Radiation therapy

Radiation treatment is another option for treating mesothelioma. It involves the localized use of high-dose radiation (like x-rays) on malignant tumors. Usually, it is not a primary treatment but is used in conjunction with other therapies such as surgical resection and chemotherapy. It is generally used to reduce the size of the symptomatic tumor and help relieve symptoms like pain and shortness of breath. The appropriateness of radiation therapy depends on factors such as the volume of the tumor and how near it is to vital organs.