[New Attempt of Radiation Oncology Section to Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer].

UNLABELLED: Oral care is important for patients with head and neck cancer who undergo radiotherapy because these patients encounter various symptoms, which decrease their quality of life(QOL). Oral mucositis is considered the major side effect of radiation, and the dose-volume parameters can serve as predictors of the occurrence of severe oral mucositis. Therefore, understanding radiation treatment planning(e. g., prescription dose and irradiated volumes of the organs at risk)and providing oral healthcare before, during, and after radiotherapy are essential for maintaining patients' QOL.

METHODS

An RT viewer (Climb Medical Systems) was installed into the inhouse hospital information system to provide education regarding radiation treatment planning to medical staff members (dentists and nurses) by medical physicists.

RESULTS

Patients can undertake appropriate oral care before radiotherapy, and this intervention has potential for reducing the radiation-related side effect.

CONCLUSION

Education regarding radiation treatment planning by medical physicists using the RT viewer could improve the knowledge of medical staffs regarding the predictors of radiation-induced side effects for. By introducing the appropriate intervention of oral care before radiotherapy, it may be feasible to maintain patients' QOL.