How Do I Explain Radiation Treatment For Mesothelioma To A FiveYearOld

Mesothelioma Radiation Treatment

Radiation treatment for mesothelioma uses X radiation and other energy beams to shrink tumors, and stop their growth or spread. It can be administered at any stage of mesothelioma to serve as an option to treat the disease and prolong its time or as an alternative treatment to ease symptoms.

Radiation can also be used by doctors prior to surgery to shrink the tumor, making it easier for surgeons. They can also utilize it after surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells and to avoid any recurrence.

External beam radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams of X-rays or particles to destroy cancerous cells. Mesothelioma tumors typically develop as small, multiple areas of tissue, making it difficult to direct radiation towards the tumor and spare nearby healthy tissues. New methods allow doctors to target the tumor and minimize the damage to other parts of the body. Radiation can also be used following chemotherapy or surgery to destroy any remaining cancerous cells. It can be given alone or as part of palliative treatment to reduce mesothelioma symptoms like breathing difficulty and discomfort.

For external beam radiation therapy, doctors utilize a machine to direct radiation at mesothelioma from outside the body of the patient. They first perform a CT scan, MRI or PET scan to determine the exact location of mesothelioma. They then devise a strategy for delivering radiation to the area, while limit damage to the surrounding tissue. The radiation oncologist could mark your skin with tiny dots to aid in locating the area. They will also mark the treatment area, which is the area that requires treatment.

You will lie down on a treatment bed and a machine will be placed over the part of your body that has mesothelioma. During the procedure you may be asked to move around a bit. However, you will not feel or see any machine movements. During the procedure you may hear whirring or clicking sounds from the machine. The radiation oncologist will be monitoring you from a room of observation.

EBRT is typically performed every day for 5 days per week for 2 to 8 weeks. There are a variety of treatments depending on the purpose of your treatment as well as the type of radiation employed. Some EBRT treatments, like intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) makes use of computers to target the tumor more accurately and limit radiation exposure on nearby tissues.

Other forms of radiation such as proton-beam radiation, or SBRT use a particle instead of an X ray. The proton beam radiation damages the DNA of cancer cells and causes them to die faster than normal cells. This type of treatment is more precise than EBRT but it's not commonly used to treat mesothelioma.

Intensity-modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)

Intensity modulated radiation therapy orients the radiation beams with the three-dimensional shape and size of the tumor with 3-D computed-tomography (CT). This allows higher radiation doses to be delivered to the tumor, while minimising exposure to the organs and tissues surrounding it. The IMRT procedure can also be used to treat other types of cancer such as lung cancer, prostate cancer, head and neck tumours and Sarcomas.

In studies on patients with tumors that are complex, IMRT produces superior dose distributions, with less toxicity, in comparison to conventional radiation techniques. Radiation oncologists use IMRT to determine the best course of treatment for their mesothelioma patients and ensure that the radiation is aimed at the right part of the body. The radiation oncologist talks to the patient and seeks informed consent before determining whether IMRT is appropriate for mesothelioma treatment.

Together the radiation oncologist with the medical physicist create an individualized IMRT plan for mesothelioma. Radiation therapists perform the actual IMRT treatment. During the sessions, the patient lies on a table. The patient may hear noises or smell odors emanating from the equipment, however they shouldn't feel pain. Medical scientist and radiation oncologist should remain in the room for a safe viewing distance.

During an IMRT session the radiation oncologist can alter the radiation levels to target the tumor better. The radiation oncologist can also alter the intensity of the beams to protect vital structures like the heart and large vessels.

For the past 10 years the team at MSKCC of radiation oncologists have used IMRT for the treatment of mesothelioma. The results indicate that IMRT improves lung function, survival and reduces long-term adverse effects like radiation esophagitis and radiopneumonitis. The mesothelioma patients examined had biopsy-proven pleural mesothelioma in the hemithorax. They were not candidates for resection or P/D due to impaired pulmonary function. They were treated with IMRT in the hemithorax, with or without pleurectomy. In the group receiving IMRT, overall survival was 71 percent at one year. It was 53 % after two years.

Brachytherapy

Mesothelioma can be a deadly cancer, and radiation therapy kills cancerous cells. It can also help shrink tumors and make them easier to remove surgically. It is a targeted procedure which uses narrow beams to prevent damaging healthy tissue in the vicinity.

Radiation can be used alone or in conjunction with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy. Many mesothelioma sufferers also receive chemotherapy supplemental to reduce the risk that cancer will recur after surgery and make the treatment more effective.

Brachytherapy involves placing the radioactive source near or inside a mesothelioma tumor, which allows doctors to deliver a higher dose of radiation to the tumor. This treatment requires hospitalization and doctors may choose to use a 137Caesium source or an Iridium source. The patient is in a protected room with the source for 12-24 hours. The patient might experience temporary side effects as a result of this treatment, including soreness around the site of the implant as well as some bleeding from the location where the applicator was inserted.





abdominal mesothelioma treatment is high-dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy, which involves placing multiple radioactive sources in the area around the tumor and giving a higher dose of radiation over longer periods of time. The procedure typically takes three to five days, and involves an overnight stay in a hospital. This type of brachytherapy can also cause some short-term side effects. These include bleeding and soreness at the site where the applicators are placed.

It is often difficult to pinpoint radiation since mesothelioma is often a multi-layered tumor. However, newer technology has allowed radiation therapists to precisely target the beam towards the mesothelioma tumor, and stay clear of surrounding tissues.

In some cases mesothelioma sufferers may be given brachytherapy as a preoperative treatment called Neoadjuvant therapy, or as a post-surgical adjuvant treatment to kill any remaining mesothelioma tumors that the surgeon was unable to completely eliminate. 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 radiation

Radiation oncologists utilize proton beam radiation to target particular areas of a person's body where mesothelioma tumors can be found. This kind of treatment is more precise and reduces the risk that healthy tissues will be exposed to high levels radiation. Mesothelioma patients must discuss proton beam radiation therapy with their doctor to determine if it's the right treatment for them.

Radiation oncologists create a plan to treat cancerous tissue prior to starting the proton beam treatment. Using a computer program, dosimetrists determine the precise amount of radiation that should be delivered to the region. Doctors also determine how much radiation to deliver and where it should be delivered. Dosimetrists transmit the information to a physicist who makes use of a device known as synchrotron to accelerate protons until they reach the energy level that is required for treatment.

The protons are directed to the tumor via a process similar to the CT scanner after they enter the treatment room. The patient is placed on a table that shifts to the exact shape of the tumor. The physicist then uses a system that rotates the proton beam's nozzle around the patient to ensure the radiation is absorbed by every area of the tumor at the most optimal angles.

A device called a gantry is used to shape and direct the proton beam. This device is enclosed by an immobilization frame that ensures that the patient remains still during treatment. A computer controls the gantry which is monitored by a group of radiation technicians who are located in the adjacent room. The radiation oncologist can change the treatment plan if needed during weekly appointments.

Proton beam radiation penetrates lung tissues less than traditional photon radiation. This means there is a less chance of developing radiation-related complications including toxicity and the development of mesothelioma cells that are resistant to treatment.

The proton beam is used to target tumors of mesothelioma in the pleural linings of abdomen and lungs. It is crucial for patients to work with mesothelioma specialists who are familiar with proton beam radiation.