Radiation and Side Effects

Question 1

What is Radiation Therapy?

Answer 1

Uses high energy rays or particles to kill cells

Question 1

What are the most common forms of radiation?

Answer 1

• X-rays
• Gamma rays
• Electrons
• Protons

Question 2

What % of cancer survivors receive Radiation therapy? Who receives RT?

Answer 2

50% and will vary who receives based on type of cancer

Question 3

How does Radiation differ from Chemo?

Answer 3

• Localized (specific site)
• Can’t differentiate between healthy and cancer cells

Question 4

What does radiation do to cells?

Answer 4

Breaks strands of DNA in cell, preventing cell from dividing

Question 5

When is RT given?

Answer 5

1. Primary treatment (frontline treatment)
2. Neo-adjuvant (prior to surgery shrinking tumour)
3. Adjuvant (after surgery to kill left over regional cancer cells)

Question 6

Types of RT

Answer 6

1. External beam radiation
2. Brachytherapy (interstitial and intracavitary)

Question 7

What is external beam radiation?

Answer 7

Simulation - marks made on body with ink to landmark. Area to be radiated in pinpointed with imaging. Image formed is called the “treatment field”. Molds or cast made to keep body stable in machine

Question 8

What is the external beam radiation machine called?

Answer 8

Linear Accelerator

Question 9

When is external beam radiation done?

Answer 9

Given on weekdays, weekends off
Usually 5-8 weeks long

Question 10

How is interstitial brachytherapy delivered and what is inserted?

Answer 10

From an inside source. Radioactive material placed near or into the tumour

Question 11

Where is intracavitary brachytherapy delivered?

Answer 11

Radiation source placed in a body cavity

Question 12

What is the duration of high dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy?

Answer 12

left in for a few minutes

Question 13

What is the duration of low dose rate intracavitary brachytherapy?

Answer 13

left in for 1-7 days

Question 14

Characteristics of RT side effects

Answer 14

• Vary considerably from person to person
• Not as bad as chemotherapy

Question 15

How are RT side effects divided?

Answer 15

Early and Late effects
early - during or shortly after treatment
late - take months or years to develop, are permanent

Question 16

What are early RT side effects?

Answer 16

• Fatigue
• Skin changes
• Loss of appetite

Question 17

What type of fatigue does RT cause? What does this interfere with?

Answer 17

Physical, emotional, mental tiredness that interferes with daily activities

Question 18

What is radiation fatigue caused by?

Answer 18

Stress, sleep disruptions, effect of radiation cells

Question 19

When does fatigue increase?

Answer 19

over the course of RT treatment

Question 20

How many patients report fatigue during and after treatment?

Answer 20

78-89% during treatment
30% months following

Question 21

What is Cancer related fatigue? What is it related to?

Answer 21

Same as radiation fatigue, may in part be related to deconditioning

Question 22

What type of cancers has research shown that PA improves fatigue?

Answer 22

PA may improve fatigue in breast and prostate cancer survivors.

Question 23

What types of PA has research explored to improve fatigue?

Answer 23

A four week long intervention studied walking and resistance training (resistance bands)

Question 24

Does fatigue act as a barrier for PA?

Answer 24

Yes, it's one of the top 3 barriers as it reduces the likelihood of exercise

Question 25

What are some things that can be done to tackle the fatigue PA barrier?

Answer 25

- Walk! - Fun ways to be active to reduce focus on PA but increase focus on having fun - Exercise with a partner - Do things they enjoy

Question 26

What can happen to skin due to RT?

Answer 26

Red, irritated, sunburned

Question 27

Do skin problems get better?

Answer 27

Yes, can get better after treatment, but long term effects can be present

Question 28

How do skin problems affect physical activity?

Answer 28

- Embarrassed of how it looks - Sweating causes irritation - Pain/discomfort

Question 29

How does RT effect appetite?

Answer 29

Causes eating and digestive problems: - Diarrhea - Swallowing issues

Question 30

How does appetite related to physical activity?

Answer 30

- Not enough energy to exercise - PA may increase appetite

Question 31

What are Late RT side effects?

Answer 31

Abdomen or Pelvis: - Chronic diarrhea - Sexual dysfunction - Bladder dysfunction Chest: - Heart/lung damage - Scarring

Question 32

Is their research on PA improving appetite?

Answer 32

No much research but one study that looked at many side effects did show an improvement in appetite after PA