I'm sorry to read of your severe misgivings about radiotherapy.I've had radiotherapy on my head but didn't have a mask.  I was expected to die & the treatments I had were only paliative, so perhaps they thought they didn't need to bother with a mask.

I've also had radiotherapy which involved swallowing a radioactive isotope & the usual beam radiotherapy on my leg. My experience of radiotherapy is nothing but good. There's nothing scary about it. It wasn't as bad as my experiences of MRI scanners. Some people have skin irritation but I didn't have any side effects.The marvellous thing about radiotherapy is that it's quick & it works!  I had a massive tumour in my face which I literally watched shrink every day & it completely disappeared. My tumours just went as if by magic.

Each treatment lasts onlya few minutes so you wouldn't have to wear the mask for long  Perhaps you could try to tell yourself that it will be worth it. I think you should tell the radiotherapy staff aboout your concerns & talk to a cancer nurse or counsellor. Please don't let a mask put you off the treatment.

Thanks for your reply eciguser, this has helped me a lot, you sound so brave after being through so much, hope you're well and stay strong. Thanks for taking the time to try and reassure me, gail 

Thanks for your reply eciguser, this has helped me a lot, you sound so brave after being through so much, hope you're well and stay strong. Thanks for taking the time to try and reassure me, gail 

Thank you.  I doubt that it does help because I've no experience of the mask, although I've seen lots of them & can sort of understand the claustrophobia problem. I wish I was brave! I've just realized that you started the brain lymphoma strand & I read the moderator's post.  I hope you take her advice. I hate the idea that  the mask could stop you from having the wonderful treatment.