The practice of tattooing women with a small mark that is used to align them precisely in the radiation machine for the repeated treatments, has come to an end.
Thanks to recent advances in Image Guided Radiation Therapy technology (IGRT), online corrections to a patient’s position can easily be achieved, eliminating the need for the tattoo.
For Kyabram resident, Lisa Franke, her recent treatment at GenesisCare in Shepparton has seen her cancer completely treated over twenty visits without the need for a tattoo.
First diagnosed in November, Lisa was first operated on then after some time for that to heal, she began radiation treatment in early January over a period of 20 days.
Her smile tells you everything you need to know about her treatment. “My options were to go to Bendigo or Wodonga, here I was able to drop in early in the morning and be out in ten to fifteen minutes and back to work in Kyabram.” Lisa said.
To coincide with International Women’s Day, GenesisCare has announced the availability of two innovative services for local breast cancer patients. Tattoo free radiation therapy and deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) for women with cancer in the left side. DIBH is a technique which reduces the effect of radiation on the heart which reduces the risk of long term cardiac complications.
Dr Grace Ong, radiation oncologist at GenesisCare said, “The tattoo was to many women, a permanent, and often unwanted reminder, that they had been treated for cancer. IGRT overcomes that need.”
