The Mask

To spare normal tissues (such as skin or organs that radiation passes through to treat the source/tumour), shaped radiation beams from a machine called a Linear Accelerator are aimed from several angles of exposure to intersect directly on the source/tumour, meaning a much larger dose can be used because this targeted approach is less destructive to surrounding, healthy tissue. For this to work correctly though, I have to remain absolutely still.

Given humans are naturally fidgety, a mask is used to hold you still.

A couple of weeks prior to my treatment commencing, I went to the hospital to have the mask made. The mask is made of a woven material that is malleable once it is heated in hot water. The warm mask was then placed onto my head and upper torso as I lay on my back. Three Nurses helped to shape the mask by patting it down around curves and crevices before the mask cooled.

Once the mask cooled completely, it remained in the shape of my face and torso. This is then clamped down to positioning studs in the table so that I cannot move.

There was no pain involved in the setting of the mask or when it was clamped to the table, but because you can't move (at all) once it is clamped down, it can be claustrophobic. The Nurses have strategies they can use to overcome this but in my case, at least on my first occasion, I was fine.