AB018. S3B-4. Complications of radiation therapy: key concepts for patient education

Abstract: The role of radiation in cholangiocarcinoma is unclear but recent studies show radiation is a promising treatment entity. In the United States, the incidence of cholangiocarcinoma is about 8,000 new cases per year. This creates challenges in accruing patients for clinical trials. Most clinical trials are combination hepatocellular cancer/cholangiocarcinoma in focus, or pancreatic cancer/cholangiocarcinoma in focus. In this presentation, highlights of clinical trials will be reviewed briefly. Photon, proton, and stereotactic radiation therapy will be treatment entities presented along with advantages and disadvantages of these modalities. Combinations of radiation with concurrent chemotherapy and concurrent immunotherapy will be briefly highlighted. Nursing management and patient education regarding anticipated radiation treatment effects will be discussed in depth. These are: fatigue, pain, radiation dermatitis, anorexia, and nausea. Clinical grading of toxicities and monitoring will be presented. Emphasis will focus on evidence- based nursing interventions and patient education for patients undergoing radiation alone, concurrent chemotherapy and radiation, and concurrent radiation and immunotherapy.

Keywords: Radiation effects; interventions; proton therapy; photon therapy