May 8, 2010 - Side Effects of Radiology due to Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma is an incurable form of cancer that is primarily caused by exposure to asbestos. Standard therapies for advanced stage malignant mesothelioma are surgery (when possible), chemotherapy and radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy.) In most cases, a multi-modal approach is taken. This article focuses on radiation treatment and how to manage the side effects that most patients experience.
Radiation therapy delivers high energy x-rays, gamma rays, or atomic particles. Radiotherapy acts by attacking the rapidly dividing malignant cells, thereby slowing progression of mesothelioma cancer. Although there are different techniques used, radiotherapy is often delivered by a external beam of x-rays directed toward the tumor. Treatment consists of a series of sessions given over time, which can vary depending on individual histories and pathologies. The ideas is that doses of radiation kill the dividing cancer cells while doing little or no damage to nearby healthy tissue cells.
Two other fairly new techniques being used to treat lung cancer are Sterotactic Body Radio Therapy (SBRT) and three dimensional conformal radiotherapy incorporating computed tomography (CT) scans.
Radiation therapy can be used before surgery to shrink tumors or after surgery, especially in cases where all the cancer can not be removed operatively. Radiation is also used to treat patients with mesothelioma who are not able to undergo surgery. In addition, radiation therapy can be used to target malignant cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
Radiotherapy is used not only to help slow tumor progression, but also to provide symptom relief, such as difficulty breathing, a common experience for mesothelioma patients. Despite the palliative relief radiation can provide, it does come with side effects.
The three most well known, and feared, side effects of radiation are hair loss, nausea and vomiting. In further detail, the most common side effects of radiation therapy are:
- Fatigue: most patients will experience fatigue, especially as treatment continues. In the first couple of months, normal daily activities are severely limited and it is important to get plenty of rest. Fatigue often lessens a couple months after treatment has been completed.
- Hair loss in the chest area where radiation is delivered, which can be permanent or temporary.
- Skin irritation: within a few weeks of beginning therapy, skin in the region where radiation is given can become irritated, followed by dryness and peeling two to three weeks later. Darkening of the skin may occur, again this discoloration may be permanent or temporary. Taking care of sensitive areas is imperative to symptom relief.
- Shortness of breath: Although radiation ultimately can alleviate cough and difficulty breathing, initially it can cause these symptoms.
- Esophagitis: pain and irritation of the esophagus after a couple weeks of therapy which does not subside until after therapy has been completed, usually within two to three weeks.
- Radiotherapy induced nausea and vomiting (RINV): many patients experience nausea and vomiting, sometimes so severe it can be debilitating and cause great distress. For more information on this and what to do, read http://www.helping-mesothelioma-patients.org/headline-news/Radiotherapy-Induced-Nausea-from-Mesothelioma-Treatments/639
Oncologists treating mesothelioma most often will suggest a combination treatment regimen that includes both chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Goal of mesothelioma treatments are palliative not curative, since no known cure exists to date.
Consult with your oncologist to determine if radiaton therapy should be included as part of your mesothelioma treatment plan. For more information about clinical trials involving radiation, visit the National Cancer Institutes Web Site: www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/. For more information on how to manage the side effects listed above, read our article: Mesothelioma Treatment: Managing Side Effects of Radiation Therapy.
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