The Radiation Mask
The process was I had to be at the Hospital 30 minutes prior to the appointment time to fill in the obligatory paperwork. At the appointed time a member of the Radiation Oncology team came out and went through the procedure of what was to happen with the fitting of the mask and what the procedures were for each visit for treatment. I was asked what time block I wanted for my radiation treatment (between 0800 and 2130 each day and I selected the 2000 block. My first appointment was the confirmed for 02 March 2009 at 1915. From then on each appointment would be confirmed for the next day and a tentative time would be made for two days out.
The process of making the mask involves two stages
The first stage was the Radiation Oncologist deciding from my file what area/s to target and at what dose. They then centred me up under the Liner Accelerator so as to line up what areas would be targeted. So as to keep my targeted area in the same spot whilst the mask was fitted they used a marker pen to mark a centre line in line with light beams projected from the Liner Accelerator.
The mask was then prepared and when it was soft it was transported over and placed on my face and moulded. The mask started off as a flat rigid thermoplastic sheet with a look similar to bubble wrap or a mesh basket (although solid). The heat made it pliable for moulding and when it was placed on my face it felt warm and wet. The process took about 10 – 15 minutes to complete as the mask needed to cool so that it would return to its rigid shape. The technicians helped this process along by using ice packs to cool the mask.
The second part of the process was removal of the mask and heading over to another room to do a series of CT scans. The reasoning behind this was almost everyone who has external beam radiation therapy will have a planning session (simulation) before treatment can begin. The radiation therapist uses a CT machine (a simulator) to set up your treatment. The simulator is not a treatment machine. The simulator can take images or scans, which provide a picture of the area to be treated. These pictures help your radiation therapy team plan your treatment and decide how to direct the radiation to your body.I lay on the CT table and had the mask refitted. The mask clips were locked in place and I become as one with the table, basically totally immobilised. The CT Scanner whizzed and whirred for about 5 minutes whilst the Technicians did their thing and when it was finished I was allowed up to go home. The Planning session was over, all inside about 45 minutes.