High Dose Radiation Therapy Improves Survival in Patients with Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is very rare disease, but once it strikes, death becomes inevitable. This lethal disease is caused due to exposure to asbestos. A recent research study conducted has found an innovative idea to increase the survival rate and survival period of mesothelioma patients.
The researchers at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) have conducted this research and they have presented their findings before the American Society for Therapeutic Radiation and Oncology (ASTRO). This study was conducted between 1900 and 2000 and it was performed on various patients at different stages of mesothelioma.
According to this study, the cancer surgery for removal of the lung and lining has to be extensive and this should be followed by a heavy dosage of radiation therapy to achieve the desired results. They had observed that these patients did not suffer from the toxic effects. They seem to be able to bear the treatment and tolerate is well.
"For many years we were unable to give too much radiation to the chest because of extreme toxicity, but new technologies and treatment techniques have helped us get around that," said Santosh Yajnik, MD, radiation oncologist at MSKCC and lead author of the study. In this study, the entire affected lung of patients was removed. This also facilitated in giving a high dose of radiation therapy.
MSKCC is one of the centers, which has facilities for offering this type of treatment. Nearly 63 patients at the MSKCC were treated using extensive surgery. On an average, it was seen that their survival improved by 5 to 6 months by this type of treatment.
Also, the researchers found that people who approached them in the early stages had better survival rates as compared to those who approached them in the last stages of cancer.