Did you keep your mask?

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  • awsumtime
    awsumtime Member Posts: 11
    #42
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    BIL777 said:

    MY MASK
    I WENT THRU IT TWICE RADIATION 2 TIMES A DAY ALONG WITH CHEMO 2 TIMES A DAY 9 YEARS AGO & 4 YEARS AGO. THE FIRST TIME I HAD MY MASK MOUNTED LIKE A DEER HEAD AND HUNG IT ON THE WALL.
    WHEN I HAD THE RELAPS. I TOOK IT DOWN AND BURNED IT. I LIKE YOU HAD TO TAKE A CHILL PILL ALSO
    DO NOT GIVE UP NEVER GIVE UP!!!

    Your mask
    What kind of cancer did you have that you got a relapse?
  • livinontheedge
    livinontheedge Member Posts: 8
    #43
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    SIRENAF42 said:

    Dang Mask
    I took my mask, but never planned to use it as a memory trigger. I destoyed it by placing in the middle of the street, saying a thank you prayer to god then I ran it over with my truck. It felt good!!!!

    'THE MASK'
    on my final day of radiation,they asked me if i was going to keep it and if so;what i would do with it,if anything.i said yes i was keeping it and i would turn it into a scarecrow for my garden.to me it was the scariest thing i'd ever seen...but apparently birds have a different perception of"scary" they land right on it!!
  • Diane03
    Diane03 Member Posts: 42
    #44
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    It remined me of a scary
    It remined me of a scary angel- I just didn't want to look at it anymore. I prefer feeling free.
  • waikiki5
    waikiki5 Member Posts: 2
    #45
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    They asked me if I wanted to
    They asked me if I wanted to keep my mask but I was so sick that I just told them No Way!! If I never see the radiation doctor I will be happy for the rest of my life!!
  • stayingcalm
    stayingcalm Member Posts: 650 Member
    #46
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    I saved it, it's looking back at me right now
    Kept it. My daughter had some thought of papier-maché involving feathers and beads and brightly-hued paint, some sort of tribal totem I guess, as I now belong to the worldwide tribe of cancer patients. However, I just love victor53's solution for what to do with it - make it a useful tool! Make it pay!

  • soccerfreaks
    soccerfreaks Member Posts: 2,788 Member
    #47
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    stayingcalm said:

    I saved it, it's looking back at me right now
    Kept it. My daughter had some thought of papier-maché involving feathers and beads and brightly-hued paint, some sort of tribal totem I guess, as I now belong to the worldwide tribe of cancer patients. However, I just love victor53's solution for what to do with it - make it a useful tool! Make it pay!

    hmmm
    I like your daughter's idea better. A talisman. And if you can't poke fun at it once in awhile, this cancer thing, what good is it anyway?

    Take care,

    Joe

    PS I had missed Victor's post originally. Now I am perpelexed, however: if you strain stuff through the mask, do you still need to microwave it?
  • f1ken
    f1ken Member Posts: 1
    #48
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    stayingcalm said:

    I saved it, it's looking back at me right now
    Kept it. My daughter had some thought of papier-maché involving feathers and beads and brightly-hued paint, some sort of tribal totem I guess, as I now belong to the worldwide tribe of cancer patients. However, I just love victor53's solution for what to do with it - make it a useful tool! Make it pay!

    I'm saving mine
    My last treatment is on March 18th. Eating is hard, all mental now. Skin on neck and ear is real dry. My brother is going to paint my mask like an old school Hockey Goalie mask. Going to have some with it.
  • victor53
    victor53 Member Posts: 97
    #49
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    soccerfreaks said:

    hmmm
    I like your daughter's idea better. A talisman. And if you can't poke fun at it once in awhile, this cancer thing, what good is it anyway?

    Take care,

    Joe

    PS I had missed Victor's post originally. Now I am perpelexed, however: if you strain stuff through the mask, do you still need to microwave it?

    ive had a few people who
    ive had a few people who thought it was a little too adams family-ish.
    Been asked about the radiation it might contain.
    But they are great for rinsing veggies and straining potatos
    It gets a little creepy looking with spagetti thou.
    Wondered about putting it in the microwave?
  • SPILLERCJ
    SPILLERCJ Member Posts: 14
    #50
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    f1ken said:

    I'm saving mine
    My last treatment is on March 18th. Eating is hard, all mental now. Skin on neck and ear is real dry. My brother is going to paint my mask like an old school Hockey Goalie mask. Going to have some with it.

