Over the course of a series of treatments, mesothelioma tumors are bombarded with radiation to kill cancer cells and limit the growth and spread of these cells. However, in most cases involving mesothelioma radiation, the treatment is not able to completely eradicate all tumor cells. As such, this type of therapy is usually given to provide the patient with some relief from pain and other symptoms associated with mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath and coughing.
Due to the nature of the treatment, it is common for healthy tissue near the treatment area to be affected by radiation. This damage causes side effects such as skin irritation, pain near the treatment site, digestive problems, and difficulty swallowing.
External beam radiotherapy is rarely effective as a stand-alone treatment for mesothelioma and is most often used in conjunction with chemotherapy or surgery.
Mesothelioma Brachytherapy
Brachytherapy, also known as sealed source radiation therapy, is a procedure that involves the implantation of tiny radioactive rods in or near tumors of mesothelioma and other types of cancer such as breast, cervical, and prostate cancer. This treatment method allows the delivery of a highly-concentrated and closely targeted dose of radiation to mesothelioma tumors that might be resistant to other types of radiation therapy.
This type of radiation therapy is beneficial because it causes little damage to healthy cells surrounding the affected area and is less invasive than traditional radiation.
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