#35082 04-23-2007 03:06 PM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 | I am having some major problems with my mask being to tight and leaving marks on my face and throat. anybody else having problems like this | | |
#35083 04-23-2007 03:16 PM | Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 Patient Advocate (1000+ posts) | | Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)
Joined: Aug 2003 Posts: 1,627 | Angie, when I began treatment my face mask was so tight that I was a bundle of nerves and anxiety. When I was finished, I would have "tennis racket" marks all over my face for 15 minutes after treatment ended, if not longer. It didn't take long for it to loosen up as I lost weight. Have you told the staff that it is uncomfortably tight? It needs to be tight for the radiation beams to go to the correct area but maybe it's to tight, can't hurt to ask.
SCC Left Mandible. Jaw replaced with bone from leg. Neck disection, 37 radiation treatments. Recurrence 8-28-07, stage 2, tongue. One third of tongue removed 10-4-07. 5-23-08 chemo started for tumor behind swallowing passage, Our good friend and much loved OCF member Minnie has been lost to the disease (RIP 10-29-08). We will all miss her greatly.
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#35084 04-23-2007 04:49 PM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 | I'm working on trying to get it fixed. The dr will be there at my appt tomorrow so I will ask him about it. but it left marks that are still there on my throat. Thanks for your help | | |
#35085 04-24-2007 01:09 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | I am going through the "joy" of having my mask fitted today. Since I have sleep apnea, I am used to masks though, so hopefully will not have a problem with it. Hope yours can be loosened a little bit.
Given the look of my neck after the dissection, I'm not really worried about a few marks from the mask! ;-)
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
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#35086 04-24-2007 08:02 AM | Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 Gold Member (100+ posts) | | Gold Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Dec 2003 Posts: 116 | My mask was very tight at the start and had waffle marks on my face. As treatments went On and I lost weight is was loose by the end of the treatments.
SCC R-Tonsil T2 NO MO Dec 2003. Completed IMRT Radiation only to tonsils(72Gy) and neck(55Gy)March 04. Detected at age 50.
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#35087 04-24-2007 08:30 AM | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 598 | Well, had the mask fitting, and it was much easier than I anticipated. Yeah, it was tight, but I could breathe and everyone was telling me what was happening as we went, so it wasn't bad at all.
The doctor stuck his head in while the IV was being started for the CT scan, and asked about the mask fitting and any anxiety, claustrophobia. He offered a relaxant if I needed it, so you might check with your doctor on that, if you feel it would help.
Jeff
SCC Right BOT Dx 3/28/2007
T2N2a M0G1,Stage IVa
Bilateral Neck Dissection 4/11/2007
39 x IMRT, 8 x Cisplatin Ended 7/11/07
Complete response to treatment so far!!
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#35088 04-24-2007 09:11 AM | Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Nov 2002 Posts: 3,552 | I took a photo, tinted it green and was a dead ringer for the "creature From The Blue Lagoon". It'll loosen up quickly once you start losing weight. Mine was very loose towards the end of Tx.
I took Zanax the entire time I was in treatment.
I'm trying to figure out how to make a "Chia Pet" out of it now...
Gary Allsebrook
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Dx 11/22/02, SCC, 6 x 3 cm Polypoid tumor, rt tonsil, Stage III/IVA, T3N0M0 G1/2
Tx 1/28/03 - 3/19/03, Cisplatin ct x2, IMRT, bilateral, with boost, x35(69.96Gy)
________________________________________________________
"You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes" (James 4:14 NIV)
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#35089 04-25-2007 10:33 AM | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I didn't take any meds but I did listen to loud music while the radiation was humming along. Nobody likes it but some can tolerate better. The first time will be the worst and you will look like you were hit in the face with a tennis racket but give it a chance before you ask for additional meds. That's just my opinion as I HATE to take pills.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
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#35090 04-25-2007 10:42 AM | Joined: May 2006 Posts: 137 Senior Member (100+ posts) | | Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: May 2006 Posts: 137 | The mask flat sucks. Mine was waaayyy too tight at first; they had to cut a hole for my nose (which was flattened out and suffocating me. It was so tight I couldn't open my mouth to breathe, either. It got easier after awhile, though. Like Gary, the Xanax helped me a lot, especially at first.
dx 2/13/06. modified radical neck dissection 3/9/06 multiple biopsies of upper airway and direct laryngoscopy. 1 of 47 lymph nodes positive for metastatic undifferentiated carcinoma (lymphoepithelioma). Unknown primary. Finished radiation 5/24/06.
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#35091 04-25-2007 02:00 PM | Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Feb 2007 Posts: 34 | The mask finally got fitted and the new headrest helps. went through another ct. and yes i had been taking meds the whole way through. Thank you for your experience and advice. | | |
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