Radiation Therapy for Mesothelioma

Radiation therapy for mesothelioma is one of three standard treatments doctors typically use with patients. Mesothelioma radiation therapy uses energy to kill cancer cells, usually from an external beam. Radiation is most often used as part of multimodal therapy, along with surgery and chemotherapy.

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What Is Radiation Therapy?

This type of cancer treatment uses high-energy radiation to target and kill cancer cells. The high amount of energy damages DNA inside cells, causing them to die.

Radiation therapy kills healthy cells as well as cancer cells, which can lead to some side effects. Advances in technology allow doctors to target the radiation more specifically to tumors to protect healthy cells.

There are two main types of radiation therapy used in cancer treatment: brachytherapy, which involves placing a radioactive device inside the body, and external radiation therapy, which uses an external beam to target the tumor.

Mesothelioma patients rarely receive radiotherapy alone. They may receive radiation therapy as part of multimodal treatment, a combination of multiple treatment types.

Brachytherapy

Brachytherapy is a type of radiotherapy in which the radiation is placed directly next to or inside the area of the body that requires treatment. Brachytherapy is also known as internal radiotherapy or sealed source radiotherapy because of its positioning.

Once the radiation source, typically tiny radioactive seeds, is placed in or near the affected area, radiation kills cancerous cells while preserving healthy areas of tissue. Sometimes the radioactive seeds remain in the body indefinitely, while at other times, they are removed shortly after treatment.

Once the treatment is done, most patients should be able to return home without any need for inpatient services. Symptoms of mesothelioma usually start to lessen after treatment.

Side effects of brachytherapy may include:

• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Inflammation of the mouth
• Dry and burning skin
• Rash

Patients should limit contact with small children and pregnant women as they might expose them to radiation.

External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)

EBRT is more common than brachytherapy and used more often. EBRT consists of administering x-rays from outside the body to detect and eliminate cancerous cells.

Once the radiation machine is set up, it maneuvers over certain parts of the body, searching for cancerous cells without touching the patient at all. Radiation dosages are extremely high, yet the patient typically feels no pain at all.

Researchers have developed new technologies to make EBRT more effective and safer. For example, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) is a computerized radiation machine that forms radiation shapes that fit neatly around the patient’s tumors.

As a result, healthy cells are more likely to go undamaged while targeting the cancerous cells.

As with brachytherapy, side effects from EBRT include lethargy, fatigue, skin rashes, dry skin, and skin burns. Patients administered abdominal radiation may experience stomach cramps, nausea, and loss of appetite.

Lung cancer patients may experience shortness of breath, wheezing, and difficulties in breathing. Both forms of radiation may cause hair loss.

Talk to your medical team about the risks and benefits of radiation therapy to treat your mesothelioma. This type of treatment is not suitable for every patient.

Getting Help

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.