An Introduction to the Use of Radiotherapy for Palliation of Cancer Related Distress

This session will cover patients with cancer who frequently require palliative radiation treatment as a component of their care.  Radiotherapy is an effective means of reducing patient distress related to painful bone metastases, neurological compromise from spinal cord compression and brain metastases, dyspnea secondary to obstruction of the central airways, bleeding, and other symptoms.  It is important to ensure that primary care physicians (PCPs) have a basic understanding of the palliative indications for radiotherapy to relieve symptoms of tumors progression.   PCP’s that have knowledge regarding radiotherapy are more likely to refer patients for palliative treatment (Olson et al).

Target Audience

This program is designed to meet the interest of radiation oncologists and primary care providers.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify basic indications for palliative radiotherapy
  • Describe how patients can symptomatically benefit from radiotherapy in a palliative setting
  • Describe the clinical characteristics of spinal cord compressions, painful bone metastases, brain metastases, and other diagnoses related to symptomatic progression of terminal cancer.
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.25 SA-CME

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

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.25 self-assessment credits.

Course opens: 
09/03/2015
Course expires: 
09/28/2018
Cost:
$0.00
Rating: 
5
  • Joshua A. Jones, MD, is employed at University of Pennsylvania Health System and holds a leadership position with the American College of Radiology and has no financial relationships with a commercial interest.

The person(s) above served as the developer(s) of this activity. Additionally, the Education and CME/MOC Committees had control over the content of this activity.

 

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

ASTRO is awarded Deemed Status by the American Board of Radiology to provide SA-CME as part of Part II Maintenance of Certification. 

 

Available Credit

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
  • 1.25 SA-CME

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

    The American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) designates this Enduring material for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

    This activity meets the American Board of Radiology's criteria for a self-assessment activity in the ABR's Maintenance of Certification program. Participation in this course in combination with the successful completion of the corresponding assessment and course evaluation adheres to the guidelines established by the ABR for 1.25 self-assessment credits.

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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Course Fees:
This course is available for free to all participants.

Policies:
No refunds, extensions, or substitutions will be made for those participants who, for any reason, have not completed the course by the end of the qualification date. The qualification date for each course is listed in the course catalog on the ASTRO website under availability.

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

The course and its materials will only be available on the ASTRO website for that 3 year period regardless of purchase date. At the expiration of the qualification, participants will no longer have access to the course or its materials. ASTRO reserves the right to remove a course before the end of its qualification period.

 

 

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