title: Nursing management and radiation oncology.
abstract: This article focuses on the use of ionising radiation in the contemporary management of cancer. An overview is provided of the practice of radiation oncology and issues related to the nursing management of a patient undergoing radiation therapy. Margaret Hopp, in 1941, was the first to identify the role of the radiation oncology nurse. This principally involved the management of therapy-related side effects. Due to significant technological advances, this role has expanded exponentially with nurses requiring a sound knowledge base in radiobiology to effectively manage disease and treatment-related symptoms.
authors.affiliation: New South Wales College of Nursing.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farmer
mesh_terms: D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing / Q000532:radiotherapy; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D018579:Patient Selection; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000379:methods*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing*