Radiotherapy mask

This plastic mask was worn by a patient having radiotherapy for throat cancer in 2018. Radiotherapy involves sending beams of high-energy radiation (normally X-rays or gamma rays) into the body. The radiation disrupts DNA in cells, preventing those cells from reproducing. The mask holds the patient’s head and neck steady, ensuring that the beam can be targeted precisely at the cancerous tumour, avoiding healthy tissue. Use our 3D radiotherapy mask model in the classroom to bring your curriculum teaching to life: https://learning-resources.sciencemuseum.org.uk/resources/radiotherapy-mask Find out more in the Science Museum Group online collection: https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8608236/