Questions
Radiotherapy Questions
Will radiation therapy make the patient infertile?
Generally, it depends on the area of body which is being treated. Permanent infertility is unavoidable if the testicles or ovaries are included in the treatment area. It is unlikely in patients treated for pleural mesothelioma. While radiation can be scattered to other parts of the body, therapists make every atttempt to protect other radiation-sensitive organs.
Why radiotherapy is given only 5 days a week with a rest over the weekends?
Although radiotherapy is used for killing the cancer cells, it damages healthy tissues around the cancer as well. The dose of radiation is split into what are called fractions, usually spread over 5 days a week. A rest from the treatment every few days can keep side effects down. This rest allows the healthy tissues to recover a little. In emergency cases, radiotherapy is given at the weekends as well. However, for a normal course of treatment over a few weeks, the patient is treated from Monday to Friday only.
How the side effects of radiotherapy can be reduced?
The doctor and radiation therapist can give advice about managing side effects in general. Most patients suffer from fatigue and skin irritation. There are a number of ways to reduce fatigue. Fatigue may be a side effect of the radiotherapy but also may be a symptom of mesothelioma. Patients must get enough sleep, and rest during the day if necessary. A nutritious diet helps, as does increased physical activity. There may be specific problems, such as low red blood count (anemia) which may need to be treated. Patients should discuss fatigue with their doctor, who may be able to help more depending on the specifics.
The skin over the area must be taken care of, which includes protecting it from sun and any irritation from clothes, It should be washed with mild soap and lukewarm water. If the skin is very irritated, the patient should ask the physician about another mesothelioma specific treatment.
Patients being treated for pleural mesothelioma may develop difficulty breathing, which must be reported to the physician, as should any increase in symptoms related to the lungs, including pain in the chest.
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea are side effects of irradiation to the abdominal area, which could occur if the radiation is being used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. There are excellent medications for treating nausea and vomiting, as well as diarrhea. Patients should speak to their doctor about these problems.
Anna L. Kaplan, M.D.
