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Simulation On the first day the area to be treated with radiation needs to be marked out, this process is called the simulation |
face masks or aquaplast is fitted |
In order to ensure that the targeting is accurate every day, most patients have an immobilization face mask made |
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The face mask holds the head in the same exact position
every day and allows the technologists to paint all the targeting marks on the mask
(rather than painting inks marks all over a patient's face.) These masks usually fit comfortably and if this it too tight the patient should advise the staff and these can be adjusted. After the mask is made it attaches to a frame on the table and the targeting laser lights can be aligned properly. Usually a CT scan is then obtained and this information is fed into the computer that calculates the doses and creates the blocks that will be used to protect areas that do not need to be radiated. During the course of the radiation treatment the radiation fields (or ports) will often be reduced in size at certain fixed intervals and sometimes the CT scan needs to be repeated. |
