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| Radiation Therapy: Traditions and Trends, Revised 2003 |
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| Audience |
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Nursing:
Oncology Nursing/Malignancies
Palliative and Hospice Nursing
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| Authors |
Tracy Skripac, RN, CNS, MSN, AOCN, CHPN
Tracy Skripac, RN, CNS, MSN, AOCN, CHPN |
| Hours |
3.00 contact hours |
| Expires |
EXPIRED |
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| Passing Grade |
70% |
| Test Retries |
Unlimited
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After completion of this course the participant should be able to:
- Describe how radiation therapy exerts its effects on cancer cells.
- Name two sources of radiation used to treat cancer.
- Compare and contrast the various types of radiation therapy.
- List the steps of radiation therapy.
- State two common side effects of radiation therapy and their management.
- Explain the use of amifostine as a radioprotectant.
- Discuss three important safety issues of radiation therapy.
- Identify three important components of education for the patient receiving radiation therapy.
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To take just this course, test, and evaluation and get your certificate online, the cost is only $ 45.00!
| Hours |
Price |
p/Hour |
Discount |
| 10 |
$ 142 |
$ 14.20 |
5% off! |
| 15 |
$ 203 |
$ 13.53 |
10% off! |
| 20 |
$ 257 |
$ 12.85 |
14% off! |
| 25 |
$ 302 |
$ 12.08 |
19% off! |
| 30 |
$ 339 |
$ 11.30 |
25% off! |
| 35 |
$ 367 |
$ 10.49 |
30% off! |
| 40 |
$ 386 |
$ 9.65 |
36% off! |
| 45 |
$ 405 |
$ 9.00 |
40% off! |
Hours purchased are good for an unlimited time, but only within the discipline they were purchased in.
(If located in Ohio state taxes will be applied before purchase)
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No Commercial Support or Sponsorship is accepted by CEU4U, Inc.
Products, drugs, and/or therapies discussed within this educational offering do NOT imply endorsement by CEU4U, Inc. or American Nurses Credentialing Center.
No off label use of product(s) are discussed in this educational offering.
The author(s) and planning committee of this content declare that they have no real or perceived conflict of interest related to this presentation.
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Course Sample:
Radiation Therapy: Traditions and Trends The purpose of this course is to provide nurses with a description of radiation therapy, its indications and types, and important nursing implications when caring for patients receiving this cancer treatment. Traditional and more recently developed types of radiation therapy will be discussed along with side effects and their management. Mechanism of Action Radiation therapy, referred to as RT, is the use of high-energy x-rays or particles to treat disease. RT, as a treatment modality for cancer, is utilized to treat local or regional disease. Its aim is to destroy malignant cells within the specified treatment area and volume of tissue while minimizing damage to normal tissue. Ionizing radiation is utilized to treat cancer and has many sources. The energy exerted by radiation therapy may be electrons, protons, neutrons, alpha particles, or beta particles. Radiation affects cancer at the cellular level by damaging the DNA helix, thereby causing cell death. Radiation is a localized treatment, only damaging the cells within the treatment field, in contrast to chemotherapy and biotherapy that exert systemic effects. In some instances, such as the treatment of anal cancer or head and neck cancer, RT is combined with chemotherapy; this is referred to as >concurrent, concomitant, or multimodal treatment. Purpose and Goals The purpose of RT as a cancer therapy is to treat the disease in an attempt to alleviate the disease and/or its symptoms. The goal of RT is the same as any cancer treatment's goal and is stated as cure, control, palliation, or prophylaxis. As a review of this terminology and to give some examples, to cure is to totally eradicate the disease within the treated area, as in certain types of bone cancer or Hodgkin's disease. To control is to limit local or regional cancer growth and to reduce symptoms when a cure is not realistic. To palliate is to improve the quality of life with treatment by reducing symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or mobility when a cure or control of tumor growth is not possible. Prophylactic RT is used to treat asymptomatic, but high-risk sites, such as a mastectomy incision scar, to avoid cancer development or regional spread. Two other terms used to describe the purpose of RT are adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatment. Adjuvant RT is delivered following a surgical procedure, such as RT to the breast following mastectomy or lumpectomy, to assure regional control of disease. Neoadjuvant RT is delivered prior to a surgical procedure, such as RT to the femur for osteosarcoma, to decrease tumor burden and hopefully limit the extent of a surgical procedure, such as limb amputation. Types and Sources of Energy for RT As stated previously, the types of energy used in RT are photons, electrons, protons, neutrons, and alpha and beta particles. The general term for these energies or sources is radionuclides. Defining these terms may be helpful in understanding how each type of RT works. Photons are "packets" of energy generated by an electrical machine and are emitted from the nucleus of a radioactive source. Electrons are small, negatively charged particles that are accelerated to very high energies by an electrical machine. Protons are large, positively charged particles that are generated by an electrical machine and have a mass that is approximately 20 times greater than electrons. Neutrons are uncharged particles generated by a large machine. Alpha and beta particles are emitted during the disintegration of a radioactive source. Alphas are large, positively charged particles with poor penetrating ability and betas are electrons. Examples of the energy and particle sources used for RT are: iridium, cesium, strontium, palladium, cobalt, and gamma rays. Specific energy types and their indications will be discussed later in this course. The different types of RT for cancer treatment will be discussed in detail throughout this course. As an overview, there are three basic types of RT based on the source of their energy which is either sealed or unsealed. These types include teletherapy which utilizes an external beam or ray, brachytherapy which involves a sealed or encapsulated radioactive source, and radiopharmaceuticals which utilize unsealed radioactive sources. These are diagrammed below. |
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