Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-energy X-rays or protons to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. In mesothelioma treatment, radiation is most commonly used as an adjuvant therapy after surgery to target remaining cancer cells, or as a palliative treatment to reduce pain and control symptoms in advanced disease.
Radiation therapy plays a supporting role in mesothelioma treatment rather than serving as a standalone cure. After surgical procedures like EPP or pleurectomy/decortication, radiation can target the surgical margins where microscopic cancer cells may remain. This adjuvant approach aims to reduce the risk of local recurrence.
Modern radiation techniques — including intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy — allow more precise targeting of mesothelioma tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding organs like the heart and healthy lung tissue. These advances have improved the safety profile of radiation for mesothelioma patients.
Palliative radiation can provide significant relief from chest wall pain, bone pain from metastatic disease, and other symptoms. Prophylactic radiation to surgical incision sites can prevent tumor seeding along biopsy or drain tracks. Discuss the role of radiation in your treatment plan with your oncology team.
- Also known as
- Radiotherapy, RT, XRT
- Category
- Treatment
Can radiation cure mesothelioma?
Radiation alone is not curative for mesothelioma. It is used after surgery to target remaining cancer cells or as palliative treatment to reduce pain and control symptoms.
What type of radiation is used for mesothelioma?
Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and proton beam therapy allow precise targeting of mesothelioma tumors while minimizing damage to the heart and healthy lung tissue.
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