Part I Flashcards
- treatment usually to cancer using ionizing radiation
- referred as high energy x-rays
Radiation Therapy
4 different intent of radiation therapy
Radical/Curative
Adjuvant
Neo Adjuvant
Palliative
way of curing a cancer, often in combination with chemotherapy (ex. head/neck)
Radical/Curative
in addition to curative surgery to reduce risk of local recurrence (ex. breast cancer)
Adjuvant
to help symptom control (ex. incurable cancer)
Palliative
prior to surgery to shrink tumor
Neo-adjuvant
based in tertiary hospital
Radiotherapy Department
T/F Radiation therapy is given as an outpatient (on weekdays)
True
describe ionizing radiation
invisible
silent
pain free to receive
2 Main Ways in Delivering Radiation Therapy
Photons and Electrons
- high energy x-rays - penetrate into deep body tissue and spare the overlying skin.
- produce secondary electrons within tissue
- cause damage in both cancer and normal cells
Photons (high energy x-rays)
-damage DNA directly and deliver their dose superficially just below the skin surface
Electrons
- generally reserved for specific circumstances such as children with brain tumor
- little dose is delivered to normal tissues
- deliver to specific area
Protons
absorbed dose is expressed as [ ]
Gray (Gy)
series of small doses
Fractions
Components related to Radiation Therapy
Consent
Immobilization
CT stimulator
Treatment Plan
[component] discuss with patient all information about procedure
Consent
[component] masks used for head and neck cancers and brain tumor patients
- used to target the right spot
- PERSPEX MASK, THERMOPLASTIC SHELL, VACUUM BAG
Immobilization
[component] locate tumor
-makes use of tattoo to mark the reference point
CT stimulator
[component] involves volume definitions
Treatment Plan
volume definitions
a. gross tumour volume (GTV)
b. clinical target volume (CTV)
c. planning target volume (PTV)
[volume definitions] margin of tumour we can see
Gross Tumour Volume (GTV)
[volume definitions] margin of microscopic spread
Clinical Target Volume (CTV)
[volume definitions] margin to take account of day to day variability and potential tumour motion
Planning Target Volume (PTV)
- dependent on which part of the body is receiving treatment
- caused by transient damage damage to normal cells
Side Effects (Toxicity)
common toxicities associated with most radiation therapy treatment
Fatigue and Skin Reaction
T/F radiotherapy can cure secondary cancer cased by radiotherapy
False - There are many other treatments for cancer (hormonal, molecular etc.)
T/F UTI should be cured before radiation therapy for prostate cancer
True
occurs 6-8 weeks after radiation therapy progressive SOB and rough treated with high dose steroids and oxygen
Pneumonitis
therapy often used in curative/neo-adjuvant setting; makes radiation therapy more effective; increase toxicity
Chemo-radiotherapy
T/F 40% of cancer patients undergo radiation therapy
True