    GLAD YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!
    GLAD YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! MINE WILL BE MARCH 31- GETTING HARD TO FIND THINGS TO EAT OTHER THAN YOGURT AND SHERBERT- USING AQUAPHOR ON MY NECK SEEMS TO HELP- ALSO ALOE VERA
  • frances1225
    frances1225 Member Posts: 1
    #51
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    SPILLERCJ said:

    GLAD YOU ARE ALMOST THERE!
    GLAD YOU ARE ALMOST THERE! MINE WILL BE MARCH 31- GETTING HARD TO FIND THINGS TO EAT OTHER THAN YOGURT AND SHERBERT- USING AQUAPHOR ON MY NECK SEEMS TO HELP- ALSO ALOE VERA

    Kept the mask
    I kept my husband's mask. Every time I see it, I am reminded of how tough this has been. I don't ever want to forget. It broke my heart to see him locked to the table every time. He took Ativan before each session. The staff at HUP were so kind and compassionate and explained things any time I asked. He had a PEG tube put in before treatment. Smart move. He completed his radiation a year ago. It has been a challenging year with a few hiccups along the way, but a very good one as well. He lost 50 lbs and today he is maintaining his weight, eating better, hitting golf balls and is cancer free. Salivation has returned and taste is back to about 90%.

    My husband drank milkshakes, ate ice cream, puddings, cream soups and apple sauce. Hang in there. Someday this will be a distant memory.
  • Craig_Griffin
    Craig_Griffin Member Posts: 52
    #52
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    Collectors item!
    What a thought- keeping that mask. Now that you mentioned it I may go back to get mine. But I do remember telling the radiation nurses that "it may have been easy showing some progress with chemotherapy, but you in radiation oncology are the close-out team, you are going to totally eradicate my cancer". They looked at me like I was off the mark, and that I didn't understand that I could be in it for the long haul. But I have to say the first time I heard the words that I was "cancer free" I thought I was maybe dreaming. It is my hope that many, many cancer patients will also hear those same words- "you are now cancer free". Spoils of victory are great, and I regret that I never thought of keeping my mask.
  • Bobert
    Bobert Member Posts: 4
    #53
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    Craig_Griffin said:

    Collectors item!
    What a thought- keeping that mask. Now that you mentioned it I may go back to get mine. But I do remember telling the radiation nurses that "it may have been easy showing some progress with chemotherapy, but you in radiation oncology are the close-out team, you are going to totally eradicate my cancer". They looked at me like I was off the mark, and that I didn't understand that I could be in it for the long haul. But I have to say the first time I heard the words that I was "cancer free" I thought I was maybe dreaming. It is my hope that many, many cancer patients will also hear those same words- "you are now cancer free". Spoils of victory are great, and I regret that I never thought of keeping my mask.

    Keeping the Mask
    I kept my mask, at 1st I thought I would give it away as a white elephant gift, now I'm not sure I will do that.
  • flygirlc
    flygirlc Member Posts: 30 Member
    #54
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    I kept mine
    Mine is sitting on a shelf in the basement. I love the idea of turning it into a strainer and love the radiation humor re: not needing to microwave stuff. I had thyroid cancer and haven't met anyone else who had EBRT, apparently it's uncommon for thyca patients. I had a great radiation team, and one of my techs was really cute and sweet, so that was a little something to look forward to ;-)
    I used the silver sulfadiazine (or however you spell it) cream faithfully twice a day and covered my neck whenever I was in the sun (I have a convertible) and only got mildly burned on the outside. It did toughen up my scar though. By the end of my 34 treatments though, I couldn't eat any solid food, lived on ensure, lost 10 lbs. couldn't drink anything hot or cold, just room temp. Lost my voice and was exhausted all the time. Hated the salogen, gave me cold sweats really bad. My salivary glands were just getting back to normal then I had to do RAI (radioactive iodine 131) twice, so that was kind of a set back, but they're almost normal.
    I'm glad I kept the mask, even though I ignore it most of the time. Maybe when I have a bigger kitchen, I'll bring it up and use it as a strainer. LOL
  • bany
    bany Member Posts: 38
    #55
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    flygirlc said:

