pre-treatment
today i had an updated mri taken and a ct simulation (mask making session) completed in preparation for my five fractionated gamma knife radiosurgery sessions from M-F next week.
mri
the most recent mri i have of my meningioma was from almost 10 weeks ago on june 29, 2025, so the radiation oncologist wanted an updated mri taken with more detailed imaging of the area surrounding my meningioma prior to finalizing my treatment plan.
because the targeted imaging area was smaller today, the entire mri only took about 30 minutes or less to complete. in fact, the preparation for the mri (iv insertion, contrast administration, etc.) probably took longer than the actual imaging time.
(mri or spa day outfit?)
the mri results today came back unchanged from my previous june 29th mri. this is good news and also what we expected to be the case. here's a screenshot of the radiology report:
ct sim
after my mri, i went downstairs to the basement of the main ucsf parnassus hospital building where my gamma knife radiosurgery would be administered for a ct simulation (ct sim). the purpose of a ct sim is to create a highly detailed 3d map of the area that needs radiation treatment in order to help doctors figure out the exact location, shape, and size of the tumor (or treatment target) as well as nearby healthy tissues that should be protected.
a ct sim consists of two main parts: (1) positioning and mask making, and (2) ct imaging. during the positioning and mask making phase, the radiation therapist took a warm, soft mesh mask and laid it on top of my face while i was lying flat on a table, secured it to a frame on the table, and let it mold to my face (here's a video of the mask making process). the mesh mask will be used during each of my treatments next week to help keep my head secure and immobilized to ensure maximum precision of the gamma knife beams. this procedure only took about 15 minutes, including the time it took for the radiation therapist to explain everything to me.
while waiting for the mesh mask to fully mold onto my face, my radiation therapist performed a quick ct scan using the ICON machine that will be administering my radiation doses next week. the purpose of this ct scan is to show my tumor and surrounding anatomy in fine detail to help with mapping out the radiation beams, angles, and dose distribution. the scan and subsequent verification from a physician took less than five minutes altogether.
i wasn't sure what to expect from the mask making process today, but it turned out to be much less stressful than i could've anticipated. whether it was the laidback yet professional disposition of the radiation therapist or the warm mask on my face or the relaxing spa music, or a combination of all of these factors, i felt more like i was getting a facial at the spa than a gamma knife mask made for radiation treatments.
now all i have to do is relax and enjoy the weekend before starting my five days of gamma knife radiosurgery on monday.
next: treatment