Hypofractionated Radiation: Understanding the Modality and Impact on Patient Outcomes

Radiation therapy has been used as a method to treat cancer since the early 1900s (Gianfaldoni et al., 2017). As of 2020, radiation continues to be a common treatment modality received by 50%-70% of patients with cancer at some point during the course of treatment (Peng et al., 2020). Numerous advan...

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Published inClinical journal of oncology nursing Vol. 26; no. 1; pp. 23 - 26
Main Authors Cothran, Ashley, Martin, Julie C
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Oncology Nursing Society 01.02.2022
Subjects
Analysis
Apoptosis
Brain cancer
Breast cancer
Cancer
Cancer therapies
Care and treatment
Charged particles
Chemotherapy
Gamma rays
Methods
Nurses
Oncology
Patient education
Patient outcomes
Planning
Prostate
Radiation dosimetry
Radiation therapy
Radiotherapy
Tomography
Treatment outcome
Tumors
United States
United States > US
hypofractionated
hypofractionation
radiation
radiation therapy
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Summary:Radiation therapy has been used as a method to treat cancer since the early 1900s (Gianfaldoni et al., 2017). As of 2020, radiation continues to be a common treatment modality received by 50%-70% of patients with cancer at some point during the course of treatment (Peng et al., 2020). Numerous advances in radiation technology have occurred since its initial discovery, yet the goal of radiation remains the same. While chemotherapy is a systemic treatment, radiation therapy is designed to locally treat a malignancy. Unlike chemotherapy, radiation uses high-energy photon beams (x-ray or gamma rays), or charged particles (electrons or protons), to target specific locations of the body (Gianfaldoni et al., 2017). The damage to the DNA of the cells in the targeted region leads to eventual cell death, while allowing healthy cells outside of the targeted field to remain unaffected. Although toxicities occur, patients often experience fewer side effects during radiation therapy compared to chemotherapy because of its targeted approach. Advances in technology have led to better opportunities for targeting smaller areas of the body, reducing the potential for side effects (Garibaldi et al., 2017). In addition, radiation can be divided into larger doses to be given once a day, or less often, and is sometimes used as a shorter course of treatment. This is known as hypofractionated radiation. This article will explain the differences in radiation therapy modalities, focusing on hypofractionation and its benefits to patients.
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ISSN:1092-1095
1538-067X
DOI:10.1188/22.CJON.23-26