    I kept mine
    Mine is sitting on a shelf in the basement. I love the idea of turning it into a strainer and love the radiation humor re: not needing to microwave stuff. I had thyroid cancer and haven't met anyone else who had EBRT, apparently it's uncommon for thyca patients. I had a great radiation team, and one of my techs was really cute and sweet, so that was a little something to look forward to ;-)
    I used the silver sulfadiazine (or however you spell it) cream faithfully twice a day and covered my neck whenever I was in the sun (I have a convertible) and only got mildly burned on the outside. It did toughen up my scar though. By the end of my 34 treatments though, I couldn't eat any solid food, lived on ensure, lost 10 lbs. couldn't drink anything hot or cold, just room temp. Lost my voice and was exhausted all the time. Hated the salogen, gave me cold sweats really bad. My salivary glands were just getting back to normal then I had to do RAI (radioactive iodine 131) twice, so that was kind of a set back, but they're almost normal.
    I'm glad I kept the mask, even though I ignore it most of the time. Maybe when I have a bigger kitchen, I'll bring it up and use it as a strainer. LOL

    dad kept his
    my dad kept his mask and also loves the idea of using it as a vegie strainer lol my mom has some objections to that

    elaine
  • KarCar523
    KarCar523 Member Posts: 21
    #56
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    dlugo48 said:

    This is something i would do if i was at the right state of mind.I had 28 external radiation sessions and i wasnt all there afterwards i had mix emotions everytime i saw it.plus my neck was burning up due to the radiation ,i should of kept it i would of done something good with it like letting my wife wear it when she screams at me.HAHA Did anyone panic during the mask fit.jerry mtc survivor

    I was 13 when i had my mask
    I was 13 when i had my mask fitted and I was so scared that i made my dad make one first. LOL
  • jejrdn
    jejrdn Member Posts: 28
    #57
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    I kept my mask
    I kept my mask. Right now it is a bag in my office. I am going to paint the face all different colors to coincide with how I feel about the cancer. It may end up looking like a tribal mask but that is okay. I will have plenty of time to do it since I just got laid off from my job. I finished my radiaion on Friday March 20th and got laid off on Thursday March 26th. Oh well after what I went through over the last several months, getting laid off is nothing in comparison. I'll have to post a picture of the mask when I have it done. Take it easy all!!!
  • SIRENAF42
    SIRENAF42 Member Posts: 202
    #58
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    jejrdn said:

    I kept my mask
    I kept my mask. Right now it is a bag in my office. I am going to paint the face all different colors to coincide with how I feel about the cancer. It may end up looking like a tribal mask but that is okay. I will have plenty of time to do it since I just got laid off from my job. I finished my radiaion on Friday March 20th and got laid off on Thursday March 26th. Oh well after what I went through over the last several months, getting laid off is nothing in comparison. I'll have to post a picture of the mask when I have it done. Take it easy all!!!

    Layed - off
    Sorry to hear that you were layed off. They say when one door closes and window opens. New things ahead and a healthy start! Good Luck!!!
    Sirena
  • SPILLERCJ
    SPILLERCJ Member Posts: 14
    #59
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    SIRENAF42 said:

    Layed - off
    Sorry to hear that you were layed off. They say when one door closes and window opens. New things ahead and a healthy start! Good Luck!!!
    Sirena

    LAID OFF
    THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER OUT THERE FOR YOU- I just finished 33 radiations treatments on tues and yes I kept my mask- they gave me a certificate of merit for completing my treatment - my oldest son and my best friend went with me for the final treatment - brought me flowers and everyone cheered! Glad its over- just hope it worked. Mine was on my vocal cord- hard having patience for it to heal- this is the worse i;ve felt thru it all- no energy at all. My mask is a symbol of triumph - I truly believe I beat it- guess we will see
  • Debbiesa99
    Debbiesa99 Member Posts: 1
    #60
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    I kept my mask
    Yep, still have it after nearly three years. It's in the closet in one of the spare rooms. I don't know why I still have it, but I do.
  • RoseEm
    RoseEm Member Posts: 32
    #61
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    SPILLERCJ said:

    LAID OFF
    THERE IS SOMETHING BETTER OUT THERE FOR YOU- I just finished 33 radiations treatments on tues and yes I kept my mask- they gave me a certificate of merit for completing my treatment - my oldest son and my best friend went with me for the final treatment - brought me flowers and everyone cheered! Glad its over- just hope it worked. Mine was on my vocal cord- hard having patience for it to heal- this is the worse i;ve felt thru it all- no energy at all. My mask is a symbol of triumph - I truly believe I beat it- guess we will see

    Wow...did we go to same treatment center?
    Same here, Spillercj! I got mine last year and decorated it for Halloween and Christmas. I'm thinking of painting it for my crafts room wall. When I was undergoing treatment, I thought about the time it would go in the trash - but now I look at it and think how wonderful it was to fight the fight and survive.

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