Mesothelioma Radiation TreatmentMesothelioma radiation treatment uses X-rays and other energy beams to shrink tumors and keep their growth or spreading. It can be given at any stage of mesothelioma as an effective treatment to prolong time or as an option to treat palliative symptoms.Radiation can also be used by surgeons prior to surgery to shrink the tumor, making it easier for surgeons. They can also utilize it after surgery to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells and to avoid recurrence.External beam radiation therapyRadiation therapy utilizes high-energy beams of X-rays or particles that destroy cancerous cells. Mesothelioma tumors typically appear as small areas of tissue, making it difficult to direct radiation at the tumor, and save healthy tissue nearby. New techniques enable doctors to more precisely target the tumour and minimize damage to the other tissues of the human body. Radiation can also be used after surgery or chemotherapy to eliminate any remaining cancerous cells. It can be used alone or together with palliative treatments to alleviate symptoms of mesothelioma, such as pain and difficulty breathing.External beam radiation therapy is a form of radiotherapy with external beams in which doctors use an instrument that directs radiation from outside the body to the tumor. First, they use a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to pinpoint the exact location of the mesothelioma. They then devise a strategy to deliver radiation to the area, while limiting damage surrounding tissue. The radiation oncologist might mark your skin with small dots to aid in locating the area. They may also mark the treatment field, which is the area which needs to be treated.You will lie on a table for treatment and the machine will place itself over the area of your body that is affected by mesothelioma. It is possible that you will be asked to change positions a few times during your treatment however, you won't be able to feel or see the machine moving around your. During the procedure, you might hear whirring or clicking sounds from the equipment. The radiation oncologist will be monitoring you from an observation room.EBRT is usually done once a day for five days every week for 2 to 8 weeks. You will receive a variety of treatments, based on the purpose of your treatment and the type of radiation being utilized. Certain treatments for EBRT, such as intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) utilize a computer in order to pinpoint the tumor more precisely and reduce radiation exposure to nearby tissues.Other types of radiation, such as proton beam radiation or SBRT, utilize particle beams instead of an X-ray. Proton beam radiation can damage DNA in cancer cells, which causes them to die more quickly than normal cells. This type of treatment is more precise than EBRT however it isn't commonly used to treat mesothelioma.Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT)Intensity modulated radiation therapy orients the radiation beams to the 3-dimensional shape and size of the tumor using 3-D computed-tomography (CT). This allows greater doses of radiation to be delivered to the tumor, while keeping the surrounding tissues and organs. In addition to treating pleural mesothelioma, IMRT can be used to treat lung cancer, prostate cancer, sarcomas, and head and neck tumors.In studies of patients with tumors that are complex, IMRT produces superior dose distributions, with less toxicity, compared to conventional radiation techniques. Radiation Oncologists plan their mesothelioma treatment plan and employ IMRT to ensure that the radiation is directed at the appropriate part of the body. The radiation oncologist consults with the patient and obtains informed consent before determining whether IMRT is suitable for mesothelioma therapy.The radiation oncologist as well as the medical physicist collaborate to develop an individual IMRT treatment plan for mesothelioma. treatment for sarcomatoid mesothelioma perform the actual IMRT treatments. During the sessions, the patient is placed on the table. The patient might hear noises or smell odors coming from the equipment, however they should not feel discomfort. The medical physicist and radiation oncologist remain in the room to observe the procedure from a safe distance.During an IMRT session the radiation oncologist can alter the intensity of radiation to better target the cancer. The radiation oncologist may also alter the intensity of each beam, which can help protect vital structures such as the heart and blood vessels.At MSKCC, a team of radiation oncologists have used IMRT to treat mesothelioma for more than a decade. Their findings indicate that IMRT improves lung function, longevity and reduces long-term side effects like radiation esophagitis and radiation pneumonitis. The mesothelioma cases studied were diagnosed with mesothelioma in biopsy-proven pleural cancer the hemithorax, but were not suitable for P/D or resection due to impairment in lung function. They were treated with IMRT for the hemithorax with or without pleurectomy. In the group that received IMRT, overall survival was 71 % after one year. It was 53 % at two years.BrachytherapyThe use of radiation therapy is to kill cancerous cells in mesothelioma, a cancer that is extremely aggressive. It also helps shrink tumors which makes them easier to remove surgically. It is a kind of targeted treatment that utilizes narrow beams to protect healthy tissues nearby.Radiation is used alone or in conjunction with other cancer treatments like chemotherapy. Many mesothelioma patients also receive supplemental chemotherapy to reduce the chance of recurrences of cancer after surgery and to enhance the effectiveness of their treatment.Brachytherapy is the process of placing an radioactive source close to or within a mesothelioma tumor which allows doctors to deliver a greater dose of radiation to the tumor. This procedure requires hospitalization and doctors can use an 137Caesium source or an Iridium source. The patient is placed in a secure area near the source for a duration of 12-24 hours. The treatment could cause short-term adverse effects, including discomfort around the site of the implant and a tiny amount of bleeding around the area where the applicator is placed.Another option is High-dose Rate (HDR) Brachytherapy, which involves placing several radioactive sources around the area of the tumor and delivering higher doses of radiation over a longer duration of time. The treatment is typically carried out over a period of 3 to 5 days and requires hospitalization. This kind of brachytherapy may also cause some short-term side effects. They include bleeding and soreness at site where the applicators are placed.Because mesothelioma often grows as multi-layered masses, it can be difficult to pinpoint with radiation. Newer technology enables radiation specialists to pinpoint the tumor more precisely and also avoid surrounding tissues.In certain instances it is possible to use brachytherapy to treat mesothelioma either as part of preoperative therapy, referred to as neoadjuvant or as an adjuvant after surgery to eliminate any mesothelioma tumors that the surgeon was not able to remove completely. In addition, some mesothelioma patients are treated with brachytherapy alongside pleurectomy/decortication and conventional radiation therapy as a palliative treatment for their symptoms.Proton beam radiationRadiation oncologists target mesothelioma tumours in specific areas of the body. This kind of treatment is more precise and lowers the risk that healthy tissues will be exposed to radiation levels that are high. Patients suffering from mesothelioma should talk about proton radiation therapy with their doctor to determine if this is the right treatment for them.The process of proton beam radiation starts by the radiation oncologist who develops plans to treat the cancerous tissue. Dosimetrists utilize an algorithm on computers to calculate the exact amount of radiation required for the area. The doctors also decide which part of the body to deliver radiation, and how far into the body it should travel. Dosimetrists pass the information on to a physicist who makes use of a device called a synchrotron in order to accelerate protons to the amount of energy required for treatment.When the protons arrive in the treatment area they are directed at the tumor using a system that resembles the CT scanner. The patient is placed on a table which moves to match the shape and size of the tumors. The physicist will then employ an instrument that rotates the nozzle of the proton beam around the patient to ensure the radiation is absorbed by all the areas of the tumor at the most optimal angles.The proton beam is formed and directed by a device referred to as a gantry. The gantry is surrounded by an immobilization frame which keeps the patient still while they are being treated. A computer manages the gantry. It is monitored from a nearby room by a team radiation technicians. The radiation oncologist may alter the treatment plan if necessary during weekly appointments.Contrary to conventional photon radiation, proton beam radiation doesn't penetrate the tissues of the lungs as deeply. This means there is less risk of radiation-related complications such as toxicity and the growth of mesothelioma cancer cells which are resistant.The proton beam can be targeted to treat mesothelioma tumors in the lung's pleural lining and abdomen. It is crucial that patients consult mesothelioma experts who have experience with proton radiation.