I am scheduled to have my mask done on 7/6. What can I expect? Thanks for all the help.

Susan, the procedure is short but weird. They drape what feels like a warm, wet and very porous towel over your face and pull the sides down as tight as they can. You lie there for a few minutes (not hours, although it sure felt like that to me) until the durn thing hardens, and off she comes.

It's actually a breeze so don't fret. I only felt uncomfortable because I'd had my neck dissection and tracheotomy just a few weeks before that and was still having trouble with swallowing and breathing when lying flat.

We can discuss strategies for dealing with the actual WEARING of the thing during treatments anytime you like. Plenty of people will have advice.

Courage!
David 2

Thanks, David. God, I appreciate this forum.

Susan

When they place the plastic mesh that will melt into a mask, you can ask to have them make a Mouth opening. I did not learn this until my second mask and it was so much more comfortable not to have the mask pressing into my lips than the first time.

Charm

Good point, Charm. I'd forgotten to add to my post that the tech did that for me to accomodate my nose, proud may it wave...

d

Susan, Not to sacare you, but I had a hard time with that. I had no idea what to expect, so I never gave it much thought. In my case, the mask was warmed up, when the techs removed it from the heating unit, they very quickly put it over my face, & all these hands were pressing down & shapping the mask @ once. I felt like I couldn't breath! I had a hole cut out for my mouth & each treatment a tongue blade was put in my mouth (to protect the palate) If you could..take an Adavan 30 min. before this is done. Best of luck. It really did not take long at all. I just don't think I will ever forget it though.

"The mask" - it's a necessary evil. I promised I would hold my head still and never move one bit, but they laughed and said I had to wear the mask so they could get the radiation precisely in the area they were aiming. I never got anywhere near liking it, but I got to where I would just count the "zaps" and so I knew right when I would be done. Sometimes it took a little longer for them to get me "lined up" to start zapping, but once they started I could count down to getting the mask off. And since they know nobody wants it on any longer than necessary, they run right out to get it off as soon as you are done. It is just a matter of accepting that it's for your own good and next thing you know radiation treatments will be finished.

Susan.....How did it go today? I bet your so glad thats over. Let me know how it went!

thanks for asking, Dianne/went well, as my daughter was there with me and I didn't expect the CT scan and MRI/will start radiation 7/16

Susan, glad to hear things went smoothly. I found during RT that listening to music or an audio book was extremely helpful, and even brought my own little speakers to hook up to my iPod. If that's not possible for you you might consider meditative breathing - there are many techniques and I'm sure you can learn what you need through an Internet search.

Good luck - remember we're here to help.
D2