Treatment Point 2 - mask moulding

Last Monday was mask moulding day at Clatterbridge.

I thought I would break this into the 24 hour story to cover accommodation aspects as well (assuming an individual isn't "local" ish, and that doesn't change matters).

Travelling up on a Sunday got us to the hotel arranged by the hospital on Sunday pm. All hotel arrangements should be in your appointment letter/correspondence. No need to contact the hotel in advance. Just turn up. Seamless.

Evening meal isn't included, but breakfast is. The in house eatery was basic but covered most tastes. Check the menu on the hotel website if you've particular considerations to try and resolve in advance. My wife for example is vegan which was perhaps a little under catered for, but there was option.

There will be a taxi to take you to Clatterbridge arranged. It picks up 30 minutes before your appointment. Just be fed, booted and ready to go. That may include checking out (easy) if you aren't staying that evening.

Clatterbridge is close by, and a big campus. It caters for a lot of different treatments outside and beyond eyes, so it will be busy.

Checking in at reception (have your letter handy. The IT runs different folders/calendars for different clinics) is straight forward, and medical staff will then call you through after a short wait.

They will likely be ready to take you straight in but given checks, any travelling companion may need to wait in a dedicated area.

Straight up, into what will be the treatment chair. Measurements will be highly precise hence the need for them using the actual equipment/area.

First the tooth mould is taken. A moulding "putty" is applied to the framework "bite bar" and that's what you do. Bite in. It will harden some. The top tooth set is the important bit to keep in place/still. I assume things may be different if dentures are in play, so in that instance clarify it with Clatterbridge.

Next comes the mask being fitted. The material is a plastic mesh, soaked in hot water to make it pliable. It is placed over your upper face, over the nose bridge etc. Your breathing channels are at no time obstructed. What heat there is in the mesh dissipates quickly. Think of it like a warm flannel and you should get the gist. As it cools, it becomes firmer.

The medics will mark up the mould to ensure an eye aperture is cut out for the correct eye for treatment. Once that is done, they will refit it to you for comfort checks.

All mask fittings will be made with you relocating your teeth into the bite mould. They work together.

Once your individual "hardware fitting" is complete, they'll then turn the whole chair, with you in it, to take a series of x-rays necessary to build up a 3D image for the PB machine. Again your head/teeth will be fit into the moulding hardware. The head will be further steadied by padding to the rear of the head to keep everything still whilst x-rays and measurements are taken. The x-rays do 2 things. One is to confirm tumour shape, the second to confirm marker positions. Both are important for the programming of the PB device when treatment is carried out.

That is essentially it. 45 minutes give or take...

The specialists will confirm data, whilst you nip off for a cuppa. On your return they may need to repeat an image or two for clarity, but it shouldn't keep you for too much longer.

That will then be it until stage 3 the PB treatment itself.

As always I hope this goes someway to de-mystify this step, but of course this is just my experience on my circumstances.

Best regards and good wishes for treatment to all.