Wishing you a speedy recovery and continued strength during the treatments. Stay positive, stay strong!

Tomorrow will be the meeting with the RO to fit the mask and outline the schedule and next Tuesday with the MO. Must say I'm nervous about being fitted for the mask but I am prepared so hopefully I will do Okay. Also getting nervous about what eating will be like once treatment begins. I've read a lot of stories/cases here so I am getting some ideas about what to expect but apprehensive all the same. I am really trying hard to stay positive and not feeling sorry for myself but same days it is hard. Never really been scared about dying before, but this time around does have me thinking about it more. Thanks All for the encouraging words and the great information.

Try not to fret - usually its about week three things become unpleasant. The mask is something you have to get used to - try to close your eyes and daydream through it. I meditated. Good luck!

Re the mask, just prepare yourself for a very confining moment. Most here were just unprepared for that experience and that made it worse.

Re the food and Tx issues, you will loose your taste and appitite and you will loose a lot of weight and will regain most of your taste, appitite and weight but very slowly over a 2 year period so the advice we give everyone at your stage is to eat all your favorite things without any of the normal concerns. My taste started to go about the 2nd week of rad and it was really frustrating to put something in my mouth knowing what it was going to taste like but then realizing what I just put in my mouth tasted like crap! Do yourself a favor and eat whatever you want; however much you want and when you want it until it happens to you. Hot Fudge Sundae for Breakfast!

About the mask fitting, you could ask if they provide music or you could bring your own CD for them to play. The music helps to distract you and have an idea how long it takes and how close you are to finishing. Also you might be able to listen to an audio CD of a favorite book. If you get really anxious, ask if they can give you something to calm you. Hope everything goes just fine for you!

You will be fine! It doesn't take that long and isn't too uncomfortable. I used to play games in my head countries or animals for each letter of the alphabet! Or listen to music but I found that made it seem longer for me. Good luck with it all soon it will be a distant memory x

They had a radio on which was nice. After a few sessions I started counting the zaps. The machine made a noise each time it gave a dose of radiation. There were 8 zaps, so I would just count them to know how much longer it would take. 7 more, 6 more etc. It was easier for me to know I could make it and just relax!

Well that actually went pretty well but I will need a Xanax to get through the treatments. No way can I stay clam for 20 mins since I'm VERY claustrophobic. They did say I can bring my laptop to play music so that may help some too. At this point I'm just ready to begin so it can behind me and the healing can begin. Thanks everyone for the advise, it has really help and thanks Davidcpa for the "Okay" to have hot fudge sundaes for breakfast! I've been trying to get a lot of vitamins, grains and fiber but have to confess I have had a lot more ding dongs and frappes lately too!

Sometimes they cut holes in the mask for your eyes. The technicians said they sometimes do that for clautrophobians. (Is that even a word?)

I ate a lot of Hagen Das

the center i go to gave me a flexible ring to play with during my treatment today. i questioned it as i had never had it before. they said it was to keep my hands busy. it worked. i wrung that thing out and all my frustration from the treatment went to the ring. maybe you can ask if they have something like that.