“Warm and damp” is how the nurse described how my soon-to-be-custom-fitted radiation mask would feel when they draped it over my head for the first time. After lying on the cold, hard table in the CT Scan room, they moved me around to align my head and shoulders with the laser guide lines. “Close your eyes,” she said as two of them laid the pliable mesh mask over my face and shoulders. Around the edge if the mask is a frame that they them bolted to the table.
Radiation Mask (not me!)
I forgot to bring my camera so I don’t have a picture of me, but Mary found this photo to the left that looks exactly like my mask. I was concerned that claustrophobia might be an issue and I must say that my anxiety level was elevated quite a bit. Medication is available, if necessary, to reduce the anxiety. But since I’ve got 35 treatments scheduled, I’d rather not have to deal with one more medication.
Then into the CT Scan machine for a quick scan – all in preparation for the radiation treatments which will start on June 21. By the time the scan was completed, the mask was rigid. They will cut out holes for the eyes and mouth to make it somewhat easier to deal with.
Altogether, it took just under 30 minutes to get me fitted for my mask and ready to go.
Yikes! Hang in there, Dick.. Picture yourself laying on the beach in a mesh hammock or something and try to sleep through it. Long shot, I know! Could they tell much from the CT scan about how the tumors are reacting to the chemo so far?
Laying on the beach, that’s a great visual.
I haven’t see the results of the CT scan yet but I do know that the lymph node on my neck has “disappeared.” I expect that the tumor on my tongue has shrunk also.
Dick