Brachytherapy for the treatment of Mesothelioma

Brachytherapy is the advanced process of radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is used to treat Mesothelioma as the rays of radiotherapy destroy all the germs and the affected cells by radiation of radioactive elements. The main difference of this therapy is that instead of conventional radiotherapy that is an external process, this Brachytherapy is an internal process that inserts a particular tube of radioactive material inside body at the closest proximity of the most affected zone and thus the affected cells are destroyed. This in indeed, a low dose therapy that affects slowly on the growth of the malignancy but the recurring side effect is lesser than conventional radiotherapy that destroy healthy cells as affected cells.

Brachytherapy can be administered by a specialized doctors team that comprises of :
A professional oncologist
Radiation oncologist
Radiation physicist
Dosemetrist( fix doses of radiotherapy)
And, therapist responsible for radiation therapy to assist the patient to cope with the side effects.
This whole process of Brachytherapy is done under general anesthesia and in this process is conducted by the above mentioned professional team.

Depending on the stage of the cancer the internal radiotherapy is of two types. The high dose therapy is used temporarily to arrest the growth of cancer immediately but it cannot last for longer period. While destroying germ cell it kills also the healthy cell causing a general decline in the normal health of the patient .The side effect of the high dose therapy is so acute that hardly it is bearable by the patient. On the other hand the slow and low dose of radio therapy is placed internally near the affected place and in this process it is possible to destroy only the targeted cells.

The side effect of this therapy is temporary swelling and some times bleeding may occur from the in place of incision. Soreness and feeling of acute may be occurred and in each of the case a doctor’s advice is solicited.