The mould room staff can make a cast or mask for any area of your body if your doctor thinks it is necessary for your treatment. Radiotherapy treatment to any area of your head or neck usually needs a treatment mask or cast.

What is the mould room?

The mould room is where we will make your treatment cast. When you arrive in the mould room a member of staff will explain to you what is going to happen and will answer your questions.

Ladies, if there is a possibility that you might be pregnant, please inform your doctor or radiographer when you arrive as there may be a risk to your unborn child. It is also important to avoid becoming pregnant during your course of treatment.

The mould room also makes a number of different devices that can be used during radiotherapy treatments, for example, customised shielding blocks and tissue compensators.

What is a mask or cast?

We make the cast or mask from either a material called Orfit or a thin sheet of clear plastic, which fits around the area that needs treating and the surrounding area. We can cut out holes from the mask for your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Your head is one of the most difficult areas of your body to keep still, even for a short time. To help you keep still, the mask is made for you to wear during each treatment. This makes sure the same area is treated each time.
All your treatment marks will be drawn on the mask rather than on your skin.

Dental Care

If you have any of your own teeth, our dentist may need to check them before we make your mask, to try to avoid problems after treatment.
Your doctor will inform you if you need to visit our dentist at CCO.

How is the mask made?

To make the mask we first have to make a plaster cast of the area to be treated. To do this you will need to lie as flat as possible.
We will mould plaster of Paris bandages that have been dipped in warm water around the required area. We will leave your mouth or nose uncovered so that you can breathe normally.
The bandages will warm up a little as they set, but it is not uncomfortable.

Making a plaster cast can sometimes be a little messy, so we suggest that you wear loose clothing with a low collar or clothing that you can remove easily. We may ask you to undress to the waist, but will make every effort to respect your privacy.
A well-fitting mask is difficult to make if you have a beard or moustache, so we may ask you to shave off any facial hair before your appointment in the mould room.

The procedure will take about 15 minutes but please allow 45 minutes for your whole appointment. The radiographer will then give you an appointment for a few days time, to have the mask fitted and your treatment planned.

What happens when my treatment is planned?

Planning is the process of working out exactly which area of your head and neck needs treating. It is also about finding the best way to treat You. You will need to wear the mask for about 10 minutes whilst your treatment is planned. Your treatment could be planned on either the simulator or using the CT scanner. Your doctor or radiographer will inform you which one it will be.

When your doctor and the radiographer are confident that everything is correct, they will draw your treatment marks on your mask.

Planning on the treatment machine

Very occasionally, it is possible to plan your treatment directly on the treatment machine.

Ladies, if there is a possibility that you might be pregnant, please inform your doctor or radiographer when you arrive as there may be a risk to your unborn child. It is also important to avoid becoming pregnant during your course of treatment.

This is a very quick and simple way of treatment planning. The radiographer may ask you to undress, depending on which part of your body needs treating. They will make every effort to respect your privacy. All you have to do is lie on a couch and breathe normally. The radiographer will decide the best position for you to lie in and make sure you are as comfortable as possible.

Treatment