| Mesothelioma is a cancerous disease that affects the | | | | through a patient’s body using x-rays and/or |
| serous linings of various internal organs in the human | | | | cobalt irradiation. This type of radiotherapy is a |
| body. Among them, the lungs, heart and the stomach | | | | relatively painless procedure, which is divided into |
| are the mostly affected. | | | | several sessions. Although, it reduces the size of the |
| It is estimated that each year, 2,000 new cases of | | | | tumor, the external radiotherapy also damages the |
| Mesothelioma are reported. The patients suffering | | | | normal cells. Thus, the idea to have it in sessions |
| from this cancerous disease have had prior exposure | | | | results the damage control of normal cells that can |
| to asbestos, which is considered to be the only | | | | be repaired naturally. |
| known cause of Mesothelioma. Mesotheliomic patients | | | | Internal Radiotherapy: |
| are often told of the short survival duration of 6 | | | | Internal radiotherapy is a clinical procedure that |
| – 12 months. But doctors specialized in treating | | | | delivers higher quantity of radiations to a |
| malignant Mesothelioma at leading cancer centers | | | | Mesothelioma patient than the external radiotherapy. |
| expect better survival rates. Though Mesothelioma | | | | This is usually given to those patients whose cancer |
| causes immense pain and suffering to the victim | | | | is on extreme stages. In internal radiotherapy, a |
| along with short life expectancy, certain treatments | | | | radioactive material is placed inside the patient’s |
| have resulted in the successful reduction and removal | | | | tumor or a radioactive fluid is given to a patient |
| of the cancerous tumors of Mesothelioma. Radiation | | | | through mouth or injection. The radioactive |
| Or Rado Therapy is one of the Mesothelioma | | | | material(s) then circulates throughout the body, with |
| treatments available to patients suffering from the | | | | the help of blood, and annihilates the cancer cells. |
| asbestos-related cancer (Mesothelioma). | | | | Radiation therapy can be administered, with or |
| RADIATION or RADIO THERAPY: | | | | without chemotherapy, after a surgery to avoid the |
| Radiation or radiotherapy is a series of localized use | | | | recurrence of Mesothelioma. Doctors may also |
| of high-dose radiations given to a Mesothelioma | | | | prescribe a limited amount of radiation therapy to a |
| patient either externally (known as external | | | | patient, depending on the nature, position and stage |
| radiotherapy) or internally (known as internal | | | | of the cancer. Certain side effects are recorded in |
| radiotherapy). It destroys the cancer cells in the | | | | patients who underwent radiation therapy, which |
| targeted section of the body by means of x-rays or | | | | were minor and diminished once the radiation |
| radioactive materials. | | | | treatment was over. Consult a professional oncologist |
| External Radiotherapy: | | | | for detailed information about the side effects and its |
| In external radiotherapy, radiations are passed | | | | treatment(s), before undergoing radiotherapy. |