Promoting Comfort: A Clinician Guide and Evidence-Based Skin Care Plan in the Prevention and Management of Radiation Dermatitis for Patients with Breast Cancer

Abstract

Patients with breast cancer may be offered adjuvant radiation therapy (RT) after surgery. Up to 95% of these patients develop radiation dermatitis (RD) during or following RT. Randomized clinical trials and other literature provide evidence that RD can be prevented or reduced. The aim of this article is to propose a Clinician Guide and Evidence-based Skin Care Plan to prevent and/or reduce radiation dermatitis and promote the comfort of breast cancer patients receiving RT. As an integrative review, the databases searched were CINAHL and Medline, using the key terms: breast cancer, skin care, radiation, radiation therapy, radiotherapy, radiation dermatitis, and radiation skin reaction, prevention, and management. Search criteria included English language, full text, published between 2012 through 2020, and peer-reviewed. The search yielded 320 articles. Relevant articles were evaluated using the Quality Assessment Tool (QAT), and highly rated articles were selected to be included in the review of literature. The outcomes were the development of a Clinician Guide to offer holistic, patient-centered care and an Evidence-based Skin Care Plan. The research literature supports a standard skin care regimen, along with use of an emollient cream to the treatment area, use of deodorants depending on patient preferences, and application of a topical steroid cream daily throughout treatment and two weeks post RT. Clinician’s weekly assessments of patients offers therapeutic support and ensures optimal skin care during and post-RT. The comfort of breast cancer patients receiving RT requires the best level of evidence regarding the efficacy of interventions, coupled with clinician’s judgement, and patient’s preferences and wishes. The clinician-patient relationship is essential in addressing the physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and functional challenges associated with a cancer diagnosis and adjunctive radiation therapy to improve long-term survival.