Mesothelioma Treatment Combining Radiotherapy With Surgery

Mesothelioma Treatment

Mesothelioma Treatment: Radiotherapy Is Used To Reduce Tumor Size

Radiation therapy (or “radiotherapy”) involves the localized use of high–dose radiation such as x–rays on cancer tumors. The treatment works by destroying the cancer cells in the targeted area. Although normal cells may also be affected, they can repair themselves more effectively.

Radiation therapy can both reduce the size of a tumor and relieve symptoms like pain and shortness of breath. However, your doctor may limit its use depending on the volume of the tumor and how close it is to other vital organs.

Your doctor may prescribe radiation therapy alone, with chemotherapy, or after surgery to reduce the chances of mesothelioma recurring. In one study, doctors at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital in New York reported that treating mesothelioma patients through surgical lung removal plus high dose radiation increased their median survival by about 5 months (see Radiation Oncology Research at ASTRO, scroll to High Dose Radiation Therapy Improves Survival in Patients with Mesothelioma.)

How Radiation Treatment is Delivered

Radiotherapy can be given either from outside the body (called external radiotherapy), using x–rays or cobalt irradiation, or from within the body (called internal radiotherapy). The external radiotherapy method is a painless, outpatient procedure. This mesothelioma treatment is usually divided into several sessions (called fractions), typically one session a day for five days with a rest at the weekend. Using fractions helps lessen the damage to normal cells (CancerBacUp, External Beam Radiotherapy).

In external radiotherapy, the technician will use one of two machines. A linear accelerator creates high–energy radiation using electricity to form a stream of fast–moving subatomic particles. The other type of machine contains a radioactive substance, generally cobalt–60, as its source of radiation (Oncolink, What is Radiation Therapy).

Internal radiotherapy involves either placing solid, radioactive material inside the tumor or administering a radioactive liquid by mouth or injection. Internal radiotherapy is a hospital procedure that allows the delivery of higher doses of radiation than does external radiotherapy.

Side Effects of Radiotherapy as a Mesothelioma Treatment

Before you undergo radiotherapy, your doctor will tell you about side effects that you may experience from the procedure. Being informed can help you cope with any problems. Be sure to mention any difficulties that you encounter as the treatment progresses. The medical staff will know what could be a serious problem, and what is a temporary effect.

The most common side effect from radiotherapy is fatigue or tiredness. This is a debilitating condition where you have little energy even for simple everyday tasks. Patients often feel fatigue towards the end of the course of radiotherapy, and may not recover fully until several weeks or months after the treatment ends.

We suggest that you be kind to yourself while undergoing radiotherapy. Take a nap in the afternoon, get household help if possible. Although you want to be independent, do consider letting friends and relatives help out. You should also plan your day so that your chores are spread out and you have time to relax.

Some people get skin rashes or skin irritation around the radiotherapy area. We suggest wearing loose clothing, and telling your doctor about the problem so that he or she may consider any prescription creams or ointments. These skin reactions usually diminish after the radiotherapy treatment ends.

Pleural mesothelioma patients may develop a cough or have difficulty swallowing after radiotherapy treatment. A dietician can help you choose appropriate foods and teach you how to work around this difficulty.