| Investigation |
Important aspects to screen for: |
| History |
General:
- Level of energy, general health
- Depression
- Social/employment situation
- Exercise
- Smoking, recreational drugs and alcohol ingestion
Chemotherapy related:
- Symptoms of cardiac dysfunction related to Adriamycin induced cardiomyopathy (shortness of breath on exertion and orthopnoea)
- Problems with fertility related to alkylating agent exposure
- Symptoms of peripheral neuropathy related to Vincristine exposure
- Back pain, history of fractures - after intensive chemotherapy patients are more at risk for osteoporosis
Transfusion related:
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Head and neck RMS:
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
- Abdominal pain and cramping
- Diarrhoea/constipation
- Change in bowel habit
- Rectal bleeding
- Bladder symptoms (dysuria, hematuria, frequency and any bladder infections)
- Problems with fertility - unable to conceive
- Women: menstrual cycle, menopausal symptoms, sexual function
- Men: sexual function
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Limb RMS:
- Limb pain, swelling, joint pain and dysfunction
- Recurrent episodes of cellulitis
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| Examination |
General:
- Blood pressure
- Weight and height (BMI)
- General examination
- Check skin in previous RT field for skin cancers (e.g. basal cell carcinomas and more rarely melanoma)
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Head and neck RMS:
- Examine neck to exclude thyroid nodules
- Visual acuity, visual fields and fundoscopy
- Check hearing
- Dental decay, trismus, oral ulcers
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
- Check for scoliosis as spinal growth may have been affected by RT
- Abdominal and pelvic examination
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Limb RMS:
- Check limb length and joint function
- Lymphedema may be present
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| Blood work |
General:
- Routine blood work including blood count, electrolytes, BUN, serum creatinine and liver function tests
- Hepatitis C testing if blood product transfusion prior to 1994
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Head and neck RMS:
- Assessment of pituitary function should be repeated every year or so and supervised by an endocrinologist (eg. ACTH deficiency may develop many years after therapy)
- Thyroid function tests (at least free T4 and TSH)
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| Radiology screening |
Head and neck RMS:
- MR of the head at least every 3 years or so to exclude RT induced meningioma
- Ultrasound scan of the thyroid every 3 years to exclude papillary carcinoma of the thyroid
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
- Ultrasound of the abdomen and pelvis every year or so may be helpful to exclude new masses and to ensure that there is no hydronephrosis
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| Special investigations |
General:
- Any adriamycin exposure - echocardiogram every 3 years or so
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Head and neck RMS:
- Neurocognitive testing may be important if there are memory problems to formally document cognitive impairment in order to obtain vocational or recreational rehab or to apply or a disability pension
- Audiology testing every one to two years to assess for hearing loss after head and neck RT
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS
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Specialist
follow-up |
General:
- Most patients need to have other specialist physicians involved in their follow up with assessment every 1 - 2 years
- Anyone who has had intensive chemotherapy is at risk for early onset osteoporosis and should be seen in consultation by a specialist with expertise in this area.
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Head and neck RMS usually requires follow up with:
- Endocrinology
- Ophthalmology or neuro-ophthalmology
- Oral oncology
- Plastic surgery (if patient was very young at the time of therapy, significant hypoplasia may be present and this usually requires a multidisciplinary team for reconstruction - plastic surgery, oral surgery and dentistry. Hyperbaric oxygen is often necessary prior to reconstructive surgery to enable wound healing)
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
- Gastroenterologist for chronic diarrhoea and malabsorption
- Fertility specialist
- Endocrinologist for hypogonadism
- Immunologist may be important if there is splenic dysfunction
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| Supportive care |
- Family counselling
- Psychology
- Psychiatry
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| Advice |
General: The patient should seek immediate medical help if a new swelling (painless or painful) appears within the previous RT field as this may be due to a second malignant neoplasm.
Lifestyle:
- Advise about diet, exercise and lifestyle choices (such as smoking) which may further increase the risk of vascular disease
- Diet rich in Vitamin D, calcium and dairy servings to reduce risk of osteoporosis
- Skin in previous RT field at risk for sun related damage - wear sun screen and avoid sunburn
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Head and neck RMS:
- Meticulous dental care with regular cleaning and the use of fluoride.
- Skin previously in the RT field should be protected from the sun by wearing a hat and sun screen (more vulnerable to damage)
- Patients with pituitary dysfunction and ACTH Deficiency, during infection, surgery and illness survivors of head and neck RMS may need support with extra steroid medication.
- Medic Alert bracelets are advised to warn about ACTH deficiency
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
- Early screening for colon cancer if any abdominal RT of 30 Gy or higher to the abdomen, pelvis, or spine. Colonoscopy should be performed beginning at age 35 years or 10 years
following RT (whichever occurs last)
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Limb RMS: (After RT)
- Avoid sports where there is a risk of injuring the limb or protect the limb with padding during contact sports as wound healing is usually delayed in a previous RT field
- Avoid sun burn to skin previously given RT as there is likely to be increased sensitivity
- For lymphedema, a pressure stocking may help to reduce ankle swelling at the end of the day
- Severe lymphedema may benefit from the use of a "lympha Press" or a similar type of mechanism
- Lymphedema is associated with an increased risk of cellulitis (bacterial infection of the subcutaneous tissues). Redness, pain and signs of infection are likely to require prompt Rx with antibiotics
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Patient information
(COG) Survivorship Guidelines |
General:
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Head and neck RMS patients:
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Abdominal and pelvic RMS:
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Limb RMS:
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