Megavoltage linear accelerators (Figure 2) with skin sparing capabilities have significantly reduced the severity of reactions from radiotherapy; however, accelerated dose schedules with combined radiation chemotherapy regimens have increased the incidence of radiotherapy-induced skin reactions (Harris, 2011). While it is acknowledged that these skin reactions are unlikely to be prevented, the aim for the patient is to delay onset of symptoms and avoid factors that exacerbate the radiation damage such as friction, extremes of temperature and irritated skin from using skin care products (The Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR), 2015).
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