Panic in the head scanner!

Sorry to hear that; I was worried about scans because I was concerned about the confined space but as part of the head cover (at my hospital, don't know if all are the same) there was a mirror acting as a periscope so I could clearly see the people in the control room with my eyes open so no feeling of claustrophobia at all.

The RT mask certainly has the potential to be difficult, though the length of time spent in it is less than for an MRI. I can't actually recall whether I could see through mine or not to be honest, think I had my eyes closed all the time but I know several people who've had the eye area cut out of their mask so you could go for that if you're worried.

Strangely the only time I came close to panicking was during my 35th and last session; coped with the previous 34 just fine. The brain's an odd thing.

Wow! About your panic at the 35th session! That’s fascinating, but horrible for you.

Your reply is super-helpful. If I need another head scan I’ll ask about the mirror thing, or failing that, a sedative.

So good to hear about the mask and eye holes. Good grief; the things we talk about. I used to dream of winning the lottery; now my deepest desire is to have eye holes in my radiation mask!

So grateful to you.

Sorry you had a bad experience with your MRI scan. Fortunatly I don't suffer with claustrophobia, so my MRI scans were not a problem, however I was told I could take a CD along which would be played to me, although I didn't take a CD they did play the radio through the headphones, which might be helpful to you. As for the radiotherapy you can ask them to cut eyeholes out for you, as Mike has said the radiotherapy sessions are very short, more or less over before you know it.

I wish you all the best with your treatment, you will get through it ok, as many on here have.

Regards Ray.

Thanks so much Ray, that’s reassuring.

Hi Allthecolours

Well done for getting yourself through the MRI.  Like Mike, the scanner at my hospital has a little mirror attached to the head mask so you can see outside the scanner into the room and through into the radiographers office.  I don't suffer with claustrophobia so it wasn't a concern for me but I can well imagine it would help some people.

With regards the mask, having said I'm not claustrophobic I did find the mask fitting an ordeal and was quite worried as to how I would cope when the treatment started.  The making and moulding of the mask I found fine as it starts out like a damp flannel and then becomes rigid.  It was when I was in the scanner getting lined up for the rt beams that I had a problem.  The mask has to be a very tight fit to stop any movement during the treatment but my mask was so tight I couldn't breath.  It took ages fiddling about with it before I could bear to keep it on for a few minutes and for the couple of weeks leading up to the start of treatment I was really concerned.  However, the time spent beforehand proved to be time very well spent and the team were happy to spend that time getting it right rather than me finding it unbearable when rt started and their time is more constrained.  The areas that were causing me problems had been either cut out a little or adjusted so that when I did have to wear it for real it was totally bearable.  As Mike said, the time in the mask is not very long.  Most of the time seems to be taken up with setting up - getting the right position on the table, making sure the beams are located correctly etc.  They also play music while you're having the treatment which I found a great help in the early days.

My advice would be to make sure you're as happy as you can be with the mask fitting at that appointment.  Do make sure you tell the team of any concerns you have so they can make things as easy as possible for you.

I wish you all the best.   

Oh, and yes, a lot of places will cut the eyes out so you can see although this wasn't a problem for me.

Linda

Allthecolours,

Hello again.

I have to say your post made me smile. I've found I've developed a black sense of humour since mine and my husband's cancer journeys began!!!

So.….I worried so much about the MRI that I made myself ill. And mine was for breast cancer and not head & neck so my head wasn't fastened down. Anyway I persuaded the GP to give me Diazepam. He recommended taking 2 (they were only 2mg) but I took all 5! I got in that MRI like a rat up a drainpipe!! No worries at all! I now have a stash of Diazepam (legal of course) just in case they make me have another MRI which is extremely likely as my breast cancer is the pesky sort that doesn't form lumps or show up on mammograms!

So.….likewise....the thought of the mask made my hubby ill too. He had the eyes cut out and at one point was going to have the adams apple area cut out too, but that then wasn't necessary. I attached a pic of Ken's actual mask. He was allowed to photograph it on the basis he didn't put it on Facebook! I know some people have actually been allowed to keep theirs but James Cook didn't allow that.

Onwards and upwards!

I kept mine but my wife won't have it in the house, it's on the wall in our summerhouse.

Thanks so much, Linda, for all that information. Really helpful. I shall make sure I fuss and faff before they actually do the radio therapy.

Really grateful for your help.

I’ll ask them to cut my eyes out! LOL