Radiation? To Heck with Tattoos, Be Sharp Instead!

I'm GLOW-ing!

 Zap!

I've started radiation treatments.  10 days of zapping, after that I'm done.

My radiation therapy won't cure my cancer. . . the big masses of low-grade ovarian cancer in my abdomen are too close to all of my essential organs, not worth the "zapping" risk.

But for a few annoying outlying tumors, radiation will work fine! (God willing).  

My radiation is considered to be "palliative care."  Just taking care of a few outlying tumors, nowhere close to curing the REAL problem of my abdominal low-grade ovarian cancer mass.  
But it's still fun, regardless.
 

This machine has hidden ARMS that extend and envelope

In preparation for radiation, I could only think of my deceased sister.  They tattooed her for radiation, to mark the "target" spots.  This week I was at a dinner with a friend who was also tattooed for the same reason.

UVA does NOT tattoo, they use sharpies, and a clear strong tape to protect the target radiation marks (made with multi-colored sharpies).   It works.

And, because that works, shame on any institution that still tattoos. . . Like, we need yet one more permanent scar/reminder?  

I think this is a sex issue. . .Women succumb to tattoos because they are told to, unaware of their choices. I think men condone the administration of tattoos because they just don't innately 'feel' a woman's desire for "body image." And tattoos sure make radiation appointments go quickly. . .

Due to a few seemingly odd, personal, but biblical-based religious restraints, I CAN'T be tattooed, on ethical grounds  Thank goodness for sharpies!

I would advise any woman to ask for sharpie marks and strong clear tape in lieu of tattooing for radiation.  And if your healthcare people can't wrap their heads around that one, refer them to UVA or whomever, but they need to grow up.     Insist on it, and they'll do it.
My Biggest Sister reminded me that back in the 80's (when our 2nd sister died of cancer, tattooed) , they didn't HAVE sharpies.  That was 30 years ago.  Wise up, docs, our goal is to recover from what You Doctors did asap, so we can get back to OUR lives---as far away from medical thoughts as possible.  We need to heal.

Tattoos can only be a reminder of the cancer war we went through.

We don't need those reminders, we need to be able to wash them away.