Childhood Leukemia by Nancy Keene

Author:Nancy Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Childhood Cancer Guides
Published: 2018-04-01T04:00:00+00:00

Masks are made from a lightweight, porous, mesh material that your child can breathe through. First, the technologist should explain and demonstrate the entire mask-making process to your child. Some technologists make a mask of a child’s hand to show how it looks and feels. Then, the child lies down on a table, and the technologist puts a sheet of the mask material in warm water to soften it. This warm mesh sheet is then placed over the child’s face and quickly molded to her features. The child can breathe through the mesh material the entire time but must hold still for several minutes as the mask hardens. At some institutions, the mask is lifted off the child’s face, and the technologist cuts holes in the mask for the eyes, nostrils, and mouth. At others, the mask is left in place while a CT scan is done and holes are not cut into the mask. You and your child should understand your institution’s practices before the mask making starts so you will be prepared.

The cancer center staff had scheduled two hours for mask-making for my 3-year-old daughter. I asked them to explain very quietly every step in the process. I told her I would be holding her hand, and I promised that it would not hurt, but it would feel warm. I asked her to choose a story for me to recite as they molded the warm material to her face, to make the time go faster. She picked Curious George Goes to the Hospital. She held perfectly still; I recited the story; the staff were gentle and quick; and the entire procedure took less than 20 minutes.

Very young children, or those who have difficulty holding still, are sedated while the mask is being made.

Shawn (2 years old) needed to be sedated for his 10 doses of cranial radiation. They also made his mask while he was anesthetized.

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