Radiation Therapy
Radiation Icon
Radiation therapy is one of the three main types of treatment options for mesothelioma. Using targeted radiation an oncologist can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, generally with less side effects than chemotherapy. This treatment can be used in all stages.
Have Questions About Radiation Therapy?
Chat with a patient advocate about treatment options and get help finding a specialist.
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Radiation therapy developed into a key component of a still-evolving, three-pronged approach to the treatment of mesothelioma. The most recent medical data shows that in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, radiation can help kill cancer cells. Radiation's increased ability to target these cells in patients can relieve pain and improve life expectancy, depending on the stage of someone's cancer.
Oncologists have used radiation as a cancer treatment for decades. But technological advancements make it a much more refined treatment today. Despite its toxicity, well-targeted radiation can work without causing some of the serious side effects that often come with chemotherapy. It is a valuable tool to stunt the growth and shrink the size of cancerous tumors.
Although unable to eliminate or cure the cancer, radiation has been most effective as a way to relieve some of the pain that accompanies mesothelioma. It can be used for a variety of reasons to treat patients in different stages of cancer.
Primary Role of Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy Effectiveness
Lung icon
Palliative Pain Relief: Radiation therapy alleviates pain by reducing the size of mesothelioma tumors, which relieves pressure on the lungs and chest.
Radiation icon
Seeding Prevention: Radiation therapy along incision sites is common, as seeding occurs in 20 to 50 percent of mesothelioma patients who undergo these procedures. Even modest radiation at surgery or drain tube sites can help.
Doctors can determine that some people are not eligible for surgery. For those patients, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be chosen to relieve pain and improve life expectancy.
Oncologists also can decide that other patients don’t qualify for comprehensive treatment, but can have surgery followed by radiation. Results from multiple clinical trials show this two-pronged treatment approach, without chemotherapy, can help.
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Free information, books, wristbands and more for patients and caregivers.
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Free Mesothelioma Packet
Radiation and Pleural Mesothelioma
Asbestos cancer experts see more positive results from radiation on individuals with pleural mesothelioma than they do on other forms of the disease. There are two types of radiation used to treat pleural mesothelioma – external beam radiation and intraoperative radiation.
External Beam Radiation
External beam radiation is noninvasive and involves high-energy rays targeting malignant tumors. It's performed by an experienced radiologist who has considered tumor size, location, staging of the cancer and general health of the patient.
To help lessen the risk of adverse reactions, the linear accelerator is guided by computers that deliver specific doses to precise areas, making sure healthy cells are not damaged.
Patient undergoing external beam radiation
The radiation beam conforms to the 3-D shape of the tumor and is emitted in multiple doses. It permits higher radiation doses centralized within the tumor, while minimizing the dose to the surrounding organs and tissues.
The treatment itself is fast and painless, done on an out-patient basis, and is usually five days a week for several weeks.
Intraoperative Radiation
Intraoperative radiation is used as part of the surgical procedure where a radiologist applies the beams to the affected areas to help prevent any seeding or spreading of the cancer cells during the operation.
Although traditionally used at the end of an aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery, surgeons in Toronto recently have begun using high-dose radiation before surgery and finding it most effective.
Intraoperative radiation
Photo Credit University of California-San Francisco
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that minimizes any damage to healthy tissues while killing the cancerous cells with a radioactive material implanted in the tumor. It may be placed during surgery or inserted using a hollow tube under a local or general anesthesia with the aid of an imaging scan.
Clinical trials are testing the therapy, but it's not yet a standard treatment for mesothelioma. It has been effective in treating lung cancer when placed into a tumor site. It slowly loses its radioactivity over time.
Get Connected with a Top Doctor
We can help you or a loved one find a mesothelioma doctor who specializes in radiation therapy.
Get Started Today
Radiation and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
While radiation therapy can have a significant impact for someone with pleural mesothelioma, the treatment is more limited for those with the second-most-common disease type, peritoneal mesothelioma. The reason is location.
Radiation Use Restricted
Peritoneal cancer involves the lining in the abdominal cavity. Radiation is restricted in this area because it can be extremely toxic to the small intestines, liver, kidneys and other organs within that cavity.
Malignant Seeding
Doctors aim radiation at the abdomen to prevent malignant "seeding" of the area where a surgical incision was made. Seeding occurs when cancerous cells are accidentally dropped into an area when the tumor is removed.
Common side effects of radiation therapy may include the following:
Acute Side Effects
Skin redness
Esophagitis
Fatigue
Nausea
Long-Term Side Effects
Radiation pneumonitis
Cardiac damage
Radiation myelitis
Liver radiation damage
Other potential side effects can include pleural effusions, collapsed lung(s) and calcification of the lymph nodes. Researchers show that pleural effusions, if they develop at all, are typically reported within six months of the initial radiation treatment.
Radiation Icon
Radiation therapy is one of the three main types of treatment options for mesothelioma. Using targeted radiation an oncologist can kill cancer cells and shrink tumors, generally with less side effects than chemotherapy. This treatment can be used in all stages.
