International journal of radiation oncology, biology, physics
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2013
Diversity based on race, ethnicity, and sex, of the US radiation oncology physician workforce.
To assess the current diversity of the US radiation oncology (RO) physician workforce by race, ethnicity, and sex. ⋯ Females and URM are underrepresented in the RO physician workforce. Given existing cancer disparities, further research and efforts are needed to ensure that the field is equipped to meet the needs of an increasingly diverse society.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2013
Toxicities affecting quality of life after chemo-IMRT of oropharyngeal cancer: prospective study of patient-reported, observer-rated, and objective outcomes.
To test the hypothesis that intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) aiming to spare the salivary glands and swallowing structures would reduce or eliminate the effects of xerostomia and dysphagia on quality of life (QOL). ⋯ After chemo-IMRT, although late dysphagia was on average mild, it was still the major correlate of QOL. Further efforts to reduce swallowing dysfunction are likely to yield additional gains in QOL.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2013
Physician evaluation of internet health information on proton therapy for prostate cancer.
Many patients considering prostate cancer (PCa) treatment options report seeking proton beam therapy (PBT) based in part on information readily available on the Internet. There is, however, potential for considerable variation in Internet health information (IHI). We thus evaluated the characteristics, quality, and accuracy of IHI on PBT for PCa. ⋯ There are shortcomings in quality and accuracy in consumer-oriented IHI on PBT for PCa. Providers must be prepared to educate patients how to critically evaluate IHI related to PBT for PCa to best inform their treatment decisions.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2013
Supratentorial ependymoma: disease control, complications, and functional outcomes after irradiation.
Ependymoma is less commonly found in the supratentorial brain and has known clinical and molecular features that are unique. Our single-institution series provides valuable information about disease control for supratentorial ependymoma and the complications of supratentorial irradiation in children. ⋯ RT may be administered with acceptable risks for complications in children with supratentorial ependymoma. These results suggest that outcomes for these children are improving and that complications may be limited by use of focal irradiation methods.
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Int. J. Radiat. Oncol. Biol. Phys. · Mar 2013
Short-term androgen-deprivation therapy improves prostate cancer-specific mortality in intermediate-risk prostate cancer patients undergoing dose-escalated external beam radiation therapy.
We investigated the benefit of short-term androgen-deprivation therapy (ADT) in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer (PC) receiving dose-escalated external beam radiation therapy. ⋯ Short-term ADT improves PSA-RFS, DM, and PCSM in patients with intermediate-risk PC undergoing dose-escalated external beam radiation therapy.