Managing Radiotherapy-Induced Symptoms: Practical Evidence-Based Strategies for the Radiation Oncologist

Managing symptoms induced by radiotherapy is an important component of radiation oncology practice. Unfortunately, audits demonstrate practice patterns that do not align ideally with symptom control guidelines and surveys suggest radiation oncologists are not always confident in their abilities to manage their patients’ symptoms. Inadequate symptom control worsens patients’ quality of life, leads to treatment interruptions and can ultimately compromise oncologic outcomes. Many factors likely contribute to the problem including knowledge gaps with respect to: the incidence of common radiotherapy-induced symptoms, practice patterns in their management, and available clinical practice guidelines. This case-based activity focuses on symptoms commonly induced by radiotherapy including nausea and vomiting, pain flare, mucositis and dermatitis. Attendees are updated on the incidence, natural history and impact of these symptoms, communication strategies for discussing them with patients, practice patterns in the management of these symptoms, and evidence describing strategies to prevent and treat them including clinical practice guidelines. Learners are challenged to implement processes into their own practices that will track and audit clinical behaviors relevant to high quality evidence-based symptom management.

Topics:

  1. Updates on Management of Gastrointestinal Toxicities 
    Kristopher Dennis, MD, PhD
  2. Updates on Management of Pain Flare and Mucositis from Radiation Therapy
    C. Jillian Tsai, MD, PhD, MS
  3. Updates on Management of Dermatitis
    Jared R. Robbins, MD
  4. Q and A
    Kristopher Dennis, MD, PhD – Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from March 10, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on March 9, 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 radiation oncologists, nurses, radiation therapists, radiation dosimetrists and residents.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Determine the risks of common radiotherapy-induced symptoms posed to their patients.
  • Identify knowledge gaps in the symptom control literature relevant to modern radiotherapy practice.
  • Implement processes to track and audit clinical behaviors relevant to evidence-based symptom management.
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: 
03/10/2026
Course expires: 
03/09/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator:  

  • Kristopher Dennis, MD, PhD, is employed by The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. Dr. Dennis has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

Speakers:

  • C. Jillian Tsai, MD, PhD, MS, is employed by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network. Dr. Tsai receives honoraria from AstraZeneca, EMD Serono and Varian Medical Inc. Dr. Tsai serves in an uncompensated role with Nanobiotix and receives grant/research funding from Varian Medical Inc. 
  • Jared R. Robbins, MD, is employed by Duke University/Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Robbins has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 
  • Kristopher Dennis, MD, PhD, is employed by The Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa. Dr. Dennis has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 

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 March 9, 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. 

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