The Mask

After my post in January about the radiation mask, I have gotten several questions about it. The techs at Hopkins offered me the mask back then, but it was so big that trying to get me in a wheelchair with that giant thing back out to the car was a little intimiating, so I passed. But, when I finished my whole brain radiation in May, I did take the mask. The boys were so excited when it was my last day and they were truly disappointed when they saw it. I guess they thought it was going to be a spooky Halloween style mask.

So, here it is. What started out as a flat plate with small mesh holes was soaked in warm water and pressed over my face to make the impression. The base was then locked into place during each radiation treatment to ensure my head was exactly in the same position each session. To double check placement, they would take an x-ray or two each time.

The whole brain radiation was much more tolerable than the three long treatments in December. Eventhough I went for 15 sessions, they each only lasted a few minutes. The techs were very kind and quickly snapped the mask into place and rushed into the room to unsnap it as soon as treatment was over.

This was my sixth round of radiation treatment since my diagnosis. Most of my treatments were given Monday through Friday at the same time each day. Once a week I would see the doctor to discuss side effects. After my first week of brain radiation my doctor once again explained the side effects and complications. I asked him if, back in December when he saw the CT of my fractured pelvis and the lesion, he thought I would ever walk again. He promptly answered 'no.' I am glad he knew me well enought to NOT tell me that in December and it made me smile when I returned my wheelchair last week!