ASTRO releases guideline on RT for bone metastases

ASTRO’s new External Beam Radiation Therapy for Palliation of Symptomatic Bone Metastases guideline provides guidance for physicians who use radiation therapy to treat patients with symptomatic bone metastases. This guideline replaces ASTRO’s 2017 guideline on bone metastases. Recommendations address symptom relief, multi-modality treatment, dosing schedules and advanced techniques. For a more detailed summary of the key points from the guideline, see ASTRO’s news release.

 

APEx launches new portal and updated standards

ASTRO’s APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence® is witnessing the largest update since its inception in 2014. APEx is unveiling updated standards including refined evaluation criteria and updated guides with sample documents, a modified process that allows practices to receive feedback prior to the facility visit, and a new portal that provides new and easier access to program resources. These developments mark a significant leap forward in assuring APEx remains robust, relevant and capable of meeting the evolving needs of accreditation in radiation oncology. Now is the right time to join more than 450 facilities and start your APEx journey. Get involved with APEx now; for more information, contact APEx.

 

Tomorrow! RO-ILS Patient Safety Hour

There’s still time to register for tomorrow’s Patient Safety Conversation Hour. Brought to you by RO-ILS in celebration of 10 years of operation, this session will feature small group discussions on curated RO-ILS events and then debriefs with safety experts. Join us tomorrow, May 30 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern time, and register for this free event.

 

ASTRO 2024: Register, reserve your housing, get ready to submit your late-breaking abstract

Join your colleagues who have already registered for the 66th ASTRO Annual Meeting on September 29 – October 2 in Washington, DC. The meeting will offer the latest radiation oncology research, emerging education trends, state of the industry technology and the opportunity to network with experts in the field. Preconference activities on Saturday, September 28, include the PRO program, ARRO Day and a selection of scientific and education sessions. Also, if you are engaged in research that was not ready for submission previously, mark your calendar — the late-breaking submission site will be open for a limited time, June 26 to July 12. Register now for the premier event for radiation oncology!

 

ROCR Act momentum builds: Have you contacted Congress yet?

Reports from ASTRO Advocacy Day reveal that the ROCR Act (S. 4330/H.R. 8404) is off to a strong start on Capitol Hill. ROCR will stabilize payments, improve access, enhance quality and reduce disparities in radiation oncology care, so please join your colleagues in helping us reach our grassroots advocacy goal of sending Congress 1,000 messages by July 31. Contact your member of Congress today with just a few clicks. ASTRO is grateful to the growing list of ROCR Act supporters, including these recent additions: ASCO, ASRT and The Radiosurgery Society.

 

Reminder! ASTRO is seeking public comments for updated IMRT Model Policy

ASTRO requests feedback on the draft document of the updated IMRT Model Policy. ASTRO model policies are developed as a means to efficiently communicate what ASTRO believes to be correct coverage policies for radiation oncology services. ASTRO model policies do not serve as clinical guidelines. Please review the document and submit comments through the webform by June 9.

 

PENTEC Red Journal special issue – years in the making A new Red Journal special issue has published, PENTEC: Pediatric Normal Tissue Effects in the Clinic. This special issue represents years of work researching and writing critical reviews about the treatment of childhood cancers. An accompanying podcast is found on the journal’s website.

 

ROI – The ASTRO Foundation – celebrates every month as National Cancer Research Month

In 2023, Katie Lichter, MD, MPH, received a grant from the ROI to lead a multidisciplinary team in a pioneering investigation into the disruptive effects of wildfires on radiotherapy delivery and its consequent impact on survival for patients with cancer. This work builds on her research to understand the environmental impact of radiotherapy that was published in Lancet Oncology this month. Read more on the blog about Dr. Lichter’s research, demonstrating how ROI’s funding and support ensures that similarly innovative ideas are explored further to understand the impact on radiation oncology.

 

Application deadline approaching: ASTRO-BCRF Radiation Oncology Visiting Away Rotations for Medical Students

The application period for medical students to apply to the 2024 ASTRO-BCRF Radiation Oncology Visiting Away Rotations closes Wednesday, June 5. This program presents an excellent opportunity for medical students interested in exploring radiation oncology as a career choice to receive support for participation in four-week visiting away rotations. Any medical student can apply; preference will be given to medical students in their third or fourth year. Learn more on program and application requirements and help spread the word to students.