Friday, April 1st, I will be traveling to UCLA to have my mask made for brain radiation. The process is very interesting. The technicians soak a hard mesh-like material in hot water to make it soft. I lay on the table of a CT scan machine, and then they place the soft (and very warm) mesh first behind my head. They shape is to my head and let it cool until it is hardened. The second piece is for the face. They make a hole for the nose and the eyes. Once that is hardened they attached pieces (don't what to call them) to the side of front and back forms. Then they put dowels through those to which go into a holder on the table making it so that I am unable to move my head.
Then a CT scan is done of my skull/brain. This CT gives them the information they need to create the radiation plan. It takes 2-3 weeks for the plan to be made. Once that is done, they will schedule my radiation treatment. When I have the radiation, I'm in a different room on a table, and again I wear the mask, and am pinned down to the table. My head is exactly in the same position as it was in the set up process.
The process for making the mask only takes about 15 minutes, and the radiation about 15-20. The actually time of receiving radiation is probably less than 10 minutes. After that, they put my mask in a bag, and home I go with my mask. Maybe this time, I'll make something interesting out of my mask form. There are a lot of patients who actually do turn their mask into a piece of art. They have photo's and some masks displayed in the waiting room. Very interesting.
When all is done for this one, I will post some pictures.
Thanks for checking in.
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