the skin. The answer is "It depends." Both methods have their pros and cons and in the end it may come down to what will be the most clinically effective and psychologically satisfying for your patient. One of the most frequently asked questions of our Radiation Oncology team is what are others doing when it comes to permanent vs temporary marks in treatment set-ups.
0 kommentar(er)
