Mould Room

Your Mould Room Appointment

Your appointment is to have a positioning shell made.

What Is A Positioning Shell?

A shell is a plastic device that is worn by you during treatment. It will fit snugly, and will cover from the bottom of your ribs to the tip of your chin and down the top part of your arm on the treatment side. The plastic is clear and about 4 mm (less than 1/4 inch) thick.

Why Is A Shell Made? The shell is made to position you the same way, every day, for your radiation treatments. It ensures that the same correct area is treated each day and will have all the directions for your treatment marked on it.

How Is the Shell Made? The shell is made in two visits to the Mould Room. Each visit will last about 30 minutes. The first visit is to make a plaster bandage impression of your upper body while you lie in the treatment position. This impression is used to make your shell. The second visit is to check the fit of the plastic shell and then to attach "legs" to it. The legs are used to fasten the shell to the base that you will be lying on for your treatment.

At the First Appointment

Please check in at the Radiation Oncology Reception Desk on the lower level. From there, you will be guided to an area to change your clothes. You must undress to the waist and put on a hospital gown and housecoat.

After you have changed, a Mould Room technologist will come to escort you to the impression room.

The technologist will place you in the treatment position. You will be asked to remove your hospital gown and housecoat and lie on your back. The bed you will lie on is hard, but this is necessary to ensure an accurate shell is made. The technologist will position your arm and head. Your arm, on the side to be treated, will be raised to just above shoulder level. Your head will be turned away from the side to be treated. This position ensures your arm and throat are kept away from the treatment area.

Next, the technologist will put plastic wrap on your hair and any other areas that should be kept clean. The technologist will apply olive oil to your skin. Then the technologist will apply the bandages and smooth them to your shape. The bandages will feel warm and wet. It will take the technologist about 20 minutes to apply the bandages. After waiting 5 minutes more for the bandages to harden, they will be removed.

Your next appointment will be explained to you at this time. If you have questions about the shell, this is a good time to ask. The plaster bandages are messy so you will need to clean up in a washroom, which is close by.

At this point, your first Mould Room appointment is completed.

Between Your First and Second Appointments

Between your first and second visits, the hardened plaster bandage impression will be filled with Plaster of Paris. The bandages will be removed after the Plaster of Paris hardens. This will leave a solid plaster cast of your shape. A sheet of plastic will then be heated and formed over your cast using a vacuum forming machine. After it is trimmed and cleaned, this shaped plastic becomes your shell.

Your Second Appointment

Check in at the Radiation Oncology Reception Desk as you did for your first appointment. You will be asked to undress as you did before. You will lie in the same position as you did during your first appointment. The plastic shell will be placed on you and held in place with a small sandbag. When the fit is satisfactory, the technologist will make and attach plastic 'legs' to the shell. The legs are used to fasten the shell to the base on which you are lying. This will take about 15 to 20 minutes. The shell is designed to fit very snugly but it will not cause you any pain.

Your next appointment will be in the "simulator" where your doctor will plan your treatment.

* Please Note

Specially trained technologists work in the Mould Room at the Cross Cancer Institute. The qualified technologist who will perform this procedure could be either male or female. The technologist, wearing latex gloves, will touch you to position your arms and head. The technologist will also touch you when applying olive oil and plaster bandages to your upper body, including your breasts. A female volunteer or staff member will be present during your Mould Room appointments. If you wish, you may also bring a family member or friend with you.

Any Questions?

• If you have questions before your Mould Room visits, contact the Radiation Oncology Reception Desk (CCI) at 780-432-8532.
• You may ask questions during your visits to the Mould Room or during your Patient Education session.
• You may wish to discuss your questions or concerns with your Radiation Oncologist.