Radiotherapy mask

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My uncle has recently been diagnosed with esophageal cancer and starts his radiotherapy and chemotherapy on 16th of December. He was fitted with a mask yesterday that he will wear during radiotherapy but he couldn't bare it over his face and is now in complete panic, actually considering not getting the treatment at all as he's so worried about it. Can anyone share their experience or how I can support him. 

  • My husband has s having radiotherapy and chemo at the moment. He said it is tight fitting as they have to keep you still but it’s only on for five minutes and is well worth it the good radiotherapy can have. You can see through it and breathe through it. Try and talk him into thinking of nice holidays afterwards for the five minutes. Good luck to him. 

  • Thank you. He is very claustrophobic and this is putting his anxiety through the roof. I have talked to him today and will share your positive stories with him. 

  • Can you wear earpods or anything to listen to music?

  • Also he has said the one he was wearing was completely closed in except for the mouth? Would this have been the mould just?

  • I had a very fitted mask for a head and neck cancer for radiotherapy and had to take lorazepam 2.5 mg 30-40 mins prior to treatment.  During treatment I would recite times tables in my head.  I had intended to memorise poems and recite them but never got round to doing that.  If you take meds like lorazepam you need to have someone with you to drive and accompany you as you are a bit fuzzy and not safe in your own.  I still take this when I have the head and neck MRIs.  I felt it wasn’t about not being able to breathe but more a trapped feeling as the mask is tight, always been very claustrophobic.