Let’s talk about Death – my radiotherapy mask and me

When you have radiotherapy for a brain tumour they pour quick setting plastic over your face. From this they make a mask that is an exact fit. When you go in for the radiotherapy they put the mask on you so it presses all over your face. They then bolt it down so you can’t move. They have to do this so that the high energy x-rays burn only the tumour and not the other bits in your brain.
This piece explores the challenge that many people have to deal with when they are, quite literally, looking death in the face. As we are living longer most of us are or are going to have medical intervention that will help keep us alive. As more of us have treatment for life threatening conditions more of us are prepared to talk about what this means; more of us are prepared to break that taboo and talk about death.