Episode 424: Radiation Site-Specific Side Effects: Cancers of the Pelvis

"Think about what organs lie in the radiation field, and anything that lies in that radiation field is likely going to have some potential temporary—hopefully temporary—side effects. If you think about the pelvis, the things that live in there are the bladder, urethra, some bowel, rectum, reproductive organs, skin, some lymph nodes. And so, all of those things could potentially have associated side effects," ONS member Kayla Kafka-Peterson, BSN, RN, ROCN™, nurse navigator and leader in the brachytherapy and peri-anesthesia programs at UCLA Health, in Los Angeles, CA, told Lenise Taylor, MN, RN, AOCNS®, TCTCN™, oncology clinical specialist at ONS, during a conversation about radiation side effects in cancers of the pelvis. Music Credit: "Fireflies and Stardust (http://www.incompetech.com/) " by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons by Attribution 3.0 Earn 0.75 contact hours of nursing continuing professional development (NCPD) by listening to the full recording and completing an evaluation at courses.ons.org by July 17, 2027. The planners and faculty for this episode have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose. ONS is accredited as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Learning outcome: Learners will report an increase in knowledge related to radiation to the pelvis. Episode Notes • Complete this evaluation for free NCPD (https://loginlr.ons.org/sso/jwt/redir...) . • ONS Podcast™ episodes: • Radiation Site-Specific Side Effects series (https://www.ons.org/search?ons_global...) • Episode 301: Radiation Oncology: Side Effect and Care Coordination Best Practices (https://www.ons.org/education-hub/onc...) • Episode 298: Radiation Oncology: Nursing's Essential Roles (https://www.ons.org/education-hub/onc...) • ONS Voice articles: • Highly Localized, Precision Radiation Therapies Require Nurses to Drive Care Coordination, Patient Education (https://www.ons.org/publications-rese...) • The Intersection of Pelvic Health and Oncology Optimizes Sexual Symptom Management (https://www.ons.org/publications-rese...) • ONS book: Manual for Radiation Oncology Nursing Practice and Education (https://www.ons.org/store/books/manua...) (fifth edition) • ONS courses: • Nurse Navigation and Care During Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer: 2025 ONS Bridge™ Session (https://www.ons.org/store/courses/nur...) • ONS ROCN™ Certification Review™ (https://www.ons.org/store/courses/ons...) • ONS/ONCC® Radiation Therapy Certificate™ (https://www.ons.org/store/courses/ons...) • Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing articles: • Updated Interventions for Radiation-Induced Diarrhea: Putting Evidence Into Practice With the Oncology Nursing Society (https://doi.org/10.1188/25.CJON.48-59) • Genitourinary Distress: Common Side Effect (https://doi.org/10.1188/21.CJON.S2.27) • Sexual Dysfunction: Common Side Effect (https://doi.org/10.1188/21.CJON.S2.16-20) • Brachytherapy: Increased Use in Patients With Intermediate- and High-Risk Prostate Cancers (https://doi.org/10.1188/21.CJON.321-328) • Oncology Nursing Forum article: Effect of Foot Reflexology and Aromatherapy on Anxiety and Pain During Brachytherapy for Cervical Cancer (https://doi.org/10.1188/21.ONF.265-276) • ONS Guidelines™ and Symptom Management Resources: • Radiodermatitis (https://www.ons.org/clinical-tools/sy...) • Radiation-Induced Diarrhea (https://www.ons.org/clinical-tools/sy...) • Brachytherapy Huddle Card (https://www.ons.org/clinical-tools/hu....