Radiation and Your Patient

Radiation Therapy for Hematologic Cancers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By

Lada Krilov, PhD

ILROG has issued guidelines on alternative radiation treatment methods to combat limited treatment resources for cancer patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Managing Changes, Interruptions to Radiation Treatment Schedules

By

Bryant Furlow

ASTRO has taken a lead in advising radiotherapy centers on how to manage staff and patient safety. In this column, ASTRO discusses the changes influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Few mHealth Apps Are Specific to Radiotherapy, But Helpful Tools Are Available

By

Bryant Furlow

A decade since the first wave of mobile device health apps hit the market there remain few designed specifically for patients who are undergoing radiation therapy for cancer. This review offers some useful tools available for patient education, organization, and coping.

Promising Clinical Activity for RT Plus ICIs in Locally Advanced Head and Neck Cancers

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

The majority of patients enrolled in this study were unable to receive cisplatin due to an ear-related comorbidity.

Risk of Therapy-Associated Polyposis Increased in Pediatric and Young Adult Cancer Survivors

By

Susan Moench, PhD, PA-C

These findings have implications for the screening of survivors of childhood or young adult-related cancers that are independent of prior abdominopelvic radiation therapy.

Time to Stop Ringing the Bell? A Look at Patients’ Varied Reactions to the End-of-Treatment Tradition

By

John Schieszer

The bell-ringing ceremony at the end of cancer treatment can have very unintended effects on patients, even those who can look forward to a cancer-free life.

No Silver Bullet for Radiotherapy-Associated Oral Mucositis or Lock Jaw in Head and Neck Cancer

By

Bryant Furlow

Severe acute oral mucositis in patients undergoing radiation therapy for head and neck cancer may be associated with an increased risk of developing trismus.

Results Mixed for Twice-Daily APBI in Early Breast Cancer

APBI noninferior to WBI for preventing recurrence but linked to increased late toxicity, adverse cosmesis.

Comparison of Accelerated Partial Breast Radiation Therapy and External Beam Radiation Therapy by Treatment Planning Indices

[Breast Cancer: Targets and Therapy] This study compared the technique, process, and outcomes of external beam radiation therapy with those of 3-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, finding that benefits of the APBI technique included fewer side effects and reduced treatment periods.

Strategies for Managing Postradiotherapy Cerebral Radiation Necrosis in Nontarget Brain Tissue

By

Bryant Furlow

This review seeks to shed light on a relatively common but poorly understood adverse effect of radiotherapy for primary and metastatic brain or head and neck tumors.