During our one hour chat we shared 312 tweets and made over 2.5 Million impressions. For a complete transcript of this chat please check here and for more analytics please check here.
Below you may read a sampling of the responses to our topic questions.
T1: What is radiation oncology? How does it work to treat cancer?
- Radiation oncology is a field of medicine dedicated to the use of ionizing radiation to treat disease, mostly cancer.
- Ionizing radiation means it’s breaking chemical bonds in cells, which can lead to biologic effects.
- Radiation treatments are high-energy x-rays (or other particles) designed and focused within the body as cancer treatment
- The purpose of radiation=damage cancer cells so they (a) stop growing and (b) die to either help cure cancer or relieve symptoms
T2: Which gynecologic cancers are treated with radiation therapy? Under what circumstances is radiation therapy recommended?
- For ovarian cancer, there is little need for radiation in most cases. Large areas (abdomen and pelvis) too broad to treat
- Radiation often can be helpful in endometrial/uterine cancers. It may help lower the chance of recurrences after surgery
- cervix, endometrial , vagina and vulvar cancer
- For cervical cancer, radiation can help after surgery in selected cases. However, sometimes it can replace surgery too
- Often the 'benefit' of radiation in low grade endometrioid uterine cancers is based local recurrence, not survival, benefit
T3: What professionals are involved on the care team for radiation therapy? Who on your team did you find most helpful?
- To do our job well, radiation oncologists work closely with nurses, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, physicists
- Yes, medical dosimetrists plan the treatments in the computer software with guidance from docs and physicists
- Don't forget your gyn oncology colleagues! We always have opinions and often provide concurrent chemo.
- Never forget importance of administrative staff, nutritionists and others...
- other folks can help too... Pelvic physical therapist or sexual health specialist
T4a: What are the differences in radiation therapy types for gyn cancer - external, internal, etc.?
- External radiation is usually an x-ray (photon) treatment from about a meter away, aimed inside the body
- brachytherapy means 'close treatment'. Goal = rapid dose drop-off within millimeters
- Proton therapy is a highly sophisticated version of external beam radiation. Instead of x-rays (light particles) it's protons
- Most gynecological cancers treated with photon. Proton may be for reradiation
T4b: Patients/Survivors/Loved Ones: Were the questions you had about radiation therapy answered for you?
- You can provide feedback for Matt and others even after tonight's chat by using #radonc #jc - read more: http://radonc.radiationnation.com/patient-education-radonc-tweets/
T5: What side-effects and risks are associated w/ pelvic radiation? What tips do you have for controlling side effects?
- Gyn and radiation oncologists are probably best trained to manage side effects of pelvic radiation.
- Radiation's effects are limited to the area treated. Much more focused with brachytherapy than EBRT(external beam radiation therapy)
Sample for external beam #gyncsm pic.twitter.com/2bp25twG0J— Matthew Katz, MD (@subatomicdoc) June 15, 2017
We hope you will join us next month on July 12, 2017 at 9pm for this year's "What's on your mind? #gyncsm Open Mic Night". Bring your questions about gynecologic cancers, treatment options, concerns about sharing your data, concerns about long term side effects, etc.
Please continue to use #gyncsm when tweeting about news of interest to our community.
See you next month.
Dee
#gyncsm Co-founder
RESOURCES:
NIH - Radiation Therapy and You: Support for People With Cancer https://www.cancer.gov/publications/patient-education/radiation-therapy-and-you
@cancerdotnet radiation therapy resources for patients
- http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/understanding-radiation-therapy
- http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/what-expect-when-having-radiation-therapy
- http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/side-effects-radiation-therapy
- http://www.cancer.net/navigating-cancer-care/how-cancer-treated/radiation-therapy/proton
Mayo clinic: http://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/radiation-oncology/sections/overview/ovc-20188591
American Society for Radiation Oncology,
Radiation Oncology
Slide share - Understanding Radiation Oncology
Image-based three-dimensional conformal brachytherapy for medically inoperable endometrial carcinoma https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25127122
National Cancer Data Base analysis of radiation therapy consolidation modality for cervical cancer: the impact of new technological advancements https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25216857
Primary radiotherapy for nonsurgically managed Stage I endometrial cancer: Utilization and impact of brachytherapy https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25600451
MRI-guided high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy for treatment of cervical cancer: the University of Pittsburgh experience https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25680598
