Zjq Knowledge For Nurses Caring For Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy

Front 1

When looking at the goals of treatment, What does "Definitive Treatment" mean? Give examples

Back 1

Definitive Treatment is potentially curative, examples include Head, Neck, Prostate cancer.

Front 2

When is "Neoadjuvant Therapy" given?
Give an example.

Back 2

"Neoadjuvant therapy is given prior to definitive therapy such as surgery.
an example would include Rectal cancer.

Front 3

What is "Adjuvant therapy" Give an example.

Back 3

"Adjuvant therapy" is Preventive treatment to asympotmatic areas after surgery or chemotherapy.
examples include Breast, pancreas cancers.

Front 4

What are the two kinds of "Ionizing Radiation?

Back 4

External beam radiation & Internal radiation.

Front 5

what is it called when the source of radiation is outside the body?

Back 5

External beam radiation.

Front 6

what is it called when the source of radiation is placed inside the body?

Back 6

Internal radiation

Front 7

name two types of Internal radiation. state weather they are sealed sources or Unsealed.

Back 7

1) Brachytherapy- it is a sealed source.

2) Raidopharmaceutical therapy-it is an unseald source.

Front 8

What is Radiation therapy?

Back 8

the therapeutic use of high energy electormagnetic disease, primarily malignancies.

Front 9

concerning Differentiation what kind of cells are the most radiosensitive?

Back 9

poorly differentiated cells.

Front 10

Concerening Oxygenation what kind of cells are the least radiosensitive?

Back 10

hypoxic

Front 11

concerning tumor size what size tumors are most radiosensitive?

Back 11

small tumors

Front 12

what is a "planned treatment dose limited to?"

Back 12

a planned treatment dose is limited to the tolerance of normal tissue in the treatment field.

Front 13

what are the two effects of ionizing radiation?

Back 13

1) Indirect effect
2) direct effect.

Front 14

what medication is used to reduse the incidence of Xerostomia in patients undergoing radiation for H&N cancer?

Back 14

Amifostine (Ethyol)

Front 15

what are the "4 R's of Radiobiology"

Back 15

1)Repair of sublethal damage
2)Repopulation of normal tissues .
3)Redistribution (re-assortment) within the cell cycle.
4) Reoxygenation (enhancing oxygenation) of tumor cells.

Front 16

Whats a total dose of radiation that is generally divided into a number of equally dosed treatments called?

Back 16

Fractionation.

Front 17

do normal cells and cancer cells have similar responses?

Back 17

Yes

Front 18

what does fractionation do? why use it?

Back 18

it spares normal tissue and increases cancer cell damage

Front 19

what are four things that should be included in the nursing role of radiation oncology?

Back 19

1) Assessment
2) Patient education
3) Provide Psychosocial support and counseling
4) Physical care

Front 20

what departments should collaborate closely?

Back 20

physicians and radiation therapists, medical oncology, social workers, nutrition, phsical therapy and speech and swallowing.

Front 21

what are three goals of treatment?

Back 21

1)Prophylaxis
2)control
3)palliation

Front 22

what is prophylaxis treatment?

Back 22

preventive treatment to high-risk sites.
example: cranial radiation in small cell lung cancer, brest removal

Front 23

when do they use control treatment what is it and give an example.

Back 23

Its when they limit the growth of the cancer and provide symptom-free interval, try to keep it from getting worse.
example: pancreatic cancer.

Front 24

What is Palliation treatment? Give an example.

Back 24

when they try to improve quality of life and provide comfort.
Example: pain, obstruction, mass effect, and bleeding.

Front 25

what are general side effects of radiation therapy?

Back 25

Fatigue, Skin reaction nutritional side effects.

Front 26

A radiation patient is complaining of fatigue to her doctor, what are four pharmacologic therapies her doctor may prescribe or suggest?

Back 26

1) Growth factors
2) pain relievers,
3) Sleep medication
4)Antidepressants (anxiolytics)

Front 27

what are some "TREATMENT-related risk factors" that influence skin reactions?
(5 listed)

Back 27

the site of treatment
-Beam type and energy
-Fractionation
-treatment volume
-combined modality treatment
-particular treatment field.

