Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy

Mesothelioma radiation therapy is a treatment option that can be used alone or in conjunction with another treatment such as surgery or chemotherapy. A physician or team of physicians can help you determine your best treatment options.

Administered Externally or Internally

In a radiation treatment, high-energy x-rays, photons, neutrons, or cobalt is administered to kill cancer cells or shrink a tumor. The radiation can be delivered from an external source — a machine that directs a beam of radiation at a target in the patient's body — or internally through a needle, thin tube, or wire that is placed in or near the targeted site. Another mesothelioma radiation therapy option is the use of radioisotopes, which circulate radiation throughout the body.

A Series of Radiation Treatments

A series of radiation treatments is usually necessary to be effective. Even so, mesothelioma radiation therapy is usually not enough to completely eliminate the cancer. That's why mesothelioma radiation therapy is usually an adjuvant therapy, used in addition to surgery or chemotherapy.

Cancer cells that remain even after all possible treatments will most likely continue to grow and multiply. Mesothelioma radiation therapy, as with other treatments for mesothelioma, is not a cure. It's often used simply as a palliative treatment; that is, it's used to reduce a patient's pain and discomfort, decrease the severity of mesothelioma symptoms, and delay the worsening of his or her condition.

Symptom Reduction, But Side Effects

Mesothelioma radiation therapy can help reduce the shortness of breath and pain that mesothelioma patients experience. However, because healthy cells are also sometimes damaged by the radiation that kills the cancer cells, mesothelioma radiation therapy is often followed by side effects such as:

• Fatigue
• Difficulty swallowing
• Body aches and stiffness
• Skin irritations
• Hair loss
• Digestive problems

Typical Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy Regime

The regime or schedule used for a patient's mesothelioma radiation therapy depends on the type of mesothelioma the patient has (two common forms are pleural and peritoneal), the stage of the cancer, and its location, among other factors. However, a typical regime could include daily treatments, Monday through Friday, for a number of weeks. The radiation is given for just 5 to 10 minutes, but the sessions last longer because of the need to position the patient, set up the administration route, etc. In some cases, twice-daily mesothelioma radiation therapy is given.

Some patients need to have fluid drained from the chest or abdomen as part of a radiation treatment. The draining is accomplished by inserting a needle and using gentle suction to remove the fluid build-up.

Find Mesothelioma Radiation Therapy near You

You can find out more about mesothelioma radiation therapy from the physician who diagnosed mesothelioma in you or your family member. You can also contact an attorney who represents mesothelioma patients' legal rights; an attorney is often a great source of information about medical care for people with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.