June 26, 2024

Today was the preliminary visit for radiation treatments. When the actual treatments are being done, I'll be lying prone on a table with my head in a mask that will hold it totally still. So the majority of the appointment was molding the mask. They took a big sheet of this thick plastic mesh that was warmed up to make it pliable and laid it over my face and shoulders while I was lying down. It was then tightly clamped down to the table and I had to lie there totally still with my eyes closed as they basically sculpted the warm plastic around my face, neck, and shoulders. Then I got run through a CT scanner a few times. I was under this plastic thing held down to the table with my eyes closed for about 40 minutes or so. It's a very good thing I'm not the least bit claustrophobic or I'd have had a real problem. They showed it to me when they were done, and were like "there's you in plastic!" and I hope they'll let me have it when we're done.

I'll start the treatments in two weeks. They'll last about 10 or 15 minutes each, and I'll go each weekday for six weeks. So this will basically fill out my summer. It's nice to get the next phase started and have the entire schedule set.