Acute Skin Toxicity in Breast Cancer Patients Receiving Post-operative Radiotherapy

Abstract

Post-operative radiotherapy to the breast is a standard treatment for the management of breast cancer. Treatment-related skin toxicity will occur in many patients and usually develops two to three weeks into treatment and may persist for up to four weeks post therapy. Management of acute toxicity remains a challenge for oncology professionals because there is very limited evidence-based research that addresses interventions for the prevention and management of radiation skin damage. Forty breast cancer patients being treated with radiotherapy at Al Amal Hospital were evaluated for the frequency and the severity of acute skin reactions. Clinical skin evaluation was performed by the same Radiation Oncologist during weekly reviews and on the last day of treatment. Normal tissue damage was scored according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group side-effect scales. The most frequent acute complications were erythema and dry desquamation, although moist desquamation was a problem in high friction anatomical sites. The reactions were classified as severe (RTOG’2) in only one case. There was remarkable consistency in the assessment and documentation of patient education among nurses following the hospital's standard practice.