Advice for coping with treatment with a radiation therapy mask
Ways to deal with wearing a mask during radiation therapy treatment
Radiation therapy masks are an essential part of radiation therapy treatment (radiotherapy) for many cancers of the head, neck and chest.
It is normal to feel scared and anxious about wearing a mask every day of treatment – especially if it is your first time.
How does wearing a radiation therapy mask feel?
When you have to wear a mask for your radiation therapy treatment, this will be specially made to fit your head and neck exactly. Your radiation therapy team will make sure that you are as comfortable as possible while they create your mask.
The first time you wear your radiation therapy mask may feel odd and limiting, but most people find the mask isn’t too bad once they get used to it. For some people, wearing a mask can be very hard, with the experience made worse by claustrophobia or anxiety issues.
How can I deal with wearing a radiation therapy mask?
A key step to get ready for your radiation therapy treatment is to communicate with your care team about any problems or anxiety you feel during your mask fitting and treatment tests. It is especially important to let your team know if you have any negative emotions because of the radiation therapy mask before you begin your radiation therapy treatment.
Your care team can help you get used to radiation therapy treatment and manage these emotions, and will come up with ways to help you throughout your radiation therapy.
This may include referring you to a psychologist or counsellor who can help you with relaxation and other coping skills, or to a doctor who can prescribe medications that ease severe anxiety.
Everyone’s cancer journey is different, but listening to the stories of others can offer comfort and support. We recently asked our Facebook community how they felt when wearing a radiation therapy mask and how they handled treatment.
Here are some of the tips they shared:
- You have to just relax. Remember that you can keep the mask when you are done, I still have mine hanging on the wall three years later.
- I shut my eyes, took slow focused breaths and planned everything I was going to do when I was out of there.
- It was very claustrophobic. I kept my eyes closed and focused on slow breaths.
- Wearing the mask didn’t bother me, you just have to relax as the process is quite quick.
- Just breathe. Tell yourself you’re not the only one who has or is going this. Focus on your breathing. Count your breaths in and hold count as you exhale. It helps to relax.
- They usually play music so just try and listen and not think about the treatment. The mask doesn’t hurt and they fit them to each individual.
- Being claustrophobic, I really struggled not just with the mask itself but being pinned down to the bench for the first.