I now have a mask

@Asylum (47893)

Manchester, England

November 8, 2017 12:40pm CST

No, I have not finally taken the advice to wear a mask for the protection of the public, this is a mask designed for my forthcoming radiotherapy treatment. As part of my appointment at Oldham hospital today, they warmed a plastic mould to adhere to my face and create a precise mask in order to hold my head still during the treatment. The mask sets quite rigidly and the idea is to clip it down to prevent me from moving and subjecting other parts from being radiated. Due to the mesh format, it reminds me of a fencing mask. They also made small tattoo marks on my body so that they would be able to line those up when having radiotherapy on my lungs. The balance of the appointment comprised of CT scans to the head and chest. My treatment shall commence next Tuesday and comprise of 10 sessions. This will be 4 days from Tuesday to Friday, followed by 5 days the following Monday to Friday and a final session the following Monday. It seems a rather strange arrangement rather than the expected 2 weeks of Monday to Friday.

23 people like this

25 responses

@JudyEv (325654)

• Rockingham, Australia

8 Nov 17

How long do you have to be 'clipped down' for? I would be battling not to panic if I thought I was pinned down by the face.

3 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

About 10 minutes, or so I believe. The idea of being restricted in that way does not worry me.

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@JudyEv (325654)

• Rockingham, Australia

9 Nov 17

@Asylum It would be a long ten minutes for me. I hope it goes well.

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@andriaperry (116860)

• Anniston, Alabama

8 Nov 17

Yes, Tony had one for his chest and back. The marks had to be changed once Tonys tumor had shrank. I sure hope it kills your tumor as it did his.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

Well the important factor is that it cannot do much harm, so it is certainly worth trying.

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@allknowing (130066)

• India

8 Nov 17

Your determination to get well will get you through all this before you know it.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

As the old saying goes, I will succeed if it kills me.

2 people like this

@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

@allknowing I can never resist a humorous comment. It may seem a little inappropriate, but avoiding such would not improve my circumstances.

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@allknowing (130066)

• India

8 Nov 17

@Asylum There are many old sayings but not appropriate in this context

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@rebelann (111154)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Nov 17

That doesn't sound very comfortable. I do hope all those treatments will help you.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

It is certainly preferable to chemotherapy.

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@rebelann (111154)

• El Paso, Texas

8 Nov 17

So it is not as bad as chemo @Asylum ? I still remember what dad went through when he had to undergo chemo only to lose the battle. It was awful.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

@rebelann I am fully aware that success in far from guaranteed.

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@JamesHxstatic (29242)

• Eugene, Oregon

8 Nov 17

We are all wishing you the best outcome with these treatments!

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

It will be over in a few weeks and I shall know whether there was any success.

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@GooglePlus (3807)

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8 Nov 17

I will keep you in prayers, if you don't mind I would like to know the reason behind this treatment.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

I have lung cancer. My initial treatment was chemotherapy, which is now being supplemented by radiotherapy.

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@GooglePlus (3807)

•

8 Nov 17

@Asylum Radio therapy will remove it completely or you have to go through chemo afterwards

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@GooglePlus (3807)

•

9 Nov 17

@Asylum When you will be going through the process you will be asleep or conscious ? I wish this therapy remove the cancer in you and make you free from it.

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@AmbiePam (85441)

• United States

8 Nov 17

Do you prefer that schedule? Or is it just let's do this already, I don't care when.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

This was the schedule set6 by the hospital, which would suggest that such a concentrated schedule is advisable. Naturally I simply accept whatever is advised.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16531)

• China

9 Nov 17

I get an idea of what the radiotherapy treatment is like.Good nutrition is vital during doing it.All the best !

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

I agree concerning the nutrition, but I have no appetite these days.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

@changjiangzhibin89 I have been told so, but it is not easy.

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changjiangzhibin89

@changjiangzhibin89 (16531)

• China

10 Nov 17

@Asylum That must be the side effects of the chemotherapeutics.You have to eat more nutritious food to brace yourself for the forthcoming radiotherapy treatment.

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (45002)

• Preston, England

10 Nov 17

sounds quite a gruelling regime - hope it goes ok

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

That remains to be seen. It could turn out to be a formality.

