Empowering Survivorship: Addressing Pelvic Health Challenges in GI and GYN Cancer Patients Post-Radiation Therapy

Despite the increasing recognition of the long-term effects of radiation therapy on pelvic health, many healthcare providers remain inadequately trained to address these specific issues. This gap in knowledge and expertise results in a lack of effective management strategies for patients experiencing complications such as bowel, bladder, and sexual health disorders following treatment. Additionally, the trend toward de-escalating cancer therapies due to concerns over side effects further complicates the landscape, leaving practitioners unprepared to support younger patients who may face unique challenges. Without proper education and awareness of evidence-based rehabilitation approaches, clinicians risk providing suboptimal care, ultimately diminishing the quality of life for survivors. This educational activity bridges these critical gaps by equipping healthcare professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to effectively support pelvic health in cancer survivors.

Topics:

  1. Innovations in Radiotherapy to Improve Pelvic Health
    Chika R. Nwachukwu, MD, PhD
  2. Pelvic Rehabilitation Post-Radiation
    Rupali Kumar, MD
  3. Life after Pelvic Radiation: A Urogynecologist’s Perspective
    Seth Ashley Cohen, MD, FACS
  4. Q and A
    Erqi Liu Pollom, MD, MS – Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from February 3, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on February 2, 2028. 

The content was originally presented and recorded at the 2025 ASTRO Annual Meeting.

Target Audience

The activity is designed to meet the interests of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgeons, nurses, physicists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists, radiation biologists and residents.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify the key pelvic health challenges experienced by patients with GI and GYN cancers following radiation treatment.
  • Implement effective management techniques for addressing post-radiation symptoms related to bowel, bladder, and sexual health, including rehabilitation approaches.
  • Adopt a collaborative care model by understanding the roles of various specialists, enabling them to develop and promote comprehensive survivorship care plans that incorporate pelvic health considerations.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
02/03/2026
Course expires: 
02/02/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator: 

  • Erqi Liu Pollom, MD, MS, is employed by Stanford University. Dr. Pollom receives compensation/payment from GE Medical Technologies, honoraria from Varian, and serves on the advisory board of Vysioneer.    

Speakers:

  • Chika R. Nwachukwu, MD, PhD, is employed by University of California San Diego. Dr. Nwachukwu has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 
  • Rupali Kumar, MD, is employed by UT Southwestern. Dr. Kumar has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Seth Ashley Cohen, MD, FACS, is employed by City of Hope. Dr. Cohen receives compensation/payment from Solv Wellness.

Planners:

  • Malcolm Mattes, MD is employed at Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Mattes received research/grant funding from Gilead Sciences (relationship ended 8/30/2025). Dr. Mattes has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Parul Barry, MD, is employed by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Barry has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies. 
  • Michael Haddock, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic and has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.
  • Manisha Palta, MD, is employed by Duke Cancer Center and Duke University Hospital. Dr. Palta receives grant/research funding from Merck and Varian Medical Systems. 
  • Salma Jabbour, MD, is employed by Rutgers Cancer Institute. Dr. Jabbour receives grant/research funding from Merck & Co., Inc. and Beigene. Dr. Jabbour receives compensation/payment as a consultant with Radialogica and IMX Medical. 

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Available Credit

  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education for physicians. ASTRO designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.00 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.

Price

Cost:
$149.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Course Fees:
ASTRO members must log in to the ASTRO website to view and receive the member rate.

  • Nonmember: $149
  • Member: $99
  • Member-in-Training: $49
  • Student/Graduate Student/PGY-1 Member: $49
  • Postdoctoral Fellow Member: $49

If you are an ASTRO member from a low or lower-middle income country, as identified by the World Bank, you can receive a 50% discount off your corresponding registration for this activity. Please email [email protected] to inquire about the discount.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the activity by the expiration date. 

Participants using ASTRO Academy activities to satisfy the requirement of a Continuing Certification (MOC) program should verify the credit number and type and availability dates of any activity before making a purchase. No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for participants who have purchased activities that do not align with their MOC requirement.

The activity and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website until February 2, 2028, regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the activity, participants will no longer have access to the activity or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove an activity before its expiration date. 

Required Hardware/software

One of the two latest versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Internet Explorer or Safari.