A 10-year-old Nova Scotia boy says he feels like a powerful wrestler when his radiation therapy mask is slipped over his head and latched down to a treatment bed.

Brandon MacKenzie looks like one too, because he's had the mask painted in the black, green and white pattern worn by his professional wrestling hero, Rey Mysterio Jr.

The mask is one of several decorated by therapists for radiation therapy patients at the Queen Elizabeth II hospital in Halifax.

MacKenzie says his wrestling hero found out about the mask, and since then Mysterio has been in frequent contact with him and even sent an actual wrestling mask worn in the ring.

Radiation oncologist Rob Rutledge says he's grateful to the therapists who devote time to creating the masks for patients.

Rutledge says the treatment's goal is to target tumours and any method that helps reduce a patient's discomfort over having their head latched down is helpful.