Nursing Care of Radiation

Warning
• C—Change in Bowel or Bladder habits
• A—A Sore doesn’t Heal
• U—Unusual Bleeding or Discharge
• T—Thickening or lump in breast or elsewhere
• I—Indigestion or difficulty swallowing
• O—Obvious change in warts or moles
• N—Nagging Cough or Hoarseness
Cancer Treatment
• Based on Cell Origin
• Focus on Removing or Destroying cancer cells
• Guide by Client Factors
• Adjuvant treatment
• Hormone
• Radiation
• Targeted Therapies
• Immunotherapy
• Chemotherapy
Procedures
• Manipulation or removal of the tumor
• Cryosurgery
• laser therapy,
• Ablation
• Excision may be
• open or
• endoscopic
Nursing Priorities
• Informed Consent
• NPO
• Withhold meds as prescribed
• Med administration
• Monitor Lab finding
• Postop care per location/procedure type
• PAIN
• Educate on wounds, drains, implanted devices
• Complications
• Infection
• f/e imbalances
• Bleeding
• Inadequate oxygenation
• Shock
• Thromboembolism
Radiation Nursing Care
• Radiation therapy involves the use of ionizing radiation to
target tissues and destroy cells
• Given preoperatively to decrease the size of a tumor
• Radiotherapy and chemotherapy are/can be used in
combination
Radiation
• Adverse Effects
• Fatigue
• Skin changes
• Hair loss
Internal Radiation Therapy
• Radiation comes from implants or liquids placed inside the
body.
• Brachytherapy
• placed close to the target tissue
• placement in a body orifice
• placement in a body cavity
• delivered via IV
IRT Nursing Care
• Private room
• Limit visitors 30mins @ 6ft
• Radiation Warning Sign
• Wear a dosimeter film badge
• pregnant or under the age of 16 should not come
• Lead Container in Room
IRT Nursing Education
• Lead Container
• Pregnant women stay away
• Prevent dislodging of implant (positioning)
• Limit visitors
• Keep children < 16yr away
External Radiation Therapy
• Most common
• Teletherapy
• over the course of several weeks
• machine aimed at the body from an external source
ERT Nursing Care
• Preparation of skin over targeted area
• Marked with “TATTOOS”
• “TATTOOS ARE POSITION GUIDES
• No Red Meat Diet
• Dysgeusia is common
• Rest periods
• Scheduling activities 2 promote rest
• Sit during shower or ADL’s
• Treat symptoms of irradiation
ERT Nursing Education
• Restrict Visitor
• Fatigue common
• Wash irradiated area w/mild soap & H2O
• Dry area w/patting
• Don’t Remove Radiation “Tattoos” Please.
• Don’t expose irradiated skin 2 Sun or Heat
• Soft Clothing
• Avoid tight clothes
• Don’t put on irradiated skin
• Power
• Lotion
• Ointments
• Perfumes
Thanks