Main description:

Offering practical, comprehensive coverage of the many nuanced technical and clinical aspects of this growing field, Palliative Radiation Oncology provides up-to-date clinical guidance in a thorough yet concise manner. In an easy-access format, it integrates basic science, pathologies, and research with clinical applications, covering different ways to approach problems, tumor assessment, precise target definition, and dosing-specific guidelines to minimize side effects/toxicities while balancing with desired outcomes.

Discusses optimal communication skills for pediatric, adult, and elderly patients.

Contains decision-making algorithms to guide individualized palliative radiation oncology treatment plans.

Reviews all the latest modalities with technical tips and pitfalls.

Covers key procedures such as external beam radiation therapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, stereotactic body radiation therapy, and stereotactic radiosurgery.

Features step-by-step body site-specific guidelines with integrated symptom and toxicity management.

Covers symptom and symptom-cluster management, including pain and psychosocial or spiritual distress.

Ideal for radiation oncology residents, fellows, and practitioners, as well as medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, oncology nurses, and radiation technicians-all clinicians who work in this highly collaborative, team-based specialty.

An eBook version is included with purchase. The eBook allows you to access all of the text, figures and references, with the ability to search, customize your content, make notes and highlights, and have content read aloud.

Contents:

SECTION I. FOUNDATIONS/PRINCIPLES OF PALLIATIVE CARE IN ONCOLOGY

Chapter 1: Definition of Palliative Care

Include: What is palliative care? How does palliative care differ from standard oncologic care? How does palliative care augment traditional oncologic care?

Chapter 2: An introduction to Prognostication

Also include prognostication in each of the chapters in Section II

Chapter 3: Basic Communication Frameworks

Include evidence basis for communication, Serious Illness Conversation Project and Vitaltalk

Chapter 4: Troubleshooting Difficult Conversations

Chapter 5: Symptom Management: Pain and Physical Symptoms

Chapter 6: Management of Psychosocial and Spiritual Distress

Chapter 7: Models of Multidisciplinary Management

Include: - how to integrate palliative care into broader oncologic care (integration with surgery, med onc, etc.) and a separate section on models for delivery of palliative radiotherapy - how best to integrate

SECTION II. FOUNDATIONS/PRINCIPLES OF PALLIATIVE RADIATION BY BODY SITE AND MANAGEMENT OF TREATMENT-RELATED TOXICITIES

Chapter 8: Palliative Radiation

When is it worth it and when is it not?

Chapter 9: Oligometastases

Chapter 10: Brain: Metastatic and Non-Metastatic

Chapter 11: Head and Neck

Chapter 12: Thorax

Chapter 13: Breast/Chest wall/Skin

Chapter 14: Abdomen

Chapter 15: Pelvis

Chapter 16: Extremities

Chapter 17: Pediatrics: CNS and Non-CNS

Chapter 18: Hematologic Malignancies (leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma)

Chapter 19: Bone

Chapter 20: Spine

Include in each chapter symptom management by site, broadly and radiation-induced side effects

SECTION III. TECHNIQUES AND MODALITIES

Chapter 21: Selecting Modalities

Include SRS - CNS/extracranial; IMRT/IGRT, SBRT

Chapter 22: Selecting Doses

Chapter 23: Selecting Volume

Chapter 24: "Simple" Techniques for Simulation and Treatment

Chapter 25: Non-Traditional Modalities for Palliation

Include IORT, brachy, hyperthermia, protons

Chapter 26: Considerations Involving Re-Irradiation