To discuss the symptom burden experienced among patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer and bone metastases and the role of the oncology nurse practitioner in evaluation for palliative radiotherapy.
These include PubMed, international consensus documents, and clinician experience.
Men with advanced prostate cancer may live for several years after diagnosis of bone metastases; however, pain and other difficult symptoms are problematic. Pain is effectively treated with palliative radiotherapy, but careful assessment and intervention of other difficult symptoms must be addressed over time.
Nurse practitioners in radiation oncology should be well-versed in the disease trajectory of this patient population. Careful symptom inquiry and comprehensive physical examination is a key responsibility. Palliative radiotherapy, alongside analgesics and supportive care measures, can effectively reduce symptoms and improve quality of life in men with prostate cancer metastatic to bone.
Seminars in oncology nursing. 2021 Jul 22 [Epub ahead of print]
Edith Pituskin, Alysa Fairchild
Associate Professor, Faculty of Nursing, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb, Canada. Electronic address: ., Associate Professor, Department of Radiation Oncology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alb, Canada.