| therapy or radiation therapy is one of the commonly | | | | given in combination with other forms of treatment |
| used conventional medical methods of treating | | | | like surgery and chemotherapy it can prolong the |
| mesothelioma. Most mesothelioma patients will | | | | lifespan of the patient and radiotherapy can also be |
| undergo radiation therapy at one stage or the other | | | | used to offer palliative treatment for advanced |
| of their treatment and it is better for you to be well | | | | mesothelioma cases. |
| informed about this form of treatment so that you | | | | How much does radiation treatment cost? |
| can get the maximal benefit out of it. These are | | | | Radiotherapy is very expensive, it involves the use |
| some commonly asked questions about radiotherapy: | | | | of very sophisticated equipments which can only be |
| -What is radiation therapy? | | | | handled by highly specialized medical personnel. The |
| Radiation therapy makes use of high-energy particles | | | | exact cost of your radiation therapy will depend on |
| or waves, such as x-rays, gamma rays, electron | | | | the type and number of treatments you need. |
| beams, or protons to destroy or damage cancer cells. | | | | Most health insurance plans, including Medicare Part B, |
| This form of cancer therapy is also known as | | | | cover the charges for radiation therapy. Talk with |
| radiotherapy, irradiation, or x-ray therapy. | | | | your doctor's office staff or the hospital business |
| Radiation therapy is commonly used for the | | | | office about your health plan and how your bills for |
| treatment of mesothelioma cancer. Radiation can be | | | | treatment will be paid. |
| given alone or combined with other treatments, such | | | | In some states in the US, Medicaid (which makes |
| as surgery or chemotherapy. And sometimes | | | | health care services available to people with financial |
| patients get more than one type of radiation therapy. | | | | need) may help pay for treatments. Call your city or |
| How does radiation therapy work? | | | | county social services office to find out if you qualify |
| Cancer cells divide and multiply more rapidly than the | | | | for Medicaid and if radiation therapy is a covered |
| normal body cells. Radiation therapy uses special | | | | expense. |
| equipment to deliver high doses of radiation to these | | | | Who gives radiation treatments? |
| rapidly dividing cancer cells. This radiation kills these | | | | There are different types of medical personnel that |
| cells and stop them from multiplying, thus preventing | | | | will be involved in administering radiotherapy to you. |
| the tumor from spreading. | | | | These personnel include: |
| Radiation targets and breaks a piece of the DNA | | | | •Radiation oncologist: A doctor specially |
| molecule in the cancer cell, thus preventing the cell | | | | trained to treat cancer patients with radiation. He or |
| from multiplying. Some nearby normal cells may be | | | | she is in charge of your radiation treatment plan. |
| affected by radiation, but most fully recover from | | | | •Radiation physicist: The person who makes |
| the effects of the treatment and go back to | | | | sure the radiation equipment is working as it should |
| working the way they are supposed to. | | | | and gives you the dose prescribed by your radiation |
| Radiation therapy is usually a local treatment and it is | | | | oncologist. |
| only the part of the body that is affected by the | | | | •Dosimetrist: Supervised by the radiation |
| tumor that is exposed to the radiation. The goal of | | | | physicist, this person helps the radiation oncologist |
| radiation treatment is to damage as many cancer | | | | plan the treatment. |
| cells as possible, with little harm to nearby healthy | | | | •Radiation therapist or radiation therapy |
| tissue. | | | | technologist: This person operates the radiation |
| Occasionally radioactive substances may be given in a | | | | equipment and positions you for treatment. |
| vein or by mouth, and the radioactive substance gets | | | | •Radiation therapy nurse: A nurse with special |
| to travel throughout the body, but most of the time | | | | training in cancer treatment who can give you |
| , it is only the part of the body affected by the | | | | information about radiation treatment and side |
| tumor that is exposed to radioactive substance so | | | | effects. |
| that there is little effect on the rest of the body. | | | | You may also need the services of a dietitian, |
| Do the benefits outweigh the risks and side effects? | | | | physical therapist, social worker, dentist or dental |
| Although mesothelioma cancer is can hardly ever be | | | | oncologist, or other health care professionals. |
| cured by any form of treatment, radiotherapy if | | | | |