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Arthur Chappell

@arthurchappell (45002)

• Preston, England

10 Nov 17

@Asylum hopefully they can dipense with it

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@Carmelanirel2 (8084)

• United States

10 Nov 17

Don't they advise cancer patients to wear masks in public to protect the one with cancer? Because your immunity is weak?

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

It is not that type of mask. The mask is a mesh material and intended to be used to hold my head rigid during the treatment.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

@Carmelanirel2 True, but I cannot see any way to avoid those germs other than staying at home.

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@Carmelanirel2 (8084)

• United States

10 Nov 17

@Asylum Yes, I understand that, but wondered if the doctors suggested a mask for when you go out. Don't know about where you live, but where I am at this time of year, a lot of people have colds that could make someone with a weak immune system sicker.

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@LadyDuck (457965)

• Switzerland

9 Nov 17

Oh my Barry, are you able to wear the mask Only thinking at it my heart beat accelerated and I feel a panic attack is coming. It's horrible to be so badly claustrophobic as I am.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

Fortunately I do not have that problem.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

@LadyDuck I will find out on Tuesday.

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@LadyDuck (457965)

• Switzerland

9 Nov 17

@Asylum I hope it's not too uncomfortable to wear during the treatment.

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@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

10 Nov 17

Wow that is something I would not have thought you needed, with my claustrophobia I might not endure such a long time under a mask. I hope the strange feeling does not worry you and that your treatments go by swiftly and smoothly

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

Most people have mentioned the potential of claustrophobia, but I am doubtful that it would be a problem.

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@Inlemay (17714)

• South Africa

12 Nov 17

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@antonbunot (11091)

• Calgary, Alberta

4 Dec 17

I pray everything will go just fine for you, my friend.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

4 Dec 17

I have now undergone all 10 sessions of radiotherapy. It was quite an ordeal due to being every day, but now I am free again.

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@antonbunot (11091)

• Calgary, Alberta

4 Dec 17

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@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

9 Nov 17

Mask is good to prevent infections. Glad to hear from you. Wish all the best results for your treatments.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

The mask is intended purely to hold my head still during the treatment.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

10 Nov 17

@shshiju The need to attend every day seems the most demanding aspect.

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@shshiju (10342)

• Cochin, India

10 Nov 17

@Asylum That's good for the treatment. Hope that treatment procedures end fast and you get some rest.

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@snowy22315 (169893)

• United States

9 Nov 17

Shame it wasn't in time for Halloween.! I hope and pray it all goes well for you!

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

My brother and I said the very same. I could have decorated it for Halloween.

@Bluedoll (16774)

• Canada

8 Nov 17

I'm guessing the immune system will be stressed. That is why the mask in public? Don't know if or what they suggested. Lots of water and germ free everything? I'm guessing eat lite but only most expensive best things you can find.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

8 Nov 17

The mask is held at the hospital and only used during treatment.

@Bluedoll (16774)

• Canada

9 Nov 17

sorry now I understand

@jaboUK (64361)

• United Kingdom

9 Nov 17

My husband had to have the mask thing as well, but it didn't bother him. Good luck with the treatment.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

Most people seem to have expressed a dislike of such a mask, but it is not likely to bother me.

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@garymarsh6 (23393)

• United Kingdom

15 Dec 17

ON a bright note perhaps once your therapy has finished you could use the mask to perform phantom of the opera!

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

15 Dec 17

No chance, I hate Andrew Lloyd Webber.

@fishtiger58 (29823)

• Momence, Illinois

9 Nov 17

My dad had one of those mesh head masks when he had radiation too. I hope all goes well for you.

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

9 Nov 17

The worst part is that you have to breathe through your nose because the mouth is mostly covered.

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@fishtiger58 (29823)

• Momence, Illinois

9 Nov 17

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@Shiva49 (26199)

• Singapore

28 Nov 17

Sort of tough love to get you cured of this illness. I wish you no side effects and fast recovery - siva

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@Asylum (47893)

• Manchester, England

28 Nov 17

I have experienced several headaches over the weeks and my back has been sore, so I am delighted that the process is now over.

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