This MesoTV episode addresses the topic of radiation therapy for the treatment of mesothelioma. The Meso Foundation’s on-staff mesothelioma expert Shannon Sinclair, RN, BSN, OCN, leads the conversation in which she and the panelists discuss scenarios when this type of treatment can be beneficial. The program covers the types of radiation therapy available to patients, along with their pros and cons, including potential side effects.
The panelists are radiation oncologists who specialize in the treatment of mesothelioma:
- Charles B. Simone, II, MD, FACRO, Research Professor, Chief Medical Officer, New York Proton Center
- Andreas Rimner, MD, Director of Thoracic Radiation Oncology Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
- Kenneth Rosenzweig, MD, Professor and Chairman, Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York
Choosing the right provider
The effectiveness of radiation therapy is very center-based, which means that it is critical for a patient to be treated by a radiation oncologist experienced in mesothelioma at a medical center that has a long history of performing the exact procedure needed by the patient. For example, some centers have greater experience with using radiation before surgery, while others have more experience with using radiation after surgery.
Other areas of discussion
- Differences/similarities between photon, proton, external beam, IMRT, stereotactic body radiation
- The palliative effect of radiation therapy
- The side effects of radiation therapy and the different treatment options available
- The feasibility of radiation therapy for pleural mesothelioma vs. peritoneal mesothelioma
- The overview of a typical radiation procedure
“Radiation is very operator dependent. It is depending on who designs the radiation field. Everyone can have a nice modern machine that has all the bells and whistles and can deliver precise radiation, which really all modern machines can. It still depends on what you tell the machine: where to send the radiation, what dose, and what to avoid also to get the best ratio of effectiveness and avoid side effects.”
Andreas Rimner, MD, Director of Thoracic Radiation Oncology Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
The radiation oncologists interviewed in this video expressed excitement about the new radiation tools they have available to them, which will allow them to either “improve tumor control” or “reduce side effects,” and they all agreed that it is critical for every patient to be treated by a team that has experience doing the exact procedure the patient needs.
Our Sponsors
MesoTV is a program by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation. This program is made possible by our generous sponsors: Belluck & Fox; Maune Raichle Hartley French & Mudd, LLC (MRHFM); Bristol Myers Squibb; AstraZeneca, & TCR2.
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