Radiotherapy in Gynaecological Oncology and Breast Oncology

1.Operating principles of radiotherapy – cell cycle kinetics, radiation effect on tissue healing process, potentiation effect, protection, sensitivity of different organs to radiotherapy. Types of radiotherapy. Inverse square law. Time-dose relationship. Half-life of isotopes. Ionisation and factors affecting it. Radiation unit. Dose curves. Dosage principles. Orthovoltage and supravoltage. CT planning and dosimetry. Types of radiotherapy fields. Devices and methods used. Combined radiotherapy-chemotherapy.

1.To understand the role of radiotherapy in the treatment of gynaecological and breast cancers. Gastrointestinal, urinary tract, kidney, skin, bone marrow, CNS and genital complications caused by radiotherapy. Selection of patients for radiotherapy according to the morphology and stage of the tumour. Planning of radiotherapy. Counselling patients on the principles of radiotherapy and the effects and possible complications thereof. Differences between curative and palliative treatment. Treatment of long-term complications: vaginal stenosis, ovarian insufficiency, osteopenia, fistula formation, examinations and treatment in case of gynaecological cancer recurrence after primary radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy-chemotherapy.

1.The ability to draw up a treatment plan, including radiotherapy in the case of genital and breast cancer, to analyse the results and complications of radiotherapy by participating in interdisciplinary councils, to be able to justify the indications and contraindications of radiotherapy based on the stage and morphology of the tumour.