Congress Abstracts 2006

201

PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER RECEIVING EXTERNAL BEAM RADIATION THERAPY: WHY DOES THEIR RISK OF RADIATION DERMATITIS VARY AND HOW IS IT EVALUATED? Linda Carlin, RN, MSN, OCN^®, CJW Medical Center, Richmond, VA.

Topic: Radiation therapy is one of the main treatment modalities for patients with breast cancer regardless of their stage of disease. The techniques used in treating patients with breast cancer who are receiving external beam radiation therapy are standardized with the reality that patients with breast cancer will get some degree of radiation dermatitis. However, all patients with breast cancer do not have the propensity for the same degree of radiation dermatitis and therefore, patients need to be treated differently.

Problem/Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a tool to identify patients with breast cancer receiving external beam radiation therapy that are at increased risk for radiation dermatitis.

Interventions: Prior to initiating external beam radiation therapy treatment, each patient with breast cancer is evaluated using a combination Skin Toxicity Assessment Tool or STAT (Berthelet et. al, 2004), and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS) Radiation Therapy Assessment Tool. All patients are monitored for skin reactions weekly using the same tool and given a specific score that is recommended for each criterion.

Interpretation/Evaluation: Patients are educated prior to treatment of their risk for radiation dermatitis. Risk is based upon their particular traits/treatment fields and baseline scores. Assessments are made at weekly intervals. Scores of 0-10, indicate that the patient is at minimal risk and basic moisturizing treatment will be initiated. Patient score of > 20, indicates that the creams will be changed to a prescription cream such as Biofine; a score of 20-30, indicates other measures such as the use of Intrasite, Vaseline gauze etc. will be used and finally a score of 30-36, reflects the consideration of stopping treatment. The tool is kept in the front of the chart so the latest score is accessible to the nurse, physician and the therapist evaluating the patient.