Handbook of Palliative Radiation Therapy

This book begins with several chapters on the background and efficacy of palliative radiation therapy (RT), along with crucial information on patient selection and assessment of life expectancy. Following these introductory chapters, the bulk of the book contains chapters on site-specific malignancies, containing comprehensive literature reviews, treatment plans, toxicity information, and symptom management. Life expectancy estimates for advanced cancer patients are necessary considerations in the fields of oncology and palliative care. To address the heterogeneity in patients with advanced cancers, numerous groups have proposed different multivariable life expectancy models using combinations of known tumor factors, patient factors, and laboratory tests. The most common indications for palliative RT include painful bone metastases, spinal cord compression, and brain metastases with the goals of symptom relief and/or local control. Radiation oncologists have long understood the potential benefit of RT in palliating the distressing symptoms of advanced abdominal and pelvic cancers. For abdominal malignancies, bony landmarks are less reliable for treatment planning, as compared to pelvic malignancies. The book discusses some case scenarios to illustrate the role of palliative RT in the treatment of bladder cancer, vaginal bleeding, rectal cancer, vulvar cancer, and liver metastasis.