Gastrointestinal symptoms of pelvic radiation disease (part 4): professional awareness and specialist support

Abstract

This is the fourth and final article in a series on the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms of pelvic radiation disease (PRD). Published studies and patient reports suggest that health professionals lack of awareness of PRD. This professional awareness can be improved with third-sector advocacy and provision of simple screening tools, such as Assessment of Late Effects of Radiotherapy-Bowel (ALERT-B). In South Wales, patients with suspected PRD are referred to a PRD specialist nurse in either a gastroenterology clinic or a gynae-oncology follow-up clinic. These two nurse-led clinics demonstrate different ways to identify, assess and manage patients with late GI effects of PRD. Data from these clinics suggest that systematic investigations based on appropriate guidance are effective in identifying these symptoms, many of which can be managed or treated. The rising incidence of PRD and lack of specialist services suggests that the NHS needs to provide more funding to care for patients beyond the end of their cancer treatment.