What dose-fractionation would you utilize to palliate a symptomatic distal rectal cancer in an inoperable elderly gentleman with previous prostate bed radiation therapy 30 years prior?

Topics: Radiation Oncology • Gastrointestinal Cancers

Would your recommendation change if the patient had prior radiation proctitis and cystitis (now resolved)? Previous treatment records limited, but previous total prostate bed dose known to be 66.6 Gy.

Answer from: Radiation Oncologist at Academic Institution

First, I think we should all remember that the incidence of rectal cancer is about doubled after prostate RT. That would generally not influence my decisions about using RT for prostate cancer, but we should keep this in mind (and inform the patient). The decision about palliative RT is heavily depe...

Comments

Radiation Oncologist at Washington University School of Medicine
Agree. In these settings I also recommend making t...

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