When Leanne Dalby attended a routine mammogram at a mobile screening unit, she never expected it to change her life. The screening revealed abnormalities, leading to further tests and ultimately a diagnosis of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), an early, non-invasive form of breast cancer.
With her mother having recently passed away from breast cancer, Leanne’s first instinct was to “have everything removed.” But her surgeon reassured her that breast-conserving surgery followed by radiotherapy was the safest and least invasive option. “I wanted to take the most drastic step, but my consultant explained that wasn’t necessary,” she recalled. “Looking back, I’m glad I trusted that advice.”
Tattoo-Free Radiotherapy: A New Standard of Care
Traditionally, radiotherapy positioning relies on tiny permanent tattoos placed on the skin. These black dots provide a fixed reference point for aligning treatment each day. While clinically effective, tattoos can leave a lasting physical and psychological reminder of cancer.
Leanne expected to undergo this process, but when she attended her planning appointment at Leeds Cancer Centre, she was told she would be among the first patients treated with surface guided radiotherapy (SGRT).
“I thought, ‘Great, no tattoos!’” she laughed. “I don’t have any tattoos, so I was pleased not to get any.”
What is Surface Guided Radiotherapy (SGRT) and How Does It Work?
SGRT uses advanced 3D camera technology to map the patient’s surface in real-time. Each patient’s unique body shape acts like a fingerprint, allowing radiographers to align treatment beams with sub-millimetre accuracy, without the need for permanent ink marks.
During treatment, the system continuously monitors the patient’s position. If the patient moves, even slightly, the radiation beam pauses automatically, ensuring precision and safety.
For breast cancer patients, SGRT also integrates with deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) techniques. By holding a deep breath during treatment, the chest expands and the heart is naturally moved away from the breast, reducing cardiac dose.
Leanne found this particularly reassuring: “I struggle a bit with hearing softer voices, so being able to see the screen showing my breath hold really helped. I could watch the bar go up and know I was doing it right. It gave me confidence and made me feel safe.”
Precision and Compassion
Avoiding tattoos may seem like a small detail, but for many patients it carries a big emotional impact. Leanne reflected on a conversation with her uncle, who had radiotherapy for prostate cancer: “He still sees his tattoos every day, and they remind him of what he went through. I feel very fortunate I don’t have that permanent reminder.”
She added: “After treatment I wanted to get back to normal, go on holiday, wear a bikini, not think about cancer every time I look in the mirror. Not having tattoos has made that much easier.”
Life After Breast Cancer Treatment: Moving Forward Without Tattoos
Leanne has now completed her treatment and is feeling positive about the future. She credits both the surgical team and the radiotherapy department for guiding her through difficult decisions and making her feel at ease.
“You don’t realise how much difference the little things make,” she said. “For me, not having tattoos wasn’t just about the treatment, it was about moving on afterwards.”
Her experience highlights how innovations like SGRT are not only improving the precision of radiotherapy but also supporting patients’ long-term well-being.