Implementation Readiness and Initial Effects of a Brief Mindfulness Audio Intervention Compared With a Brief Music Control During Daily Radiation Therapy for Prostate Cancer: A Randomized Pilot Study.

Background: The most common and debilitating side effects of radiation therapy (RT) for prostate cancer (PC) are fatigue, sleep disturbance, anxiety, and depression. Previous research has reported palliative benefits from certain self-management approaches, such as mindfulness meditation.

Objective: To develop, pre-test, and evaluate the feasibility, acceptability and initial benefit of brief, audio-based mindfulness delivered during daily RT for PC compared to a relaxing music control.

GammaKnife versus VMAT radiosurgery plan quality for many brain metastases.

The purpose of this work was to compare dose distributions between two radiosurgery modalities, single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), and GammaKnife Perfexion (GK), in the treatment of a large number (≥7) of brain metastases. Twelve patients with 103 brain metastases were analyzed. The median number of targets per patient was 8 (range: 7-14).

Low-Dose Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for Vestibular Schwannomas: Tumor Control and Cranial Nerve Function Preservation After 11 Gy.

Objectives: This study aims to report tumor control rates and cranial nerve function after low dose (11.0 Gy) Gamma knife radiosurgery (GKRS) in patients with vestibular schwannomas.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was performed on 30 consecutive patients with vestibular schwannomas treated from March 2004 to August 2010 with GKRS at the Robert H.

Atypical meningioma: randomized trials are required to resolve contradictory retrospective results regarding the role of adjuvant radiotherapy.

Background: The role of postoperative radiation (RT) in atypical meningioma remains controversial.

Materials And Methods: We report a retrospective review of outcomes and prognostic factor analysis in 158 patients treated between 2000 and 2010, and extensively review the literature.

Results: Following resection, 23 patients received immediate RT, whereas 135 did not.

A review of management strategies of malignant gliomas in the elderly population.

Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is the most frequent primary malignant brain tumor in adults. It is an aggressive primary brain neoplasm, associated with a poor prognosis and median survival of less than 1 year. Approximately 50% of patients diagnosed with malignant gliomas in the United States are over the age of 65.

Effect of recombinant human deoxyribonuclease on oropharyngeal secretions in patients with head-and-neck cancers treated with radiochemotherapy.

Purpose: The current study examined the effect of recombinant human deoxyribonuclease (rhDNase) on quality of life (QOL) measures, clinical improvement, and DNA content of thick oropharyngeal secretions (OPS) in patients with head-and-neck (H&N) cancers.

Methods And Materials: Thirty-six patients with local-regional advanced H&N cancer receiving chemoradiationtherapy (CRT) were randomized to receive either placebo or rhDNase. Endpoints included MD Anderson Symptom Inventory-Head and Neck (MDASI-HN) and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Head and Neck (FACT-NH) scores, along with clinical assessment and DNA concentration of OPS.

Using intensity-modulated radiotherapy to spare the kidney in a patient with seminoma and a solitary kidney: a case report.

Aims And Background: Radiotherapy-related kidney injury is multifactorial and influenced by radiation dose-volume distributions, patient-related factors, and chemotherapy. Traditional radiation parameters for the kidney are based on pre-intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) data and focus on limiting the volume receiving high dose. We report a case of testicular seminoma with paraaortic adenopathy in a patient with a solitary kidney treated with radiotherapy.

Adaptive radiotherapy for head and neck cancer--dosimetric results from a prospective clinical trial.

Purpose: To conduct a clinical trial evaluating adaptive head and neck radiotherapy (ART).

Methods: Patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal cancer were prospectively enrolled. Daily CT-guided setup and deformable image registration permitted mapping of dose to avoidance structures and CTVs.

Early findings on toxicity of proton beam therapy with concurrent chemotherapy for nonsmall cell lung cancer.

Background: Concurrent chemoradiation therapy, the standard of care for locally advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC), can cause life-threatening pneumonitis and esophagitis. X-ray (photon)-based radiation therapy (RT) often cannot be given at tumoricidal doses without toxicity to proximal normal tissues. We hypothesized that proton beam therapy for most patients with NSCLC could permit higher tumor doses with less normal-tissue toxicity than photon RT delivered as 3-dimensional conformal RT (3D-CRT) or intensity-modulated RT (IMRT).

Intra-operative pubic arch interference during prostate seed brachytherapy in patients with CT-based pubic arch interference of < or =1cm.

Purpose: There are only a few reports on the frequency of intra-operative pubic arch interference (I-PAI) during prostate seed brachytherapy (PB).

Materials And Methods: Two hundred and forty-three patients with a CT-based pubic arch interference (PAI) of < or =1 cm and a prostate volume of < or =50-60 cc underwent PB. Those patients requiring needle repositioning by > or =0.

Dosimetric changes resulting from patient rotational setup errors in proton therapy prostate plans.

Purpose: To evaluate the dose changes to the target and critical structures from rotational setup errors in prostate cancer patients treated with proton therapy.

Methods And Materials: A total of 70 plans were analyzed for 10 patients treated with parallel-opposed proton beams to a dose of 7,600 (60)Co-cGy-equivalent (CcGE) in 200 CcGE fractions to the clinical target volume (i.e.

Palliative radiation therapy in the management of brain metastases, spinal cord compression, and bone metastases.

Radiation therapy plays an important role in both curative and palliative cancer treatment. Palliative radiation therapy is given to alleviate symptoms, restore function, relieve suffering caused by cancer, and improve quality of life. Pain relief, control of bleeding or ulceration, prevention of impending compression or obstruction from tumor, and shrinkage of tumor masses causing symptoms are indications for palliative radiotherapy.

Comparison of three methods to increase knowledge about breast cancer and breast cancer screening in screening mammography patients.

Rationale And Objectives: The specific aim of the study was to determine which of several cost-effective interventions is best able to improve the breast cancer knowledge of women who present for screening mammography.

Materials And Methods: A total of 198 English-speaking women, with no personal or family history of breast cancer, were recruited and randomized to four groups when they presented to the clinic for a screening mammogram. All women filled in a demographic data form and answered a questionnaire containing nine questions about breast cancer, risk, and screening to assess their knowledge and perception.