CT Simulation for Radiotherapy

CT simulation is a process used by the radiation therapy team to determine the exact and precise location and size of the area to be treated. For my case mainly on Neck. This will be done by the CT scan.

First, the nurse injected my left hand with a non-coring needle and needle-less cap. That's where the solvent for the scan will come in later. It's good as least the nurses won't have to keep injecting you. It creates an open hole for injection without poking your hand too many times. However, my poor left hand, I have to say, the last few weeks has been very mistreated, from the scans, blood tests and MRI. Also, the nurses whom is injecting varies, some whom are skilful will cause less pain, some let's just say they injected too near to the veins and I have to try very hard to put on a brave front. Blue black swelling is common.

Before the simulation, I met Ho Guan Da, radiographer, also a friend of my friend Melissa, whom is working in SGH, she specially "instructed" If Guan Da come across me as patient, he will take care of me. I feel privileged knowing I have connection everywhere :) He takes me through the process of the CT simulation before I proceed.

During simulation, I was told to lie on a narrow and movable table. The radiographer then defines the position with laser lights. Once it's fixed, they pile something hot, elastic and stretchable on my head to my chest.

It's like having beauty facial expect we are talking on a bigger scale and of course it won’t clean my face and make me look pretty. One of the radiation therapists, Samantha then told me to swallow my saliva every 10 seconds. Guan da then injected contrast material (liquid with dye in it) into my body so my internal organs are easier to see through the CT scan. 

Lastly, I was told I will be "tattooed" on my chest. Great, I'm now marked with cancer except you won't be able to see it clearly, as it's only a dot. At first I was wondering if I could have special design. A swastika will be nice but no luck on that!

After my radiographer locates the area to be treated, he then will outline the treatment field on my head and neck area and work with my radiotherapy oncologist. My radiotherapy oncologist, Dr Ivan Tham told me I will be given the dosage of 70 gy (gray) of radiation which then will be divided into 33 sessions which means 1 session will be around 2.12 gy of radiation during the whole treatment.

Before I leave, I saw the mask, in white; this is going to hold my head during the radiotherapy treatment. It looks like an alien mask, I didn’t realise my head is that big as well, I was told I have a small head on big body during my secondary school days nonetheless it will be my only companion throughout my radiotherapy treatment…