Etsuyo Ogo MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Toshi Abe MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hiroaki Suefuji MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Hidehiro Eto MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Gen Suzuki MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Naofumi Hayabuchi MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Purpose/Objective: The shell has the merit of fixing head and neck in radiotherapy, but it has the short-coming for children. Many children dislike face-cover condition (taking shell) and have a dreadful experience in radiotherapy. And the women in breast conserving therapy always have to take radiotherapy without their clothes. Most of them are abashed and confused. We try to make effort to decrease stress of patients in radiotherapy, especially for children and women. Materials/Methods: The subjects consisted of pediatric patients receiving head and neck radiotherapy, and female patients taking whole breast irradiation after conserving surgery. For 10 pediatric patients, their age ranged from 3 to 17 years old with an average of 9 years old. Their diseases were ALL(high risk group), medulloblastoma, and ependymoma. We made a design for fixing head and neck shell, and painted on it (the artistic shell) to each pediatric patients. These designs and paintings were sometimes original and sometimes a hero or heroine of animated cartoon. For 30 female patients, their age ranged from 30 to 71 years old with an average of 54 years old. We made a original wear with cotton. The wear has a large opening and closing parts to confirm the radiation field conserved breast, and a small window in the opposite side. The female patients change the wear before radiotherapy and wear it each time of radiotherapy. We done questionaries to both pediatric and female patients. Results: Before using the artistic shell, we spent long time and had a stress during radiotherapeutic planning and radiotherapy itself for pediatric patients. But after using the artistic shell, all pediatric patients were enjoying radiotherapy, especially little children aged 3 to 6 years old. For female patients, to use the original wear is beneficial. They were not ashamed, because they now need not become naked and closed operated breast too during radiotherapy. A favorable response was achieved for all female patients. As a result of questionaries for female patients, about 98% of them achieved excellent or good response. Conclusions: The device for patients in radiotherapy is very important. We try to continue giving reassurance and relaxation for many patients in radiotherapy. We increase our efforts in the future.

Ogo, E, Abe, T, Suefuji, H, Eto, H, Suzuki, G, Hayabuchi, N, Trials of Decreasing Stress in Radiotherapy Especially for Children and Women.  Radiological Society of North America 2005 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 27 - December 2, 2005 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2005/4420689.html