More Preparation Unique to Head and Neck Radiation

The teeth were in the trash, and I was wearing a temporary denture with which I could eat nothing. I failed to explain in the previous posts why all the teeth had to be pulled. Since I had capped my teeth earlier, it would nearly impossible for a dentist to tell if a cavity were forming under one of the caps. An x-ray might miss a tiny cavity, and if it did, there was risk for necrosis (death) of the jawbone from radiation. My doctors explained that cancer is far preferable to necrosis.

 

Now, with the teeth gone, my treatment proceeded to phase two, the tattoo, the face mask, and the tube for feeding.

 

When you need radiation for head or neck cancer, you’ll begin battle with tiny warrior’s tattoo on your chest. It’s approximately the size of a freckle, but I preferred to think of it as one of those tattoos the Polynesians got when they were going to war. Even though I am very much the girly girl, this was no tramp stamp. It was a badge of courage. However, to the radiologist it was merely a point of reference to line up the beams.

 

At the same time you get your tattoo, you’re going to have a mask made of your face, the process being similar to making a paper mache’ mold. The finished mask will make you look like an understudy for the movie Halloween. As you begin radiation each day, this mask will be placed over your face and bolted to the table at each side to keep you absolutely stone still. The radiation is calibrated for very precise areas in your body, and this mask assures the beams never miss their mark.

 

The final step in preparing for radiation, other than the psychological prep going on in your head, is the feeding tube. And that should be a post in itself.