Have Questions About Radiation Therapy?
Chat with a patient advocate about treatment options and get help finding a specialist.
Chat Now
Radiation therapy developed into a key component of a still-evolving, three-pronged approach to the treatment of mesothelioma. The most recent medical data shows that in combination with surgery and chemotherapy, radiation can help kill cancer cells. Radiation's increased ability to target these cells in patients can relieve pain and improve life expectancy, depending on the stage of someone's cancer.
Oncologists have used radiation as a cancer treatment for decades. But technological advancements make it a much more refined treatment today. Despite its toxicity, well-targeted radiation can work without causing some of the serious side effects that often come with chemotherapy. It is a valuable tool to stunt the growth and shrink the size of cancerous tumors.
Although unable to eliminate or cure the cancer, radiation has been most effective as a way to relieve some of the pain that accompanies mesothelioma. It can be used for a variety of reasons to treat patients in different stages of cancer.
Primary Role of Radiation Therapy
Radiation Therapy Effectiveness
Lung icon
Palliative Pain Relief: Radiation therapy alleviates pain by reducing the size of mesothelioma tumors, which relieves pressure on the lungs and chest.
Radiation icon
Seeding Prevention: Radiation therapy along incision sites is common, as seeding occurs in 20 to 50 percent of mesothelioma patients who undergo these procedures. Even modest radiation at surgery or drain tube sites can help.
Doctors can determine that some people are not eligible for surgery. For those patients, a combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be chosen to relieve pain and improve life expectancy.
Oncologists also can decide that other patients don’t qualify for comprehensive treatment, but can have surgery followed by radiation. Results from multiple clinical trials show this two-pronged treatment approach, without chemotherapy, can help.
Get a Free Mesothelioma Guide
Free information, books, wristbands and more for patients and caregivers.
Get Your Free Guide
Free Mesothelioma Packet
Radiation and Pleural Mesothelioma
Asbestos cancer experts see more positive results from radiation on individuals with pleural mesothelioma than they do on other forms of the disease. There are two types of radiation used to treat pleural mesothelioma – external beam radiation and intraoperative radiation.
External Beam Radiation
External beam radiation is noninvasive and involves high-energy rays targeting malignant tumors. It's performed by an experienced radiologist who has considered tumor size, location, staging of the cancer and general health of the patient.
To help lessen the risk of adverse reactions, the linear accelerator is guided by computers that deliver specific doses to precise areas, making sure healthy cells are not damaged.
Patient undergoing external beam radiation
The radiation beam conforms to the 3-D shape of the tumor and is emitted in multiple doses. It permits higher radiation doses centralized within the tumor, while minimizing the dose to the surrounding organs and tissues.
The treatment itself is fast and painless, done on an out-patient basis, and is usually five days a week for several weeks.
Intraoperative Radiation
Intraoperative radiation is used as part of the surgical procedure where a radiologist applies the beams to the affected areas to help prevent any seeding or spreading of the cancer cells during the operation.
Although traditionally used at the end of an aggressive extrapleural pneumonectomy (EPP) surgery, surgeons in Toronto recently have begun using high-dose radiation before surgery and finding it most effective.
Intraoperative radiation
Photo Credit University of California-San Francisco
Brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that minimizes any damage to healthy tissues while killing the cancerous cells with a radioactive material implanted in the tumor. It may be placed during surgery or inserted using a hollow tube under a local or general anesthesia with the aid of an imaging scan.
Clinical trials are testing the therapy, but it's not yet a standard treatment for mesothelioma. It has been effective in treating lung cancer when placed into a tumor site. It slowly loses its radioactivity over time.
Get Connected with a Top Doctor
We can help you or a loved one find a mesothelioma doctor who specializes in radiation therapy.
Get Started Today
Radiation and Peritoneal Mesothelioma
While radiation therapy can have a significant impact for someone with pleural mesothelioma, the treatment is more limited for those with the second-most-common disease type, peritoneal mesothelioma. The reason is location.
Radiation Use Restricted
Peritoneal cancer involves the lining in the abdominal cavity. Radiation is restricted in this area because it can be extremely toxic to the small intestines, liver, kidneys and other organs within that cavity.
Malignant Seeding
Doctors aim radiation at the abdomen to prevent malignant "seeding" of the area where a surgical incision was made. Seeding occurs when cancerous cells are accidentally dropped into an area when the tumor is removed.
Common side effects of radiation therapy may include the following:
Acute Side Effects
Skin redness
Esophagitis
Fatigue
Nausea
Long-Term Side Effects
Radiation pneumonitis
Cardiac damage
Radiation myelitis
Liver radiation damage
Other potential side effects can include pleural effusions, collapsed lung(s) and calcification of the lymph nodes. Researchers show that pleural effusions, if they develop at all, are typically reported within six months of the initial radiation treatment.
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