Pleural mesothelioma can be treated using a wide variety of treatment methods, ranging from chemotherapy to alternative treatment methods, such as acupuncture, yoga or immunotherapy. Pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses radio-active rods implanted in or near tumors. Cancer cells are killed by radio waves in a very effective and harmless for healthy tissue method. Because cancer cells are part of the body, and the body would be affected greatly if exposed to radiation, so will cancer cells. Don’t worry, the radiation emitted by the tiny rods will not affect healthy tissue, because the radio waves only reach one or two centimeters from the rod, harming only cancer cells or tumors in its’ immediate surroundings.
Statistics for pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy
Statistics show that pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy is quite an effective treatment method for mesothelioma patients that were exposed to asbestos. In several of the patients present in a research group the tumors have stopped growing in size and some of the cancer tissue present in their body was actually killed by the radiation.
Radiation is emitted from the rods from the limited amount of time, after that they are slowly being consumed by the body until they disappear completely.
Pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy and surgery
Surgery is needed in order to place the small rods in the perfect position. The procedure works like this:
- The doctor cuts a tiny whole in the chest of the patient, usually near the lungs
- He then inserts a small tube into that whole (also serves as drainage for pleural fluid build-up)
- Through that small tube the doctor inserts a thin metal bar with the help of which he places the rods in exactly the right spots
As you can see, it is not invasive at all, most patients only need local anesthetic during the procedure and recovery is fast and safe. Pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy is a method that has only recently been developed and has proved to be effective if the patient is able to receive further treatment, like chemotherapy. If used alone, pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy can only slow the development of mesothelioma down for a few weeks, as long as radiation is emitted from the rods.
Pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy options
Please feel free and contact asbestosis and mesothelioma centers if you think pleural mesothelioma brachytherapy might be an option as one of your treatment methods. We can provide with all the necessary details, and help you decide whether or not it will help. Contacting us doesn’t cost thing.
