Management of a Tonsil Cancer Patient: From Work-up Through Late Radiation Toxicity - 2021 Annual Meeting

Management of a Tonsil Cancer Patient: From Work-up Through Late Radiation Toxicity - 2021 Annual Meeting is organized by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO).

Course opens: 02/07/2022
Course expires: 02/06/2025

Description:
This course guides the audience through a very practical approach to work up and management of an HPV+ tonsil cancer patient (T1N1), from initial examination and work-up through late complications. A community radiation oncologist, a medical oncologist, and a speech therapist will discuss current work up, staging, treatment including contouring and DVH evaluation. The speakers discuss recommended concurrent chemo regimens summarizing the latest literature on weekly vs q3week cis, mentioning recent RTOG 1016 and DeESCALaTE results, data on 30mg/m2 vs 40mg/m2 weekly cis, common chemotherapy side effects and management of those side effects, amount/timing of recommended IV fluid supplementation, and laboratory monitoring (timing of WBC nadir).

Additionally, reasons speakers cover when to give non-cisplatin regimens and what the recommended alternatives are. A speech therapist presents on preferred timing of referrals, guidance provided during radiation therapy, when/how often/patient symptoms to indicate swallow study, type of study to order, how/when to wean them off feeding tube, and late dysphagia assessments.

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

• Analyze current clinical data and understand evolving approaches to the management of head and neck cancer.
• Determine appropriate referrals, timing, and expectations from speech therapy.