Nursing in boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT): Future prospects

Abstract

Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), a category of radiation therapy, is used to treat cancer by inducing preferential uptake of a boron compound by cancer cells and then exposing them to a neutron beam, which results in the cells’ exposure to α particles and recoiling lithium-7 nuclei from the reaction of the neutrons with the boron. The neutron beam is generated by a nuclear reactor. Recently, a compact accelerator BNCT system has been developed for use in medical facilities. This article is aimed at introducing the practices and roles of the nurse in BNCT derived from the author’s >500 experiences with BNCT. Awareness of similarities and differences between BNCT and other radiotherapies will help to increase nurses’ awareness of BNCT and to allow research on radiological nursing at the medical institutes equipped with these new systems.