Front 28

what are some "PATIENT-related risk factors that influence skin reactions?
(5 listed)

Back 28

-Nurtitional status
-intercurrent disease
-poor lymphatic dranage
-smoking
-sun exposure

Front 29

Commonly, at about how many weeks would moist despuamation occur? List the symptoms.

Back 29

usually at about 5-6 wks. exposed dermis, serous drainage, erythema, pain.

Front 30

What is Telangiectasia?

Back 30

narrowing of the small superficial blood vessels.

Front 31

Julie is in her 10th week of radiation therapy. What are some skin reactions you should tell her may occur?
(6 listed)

Back 31

Atrophy, Fibrosis, Telangiectasia, Xerosis, hypopigmentation, necrosis.

Front 32

Julie is in her 4th week of radiation therapy. What are some skin reactions you should tell her may occur?
(6 listed)

Back 32

-Erythema
-Folliculitis
-Dry Desquamation
-Moist Desquamation
-Hyperpigmentation
-Epilation (hair loss)

Front 33

when assessing a patient what are some signs that may be displayed indicating nutritional deficits may become a problem?

Back 33

difficulties w/ chewing, swallowing, taste changes, salivary gland changes, anorexia.

Front 34

What is extreamly important concerning nutrition? wht can you do to help a patiet with their diet?

Back 34

-prevention is KEY!!!
-encourage a high caloric/high protein diet.
-prescribe appetite stimulants
-set up a consultation
-patient education

Front 35

What is Alopecia and why does it so often occur?

Back 35

Hair loss, it happens so often because hair follicles have a high meitotic rate.

Front 36

What information should you give to someone who is having the side effect of Alopecia as far as nursing management?
(5 things)

Back 36

-Assess feelings associated with hair loss
-avoid scalp irritants such as dyes, curlers, gel, sun ect...
-use baby shampoo
-recommend wigs, hair coverings, haircut
-Sunscreen & moisturizer

Front 37

What are 4 late side effects of head and neck radiation?

Back 37

-Dysphagia
-Xerostomia
-Trismus
-Osteoradionecrosis

Front 38

what is Osteoradionecrosis?
What do they do as a treatment?

Back 38

Because of lack of oxygen to the bone it (the bone) starts to die. To re-oxygenate the tissue (bone) they use a hyperbarrick chamber.

Front 39

it a patient had mucositis what would your management be as a nurse?

Back 39

Brosh w/ soft toothbrush, floss, oral rinses with saline&soda or non-alcohol mouthwash, treat pain, maintain hydration and diet high in protein.

Front 40

To prevent Xerostomia what medication may be given?

Back 40

Amifostine (Ethyol)

Front 41

If a patient had Xerostomia what medication would likely be prescribed?

Back 41

Pilocarpine (Salagen)
F.Y.I. Acupuncture is also used.

Front 42

when does Trismus most often occur in patients?

Back 42

Occurs a few months to years after RT is completed.
*prevention of Trismus is KEY.

Front 43

what are 3 late side effects of chest and lung radiation?

Back 43

-Pulmonary fibrosis
-cardiac injury
-esophageal injury

Front 44

What are 5 late side effects of breast and chest wall radiation?

Back 44

-Skin changes
-Lymphedema
-Brachial plexopathy
-pathologic rib fractures
-Cardiac toxicity.

Front 45

to prevent xerostoma what medication should be given ?

Back 45

Amifostine (ethyol)

Front 46

for the management of owrostomia what medication should be given?

Back 46

Pilocarpine (salagen)

Front 47

If a patient had Esophagitis what are some things you sould do to manage it?

Back 47

rule out candidiasis
add moisture to foods
liquid or soft dies
antacid before meals
avoid tabacco and alcohol
analgesics
-oral supplements

Front 48

Why are mucus membranes most effected by radiation therapy?

Back 48

Because there rapidly dividing.