Physics Bucharest 2017

Compensating for unscheduled gaps

• Prolonging treatment times in the following tumours results in ↓local control and cure rates: SCC head and neck, SCC cervix/vagina, NSCLC, medulloblastoma, oesophageal and skin cancers and possibly TCC bladder • Prevent gaps by ensuring adequate resources, plan machine down time/treatment schedules and have a clear departmental policy • Gaps can be compensated for by: • Treating over a weekend or twice daily • Use of EQD 2 formulae in fewer fractions to achieve planned overall treatment time • Deliver additional fractions/dose where compensation can’t be achieved within the overall planned treatment time