Prevention and Management of RT-related Skin Toxicities

An estimated 90% of patients treated with radiotherapy for breast cancer will develop radiation-induced dermatitis. On the molecular level, radiation upregulates cytokine cascades and fibro-inflammatory pathways, leading to substantial fibrosis, the hallmark of chronic RT damage. Cutaneous fibrosis alters form, function, and aesthetic appearance of the skin, and the consequences can significantly impact quality of life. In this activity, the expert physicians - radiation oncologists and dermatologist - discuss pathophysiology of radiation-induced skin damage and highlight the techniques to minimize or ameliorate skin toxicities, both acute and long-term. From patient selection, to treatment planning techniques to early detection and evidence-based management of skin toxicities, attendees learn how to apply these techniques in clinical practice to reduce skin toxicities and improve the quality of life of breast cancer patients. Panelists discuss the use of Mepitel film and topical steroids during breast radiation therapy.

Topics:

  1. Dermatologist Perspective: What Every Radiation Oncologist Must Know About Skin Toxicities  
    Mario E. Lacouture, MD
  2. Assessing and Managing Skin Radiation Changes in Patients of Color
    Juhi Purswani, MD
  3. Mepitel™, StrataXRT™ and Other Expensive Products – Are They Worth the Hype?
    Kimberly S. Corbin, MD
  4. Optimizing Treatment Planning to Decrease Skin Toxicity
    Dean Shumway, MD
  5. Q and A
    Timur Mitin, MD, PhD - Moderator
    Full Panel

This activity is available from September 8, 2026, through 11:59 p.m. Eastern time on September 7, 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, physicists, nurses, radiation therapists, radiation dosimetrists, radiation biologists, dermatologists, plastic surgeons, residents, patients, patient advocates and social workers.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Explain pathophysiology of radiation-induced skin toxicity. 
  • Implement evidence-based management of radiation-induced skin toxicities into clinical practice.
  • Discuss nuances of patient selection and treatment planning techniques to minimize skin toxicity. 

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 1.25 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 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.
Course opens: 
09/08/2026
Course expires: 
09/07/2028
Cost:
$149.00
Rating: 
0

Moderator:  

  • Timur Mitin, MD, PhD, is employed by Oregon Health and Science University. Dr. Mitin receives grant/research funding, honoraria and travel expenses from AstraZeneca, Bioprotect, Ltd. and Novocure, Inc.   

Speakers:

  • Mario E. Lacouture, MD, is employed by NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine. Dr. Lacouture has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose. 
  • Juhi Purswani, MD, is employed by NYU Grossman School of Medicine. Dr. Purswani has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.   
  • Kimberly S. Corbin, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic Rochester. Dr. Corbin has no relevant financial relationship with ineligible companies to disclose.   
  • Dean Shumway, MD, is employed by Mayo Clinic Rochester. Dr. Shumway 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

  • 1.25 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 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

  • 1.25 Certificate of Attendance
    This activity was designated for 1.25 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 September 7, 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.