Purpose: The purpose of this study was to clarify the quality of life (QOL) and symptoms of acute radiation damage in patients with breast cancer, who have received radiotherapy. Methods: Targeted patients were 68 breast cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy. We asked the patients to record their symptoms using a symptom diary. The patients’ QOL was clarified using the SF-8^TM. The patients’ medical records were used for investigating the process of treatment. Results: Main symptoms recorded were fatigue, pain, dermatitis, and itchiness. Fatigue was recorded by 54.4%. Pain was recorded by 69.1%. Itchiness was recorded by 58.8%. The symptom appearance time became clear. The QOL scores in all items for the entire investigation period were lower than the average for healthy Japanese women. The QOL scores increased in four domains. A signif icant difference was seen in physical functioning (PF), role-functioning physical (RP), general health perception (GH), and mental health (MH). The symptom scores at 3 to 5 weeks after the start of the irradiation and the QOL scores at the completion of the irradiation were negatively correlated for the entire items. Conclusion: The results revealed the symptoms and grade of acute radiation damage and the time at which the damage occurred. We must treat patients, considering when patients will suffer from acute radiation damage. The results also suggested that the QOL score was not adversely affected by radiotherapy. However, there was negative correlation between the symptoms induced by irradiation and the patients’ QOL. Therefore, nursing intervention would be necessary to reduce symptoms and improve the QOL of patients undergoing radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the activity of Certified Nurses in Radiation Therapy Nursing. The subjects were 64 Certified Nurses in Radiation Therapy Nursing. Surveys using questionnaires were conducted between the end of June and mid-July 2012. Responses were obtained from 40 persons. The results of the analyses revealed the following:

Certified Nurses in Radiation Therapy were able to provide experienced nursing practice to patients who underwent radiation therapy, while the nurses had less activity time than Certified Nurses working in other fields. Moreover, there was little time spent on nursing research, case study meetings, promotion of the radio-protective procedures in the institution, and on the preparation of radiation emergency medicine. The person in the authoritative position was unable to conduct a plan and enforce the continuing education and nursing research. We think that the following things are necessary: to promote the utilization system of authorized nurses in the institution, to support to organize case study meetings and nursing research, and to construct the education system which addresses the expansion of the radiation nursing region.