Radiation Oncology in Palliative Cancer Care / edited by Stephen Lutz, Edward Chow, Peter Hoskin.

Print version record.

pt. 1. General principles of radiation oncology -- pt. 2. General principles of palliation and symptom control -- pt. 3. Locally advanced or locally recurrent diseases -- pt. 4. Metastatic disease -- pt. 5. Integration of radiation oncology and palliative care.

Cover; Title page; Copyright page; Contents; Contributor list; Foreword; PART 1: General principles of radiation oncology; CHAPTER 1: A brief history of palliative radiation oncology; Introduction; The early years; Fractionation; Advances in radiotherapy technique: the 1950s and 1960s; Fractionation revisited: explicit palliation; Stereotactic radiotherapy; Prognostication and tailoring palliative radiotherapy to anticipated survival; Conclusion; References; CHAPTER 2: The radiobiology of palliative radiation oncology; Introduction; Radiation effect on cells.

Direct and indirect effect of radiation; Shape of the cell survival curves; Cell cycle characteristics; Interaction of cell cycle and radiotherapy fractionation; Radiotherapy fractionation characteristics; Conclusion; References; CHAPTER 3: The physics of radiation oncology; Introduction; The development of radiation therapy technology; The early understanding of radiation therapy; The development of teletherapy machines; The proliferation of linear accelerators; The advent of intensity modulated radiation therapy; Brachytherapy radiation.

The impact of diagnostic improvements on radiotherapy delivery; Process of radiation therapy; Simulation; Dosimetry; Initiation of therapy; Patient immobilization; Management of patients during treatment; Special considerations in developing countries; Conclusion; References; CHAPTER 4: Curative intent versus palliative intent radiation oncology; Introduction; The determination of cure plus palliation intent versus pure palliative intent; Clinical diagnoses; High grade glioma; Pancreatic and biliary tract cancer; Lung cancer; Esophageal cancer; Gynecologic malignancies; Genitourinary cancer.

Gastric cancer; Colorectal cancer; Advanced head and neck cancers; Special considerations in developing countries; Conclusion; References; CHAPTER 5: Side effects of palliative radiotherapy; Introduction; Issues with interpreting palliative radiotherapy toxicity data; Acute side effects; General; Fatigue; Hematologic; Skin and bone; Head and neck; Thorax; Abdomen and pelvis; Central nervous system (CNS); Late side effects; General; Fatigue; Skin and bone; Thorax; Abdomen and pelvis; Central nervous system; Second malignancies; Additive toxicity; Clinical advice; New technologies.

Challenges in developing countries; Conclusion; References; PART 2: General principles of palliation and symptom control; CHAPTER 6: A history of hospice and palliative medicine; Introduction; Before the modern movement; St. Christopher's and the modern hospice; Palliative care in the United States; Global development of hospice and palliative care; Continuing challenges; References; CHAPTER 7: Radiation therapy and hospice care; Introduction; Hospice care around the world; Hospice care in the United States; Prognosis; Plan of care (POC); Physician role; Places of care; Payment to the hospice.

Palliative radiation and hospice.

Radiation Oncology in Palliative Cancer Care represents the first dedicated attempt in book form to address the glaring absence of a well-written palliative radiation therapy reference and textbook that provides a template for the end-of-life care of patients who require intervention by Radiation Oncologists as well as Hospice and Palliative Medicine Professionals working together. Palliative radiotherapy will gain increasing importance in the provision of end-of-life care for cancer patients in the coming years, and there is an immediate need for an instructive reference and textbook to guide.

Includes bibliographical references and index.