Cancer patients undergoing brain or head and neck radiotherapy are required to be immobilized, which is certainly not always popular with those undergoing the procedure, who may already be suffering from anxiety. To make things worse, in order to be immobilized completely during the procedure, it is crucial that they are wearing a fitted mold to prevent motion. Having the mold made is a whole process in itself before the procedure can begin.

In a recent study produced by the Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice, over half of the patients describe the process of having a mold made as 'horrific.' Many of them also described the process as 'uncomfortable.'

Topping that off with molded shells that quite often do not fit appropriately, the anxiety levels are heightened for patients — enough so that researchers centered their study around the creation of molded shells through 3D printing that could be created from data conveniently already existing in the form of a CT scan. The process would increase the comfort level for the patient and save a great deal of time in preparing a molding.

Radiotherapy is a type of cancer treatment which uses high-energy rays to zap cancer cells. The procedure has to be precisely aimed directly at specific areas to have effect, and it's not a procedure anyone wants immediately repeated; therefore, It's important to have the head shell or molding during radiotherapy because the patient must lie still. The mold or shell holds the head and neck in the correct position, and is fixed to the radiotherapy treatment table.